For most crews, GHosting is the easiest starting point: its launch-priced tiers cover eight, 12, or 16 players, include Workshop installation and file access, and let you test a server for 48 hours without a card. QONZER is stronger when you want dedicated CPU and RAM with no slot cap; Jovian Games suits teams that want managed VPS administration; Zaroz is a low-cost Europe-only option; Pinnacle Game Studios has a low displayed US entry price but does not show slots in its listing; and HyperDC is useful when you want a quote based on your exact mod load.
Barotrauma is a 2D cooperative submarine simulator released on Steam on March 13, 2023. Its online mode supports up to 16 players per submarine, and Steam Workshop support makes mod management a major part of choosing a host. The right plan depends less on the cheapest headline number than on crew size, region, CPU/RAM headroom, Workshop workflow, backups, and how much server administration you want to do yourself.
Which Barotrauma server host is best in 2026?
There is no single winner for every campaign. Use GHosting as the default shortlist for a small or full crew that wants a transparent panel and a trial; choose QONZER for dedicated resources and room to grow; choose Jovian Games for managed operations; choose Zaroz when your players are in Europe and price is the priority; investigate Pinnacle Game Studios when its US location and protection claims fit your needs; and request a HyperDC quote when your mod list makes generic plans hard to size.
| Provider | Published price | Published resources and capacity | Locations and operations | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GHosting | Crew $8/30 days launch price (regularly shown as $10); Expedition $12 (regularly $15); Abyss $16 (regularly $20). Pay-once purchases do not renew; subscriptions are available. | 4/6/8 GB RAM, 2/3/4 vCPU; up to 8/12/16 players. | Europe or North America; Workshop-link installer, writable console, file/SFTP access, two UDP ports, included DDoS protection, 48-hour no-card trial, and a 72-hour first-server guarantee. | Testing a real control panel before committing, especially for an eight- or 16-player campaign. |
| QONZER | Starter $11.17/month; Level 1 $18.19/month; Level 2 $35.04/month. Higher tiers show longer-term discounts. | Dedicated 1/2/4/6/8/16 CPU-thread tiers with 4/8/16/24/32/64 GB DDR5; no slot limit. | Worldwide location selector, including several US cities; snapshots, game/location switching, full access, instant deployment, and free or paid qGuard DDoS tiers. | Crews that value dedicated resources and headroom more than slot-based pricing. |
| Jovian Games | From $34.99/month. The page describes a monthly total combining isolated VPS infrastructure and managed hosting. | Example medium plan: 3 cores, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD; choose region and size. | Managed setup, monitoring, backups, and support; most servers are reported online within 15–30 minutes. DDoS mitigation varies by region. | Owners who do not want to administer the underlying VPS. |
| Zaroz | Starter €5/month, Standard €10, Pro €15, Elite €20.90. | Up to 5/10/30/more than 30 players; 2/4/6/8 vCPU, 4/8/12/16 GB RAM, and 20/40/60/100 GB storage. | Europe; panel deployment and Warden network filtering on every plan. | A budget European server with clearly stepped crew tiers. |
| Pinnacle Game Studios | $7.80/month displayed for a US Barotrauma server; backup and dedicated-IP add-ons cost extra. | 4 GB RAM; slot count is not shown in the captured listing. | US-SC datacenter, instant provisioning, a stated 3.2 Tbps DDoS shield, and seven-day rolling offsite backups. | A low displayed US entry price when you confirm capacity and add-on totals at checkout. |
| HyperDC | Quote-style sizing page; no fixed monthly price is published. | Planning guidance: 2 GB RAM for up to six players, 4 GB for a full 16-player crew, or 6 GB for a heavily modded 16-player crew; 2–4 CPU cores and 10–15 GB disk are shown as ranges. | Supports campaign, mission, sandbox, PvP, Workshop mods, ranks, and permissions; price requires a plan conversation. | Groups that need sizing help for a specific mod collection. |
Prices and features in this table were published figures checked on October 26, 2026 at 23:28:24 UTC. Currency, taxes, billing cadence, introductory discounts, and resource definitions are not uniform, so treat the table as a shortlist rather than an apples-to-apples benchmark.
How much does a Barotrauma server cost per month?
Published prices range from €5 or $7.80 displayed entry figures to $34.99 and above, but those numbers describe different products. Some plans sell player slots, some sell dedicated CPU and memory with no slot limit, and one is a managed VPS service. A fair comparison starts by fixing your crew size and mod set, then checking the recurring total rather than the promotional headline.
