Lots of people look for free Terraria server hosting before they pay for anything, and that is a fair place to start. Terraria is still one of the most popular sandbox games, and multiplayer is at its best on a server that stays online.
Why Host a Terraria Server
Hosting your own Terraria server gives you control over the world, mods (tModLoader), and who can join. Instead of relying on Steam peer-to-peer hosting (which requires the host player to be online), a hosted server runs 24/7 so players can join anytime.
Free Terraria Hosting Options
Free Terraria hosting exists but with significant limitations. Most free hosts offer limited RAM, shared CPU, and servers that hibernate when empty.
For a small group of 2 to 4 friends, free hosting can work for casual play. The server wakes up when someone connects and basic vanilla gameplay runs acceptably.
Paid Terraria Hosting
Paid hosting removes the free tier limitations. Your server runs 24/7, has its own RAM allocation, and has room for more players and mods.
Terraria servers are less resource intensive than Minecraft servers. As a starting point, 2GB with a fast CPU covers a vanilla group of 2 to 4 players, and 3 to 4GB gives room for 6 to 8 players on vanilla or TShock. World size matters much less than you would think. Our Terraria RAM guide explains why.
For modded Terraria (tModLoader), you need more resources. One big overhaul mod like Calamity or Thorium is comfortable on 4GB, and stacking several heavy mods with a bigger group is where 6GB earns its keep. Single-core CPU speed matters too, especially during boss fights and invasions.
Setting Up a Terraria Server
The basic setup process:
- Choose a hosting provider with Terraria support
- Select your plan based on expected player count
- Configure world settings (size, difficulty, seed)
- Install tModLoader if you want mods
- Add your desired mods through the server files
- Share your server IP with friends
- Connect and play
Best Terraria Server Hosts
Space-Node hosts Terraria on AMD Ryzen 9 hardware with NVMe storage, and you can switch between vanilla and tModLoader from the panel. The plans are Small (2GB, EUR 2.00 a month), Medium (4GB, EUR 3.90), Large (6GB, EUR 5.80) and Extreme (10GB, EUR 9.60).
Host Havoc sells Terraria server hosting as well.
GPortal includes Terraria in their game server lineup.
Terraria hosting does not need as many resources as Minecraft, so the lower plan tiers go a long way. Our Small plan covers a small vanilla group, and Medium is the step up for Calamity, Thorium or a bigger group.
If you would rather not run the machine yourself, our Terraria hosting plans cover the setup described above.