Small vanilla crew
For up to six to eight players with few or no mods, GHosting’s Crew tier is listed at $8 for 30 days as a launch price (regularly $10), while Zaroz’s Starter tier is €5 for up to five players. Pinnacle displays $7.80 for a US server but does not state the slot count in the captured listing, so capacity must be confirmed before purchase. HyperDC’s planning guidance places six players at about 2 GB RAM, a useful baseline when a quote is prepared.
Full 16-player campaign
GHosting’s Abyss tier is listed at $16 for 30 days at launch (regularly $20) and advertises up to 16 players. QONZER’s dedicated-resource plans have no slot limit; the appropriate tier depends on your CPU and memory needs rather than a published player number. HyperDC recommends 4 GB RAM for a full 16-player crew before accounting for unusually heavy mods. Zaroz advertises a tier for more than 30 players, but its European geography and exact Barotrauma configuration should be checked against your campaign.
Managed operation
Jovian Games starts at $34.99 per month and describes that total as isolated VPS infrastructure plus managed hosting. Its value is administration: setup, monitoring, backups, and support are part of the service. If you would otherwise pay someone to maintain a VPS or spend your own time troubleshooting, compare that labor against the higher monthly price.
What the displayed price may omit
- Introductory versus regular pricing, especially GHosting’s launch figures.
- Annual or longer-term discounts shown by QONZER.
- Taxes and currency conversion.
- Backups or a dedicated IP, which Pinnacle lists as separate add-ons.
- Paid DDoS tiers, such as QONZER’s optional qGuard levels.
- Renewal, cancellation, refund, and pay-once terms.
Before paying, put the same billing period, tax-inclusive total, storage, player limit, and add-ons beside each other. A one-time 30-day purchase is not equivalent to a recurring subscription, and a plan with no slot limit is not automatically cheaper for a small crew.
Which host fits my crew size and resource needs?
Barotrauma’s maximum of 16 players makes the upper end easy to identify, but the resource requirement changes with AI activity, world size, save history, and Workshop mods. Use the provider’s stated capacity as a starting point, then leave headroom for peak moments and restarts.
GHosting: straightforward player tiers
GHosting maps its three named tiers to 4, 6, and 8 GB of RAM and 2, 3, and 4 vCPU, with advertised limits of eight, 12, and 16 players. That makes it simple to select a plan for a known crew size. The 48-hour no-card trial is particularly useful for loading your actual save and Workshop collection before you commit. The 72-hour first-server guarantee is a separate risk reducer; read its conditions before relying on it.
QONZER: dedicated resources instead of slots
QONZER publishes dedicated 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 16-thread CPU tiers paired with 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, or 64 GB of DDR5 memory. It does not impose a slot limit in the listed model. This is attractive when you run a large mod set, several services, or want room for future games, but it also means you must choose resources yourself. Start with the smallest tier that meets your measured CPU and RAM use, and keep snapshots before changing the game or location.
Jovian Games: managed medium-size example
The provider gives a medium-plan example of three cores, 4 GB RAM, and an 80 GB SSD rather than a fixed player promise. Its managed model can remove routine server work, but DDoS mitigation varies by region and the entry price is substantially higher than the small self-managed tiers. Ask which resources are reserved, how campaign files are restored, and whether a larger mod set changes the quote.
Zaroz: stepped European tiers
Zaroz lists up to five, 10, 30, and more than 30 players across its €5, €10, €15, and €20.90 tiers. The corresponding resources rise from 2 to 8 vCPU, 4 to 16 GB RAM, and 20 to 100 GB storage. The progression is easy to understand, but the advertised geography is Europe. Players elsewhere should check latency before treating the low euro price as the best value.
Pinnacle Game Studios: verify the missing slot limit
Pinnacle’s captured listing shows 4 GB RAM and a $7.80 monthly US price, plus instant provisioning, a stated 3.2 Tbps DDoS shield, and seven-day rolling offsite backups. It does not show the slot count. Do not infer that the listing supports a full 16-player crew; confirm the allowed players, CPU allocation, and any backup or dedicated-IP add-on at checkout.
HyperDC: quote-based sizing
HyperDC asks you to choose crew size, game mode, and mods instead of publishing a fixed plan. Its guidance is unusually concrete: 2 GB RAM for up to six players, 4 GB for a full 16-player crew, and 6 GB for a heavily modded 16-player crew, with 2–4 CPU cores and 10–15 GB disk as planning ranges. This is useful when your Workshop collection is known, but you cannot rank the service on price until you receive a quote.
Can these hosts run a 16-player modded campaign?
Yes, a 16-player campaign is within Barotrauma’s game limit, but “supports 16 players” and “runs a heavily modded 16-player campaign comfortably” are different claims. A full crew generates more concurrent activity, and Workshop content can increase memory and CPU pressure.
Use a sizing baseline
- Vanilla or lightly modded six-player group: plan around 2 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores as a starting point.
- Full 16-player group: plan around 4 GB RAM, then increase CPU and memory if monitoring shows sustained pressure.
- Heavily modded 16-player group: HyperDC’s guidance is 6 GB RAM; QONZER’s dedicated-resource model is useful when you need more headroom.
These are planning figures, not a performance guarantee. The sensible test is to load the real Workshop collection, invite the largest expected crew, and watch CPU, memory, tick behavior, disconnects, and restart time during a busy mission.
Check the slot rule separately
GHosting and Zaroz publish player tiers. QONZER states that its plans have no slot limit. Pinnacle’s captured listing does not state slots, and Jovian’s example is resource-based rather than player-based. Confirm the contractual player limit before moving a campaign, especially if reserve crew members may join later.
Which Barotrauma hosts are best for Workshop mods and administration?
For a modded campaign, installation and recovery tools matter as much as RAM. Look for a Workshop-link installer, writable console, file or SFTP access, snapshots, and a clear restart process.
GHosting’s mod workflow
GHosting advertises a Workshop-link mod installer, writable console, file/SFTP access, and two UDP ports. Those features cover the practical loop of adding a collection, editing configuration, checking logs, and allowing the game traffic through the panel. Use the trial to verify that your chosen collection loads in the intended order and that a failed mod can be removed without losing the save.
QONZER’s control and snapshots
QONZER lists full access, snapshots, instant deployment, and game/location switching. Snapshots provide a rollback point before changing a mod set or moving regions. “Full access” is broader than a game-specific panel, so expect more responsibility for updates, permissions, and security.
Jovian’s managed approach
Jovian includes managed setup, monitoring, backups, and support. That can be preferable if you do not want to edit files or maintain the VPS yourself. Ask whether support will install Workshop collections and how quickly they can restore a campaign after a bad update.
HyperDC’s permission model
HyperDC explicitly supports campaign, mission, sandbox, and PvP modes, along with Workshop mods, ranks, and permissions. Those controls are useful for a community server with moderators rather than a private group that only needs a password.
Which server location should I choose?
Choose the region closest to the majority of players, not necessarily the country where the server owner lives. GHosting offers Europe and North America; Zaroz advertises Europe; QONZER lists multiple worldwide locations, including several US cities; and Jovian asks you to select a region. HyperDC’s quoted configuration should state the location you receive.
Latency is only one consideration. A nearby location with overloaded CPU can feel worse than a slightly farther location with stable resources. Test from the players who join most often, and record ping during a busy mission rather than only at an idle menu. If your crew is split across continents, choose the location that minimizes the worst connections or consider whether QONZER’s broader location selector gives you a better compromise.
Do Barotrauma hosts include backups and DDoS protection?
They do not include the same protection by default. GHosting includes DDoS protection and advertises file access; QONZER offers free or paid qGuard DDoS tiers and snapshots; Jovian includes backups but says DDoS mitigation varies by region; Zaroz includes Warden network filtering on every plan; and Pinnacle advertises a 3.2 Tbps DDoS shield plus seven-day rolling offsite backups. Pinnacle lists backup and dedicated-IP add-ons separately from its displayed entry price, so confirm what the base plan contains.
Backups you can actually restore
A backup claim is useful only if you know its scope and restore path. Confirm whether it covers the campaign save, configuration, Workshop list, and server files; how many restore points exist; and whether restoring requires downtime. QONZER snapshots and Pinnacle’s seven-day rolling offsite backups are described differently, so do not assume they provide identical retention or one-click recovery.
DDoS protection and exposure
DDoS filtering protects the provider’s network path, not a broken configuration or a stolen account. Use a strong panel password, limit administrative permissions, and keep a local copy of important campaign saves. If your group streams or publishes its address, ask how the provider handles attacks and whether mitigation changes by region or traffic volume.
How do I choose and deploy a Barotrauma server?
Follow this sequence to avoid paying for the wrong capacity or losing a campaign during migration.
- Count the real crew. Record the normal player count and the maximum number who may join. Use the maximum for the plan limit, not the average.
- Freeze the mod set. Export or write down the Workshop collection, game version, configuration changes, and any server-side files. Separate essential mods from optional cosmetics.
- Set a resource baseline. Use roughly 2 GB RAM for up to six players, 4 GB for a full 16-player crew, and about 6 GB for a heavily modded 16-player crew as a starting point. Increase resources when monitoring shows pressure.
- Pick a nearby region. Compare the provider’s actual locations with where your players live. Do not choose a region solely because its currency is cheaper.
- Normalize the bill. Write down recurring monthly cost, billing term, taxes, launch or annual discounts, backups, DDoS options, dedicated IP, and renewal rules.
- Deploy a test instance. Use GHosting’s 48-hour no-card trial where appropriate, or the provider’s instant deployment. Load the actual save and Workshop collection before inviting the entire crew.
- Exercise administration. Test console commands, file/SFTP access, password and permission changes, restarts, log access, and a controlled rollback. A feature that is not usable by your moderators is not a practical feature.
- Run a peak-load session. Invite the largest expected group, start a busy mission, and watch memory, CPU, latency, disconnects, and save behavior. Record the results rather than relying on the plan name.
- Confirm recovery. Create a backup or snapshot, change one configuration item, and restore it. Verify that the restored campaign opens before you make the server your permanent home.
- Review renewal and cancellation. GHosting’s pay-once terms do not renew, while subscriptions are available; other services may renew monthly or apply longer-term discounts. Save the cancellation and refund terms with your server records.
What are the common mistakes when buying Barotrauma hosting?
- Comparing unlike currencies and terms: €5, $7.80, and $8 are not directly comparable until taxes, billing cadence, and renewal pricing are included.
- Assuming RAM equals player capacity: CPU scheduling, mods, save size, and provider oversubscription also affect stability.
- Ignoring the slot limit: Pinnacle’s captured listing does not state one, while QONZER has no slot limit in its published model.
- Choosing a distant region: A low price is not a good trade if most of the crew experiences high latency.
- Skipping restore tests: A backup you have never restored is an unverified promise.
- Treating launch pricing as permanent: GHosting’s $8, $12, and $16 figures are launch prices, with regular figures shown as $10, $15, and $20.
- Ordering a managed plan for a hands-on group: Jovian’s management can be valuable, but self-administered dedicated resources may provide more control for technically confident owners.
- Buying a quote without documenting assumptions: For HyperDC, write down player count, mode, Workshop collection, CPU, RAM, storage, backup policy, and region so the final quote can be compared fairly.
Is a hosted Barotrauma server worth paying for?
For a campaign that should remain available when the original host is offline, hosting is usually worth the recurring cost. It removes the dependency on one player’s PC and gives the crew a stable address, persistent saves, and administrative controls. The value rises when your group plays on a schedule, uses Workshop mods, or needs backups and moderators.
For an occasional private session with the same few friends, a low-tier or trial plan may be enough. Test the real campaign before committing, and pay for extra CPU, memory, managed support, or backup retention only when your crew’s workload justifies it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move an existing Barotrauma campaign to a hosted server?
Usually, you need the campaign save, server configuration, and Workshop collection or mod list. Upload them through the host’s file manager or SFTP, then test the save privately before changing the address shared with your crew.
How much RAM does a modded Barotrauma server need?
A practical starting point is about 4 GB for a full 16-player crew and 6 GB for a heavily modded 16-player group. Actual use varies with the collection and activity, so monitor the server during a peak session and leave headroom.
Does Barotrauma hosting include the game license?
The hosting plans described here provide server infrastructure and management; they do not state that a player copy of Barotrauma is included. Players should check Steam’s requirements for joining and running the game.
What should moderators be able to do on a community server?
They need controlled access to console commands, player permissions, logs, restarts, and configuration files. A provider that supports ranks and permissions can reduce the need to give every moderator full panel access.
Should I choose a dedicated IP for my Barotrauma server?
A dedicated IP can make address management simpler, but it is not a substitute for a nearby region, adequate resources, or DDoS filtering. Pinnacle lists it as an add-on, so include its recurring cost only if your group benefits from a fixed address.