Recommended Free Tools
The only genuinely free, permanent option is to run the official Steam dedicated-server tool on your own Windows or Linux PC. You pay no hosting bill, but you supply the hardware, electricity, bandwidth, port forwarding and maintenance. “Free” hosts such as credit-funded or ad-supported services can work for small groups, yet their resources and availability are promotional. Trials are temporary, while a rented server typically costs about $10–$15 per month for 8–10 slots.
Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted 7 Days to Die servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
What “free” means for a 7 Days to Die server
There are four different offers commonly described as free:
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| Option | Cash cost | What you provide | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-host the official dedicated server | $0 in hosting fees | A spare or gaming PC, electricity and a reliable internet connection | Your machine and home connection must stay online; you must configure networking and updates |
| Promotional free host | $0 while eligible | Usually account activity, credits or tolerance of advertising | Resource caps, queues, restricted mods or sudden changes to the offer |
| Time-limited trial | $0 during the trial | Often an account and, depending on the provider, billing details | The server expires unless you start paying |
| Low-cost rented server | Recurring fee | Only your game configuration and administration | Monthly cost, although uptime and support are handled by the host |
No official statistic establishes how many free 7 Days to Die servers are available. Treat every free-tier claim as changeable and read the current terms before moving a world to it.
The truly free route: self-host the Steam dedicated server
Valve distributes 7 Days to Die Dedicated Server as Steam App ID 294420, separate from the main game (App ID 251570). SteamDB lists Windows and Linux depots for the tool. Running it on equipment you already own costs only electricity and internet service, as described by a Skynet Hosting guide; there is no recurring game-server invoice.
#1 Best Overall
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- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Decide whether your hardware is suitable
The dedicated server keeps the world in memory and can become CPU-heavy during blood-moon hordes. A computer that runs the client smoothly is not automatically a good 24/7 host: the server process needs its own CPU time and RAM while players are connected. Leave headroom for the operating system, backups and any other services on the machine. A wired connection and an always-on power plan are preferable to Wi-Fi and a laptop that sleeps.
- Use a machine you can leave powered on for the expected play schedule.
- Check that your router and internet provider permit inbound connections; carrier-grade NAT can prevent ordinary port forwarding.
- Reserve a local IP address for the server so router rules do not break after a reboot.
- Install security updates and allow only the game ports you actually use through the operating-system firewall.
Install with SteamCMD
Community setup guides use SteamCMD rather than the graphical Steam client. The essential sequence is an anonymous login followed by an update of App ID 294420:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Download SteamCMD from Valve for your operating system and extract it to a dedicated server directory.
- Start SteamCMD and log in with
login anonymous. - Install or update the server with
app_update 294420. Repeat this command when you intentionally update the server. - Close SteamCMD after the installation completes and locate the supplied configuration files.
- Copy or edit
serverconfig.xmlfor your world name, save settings, player limits, difficulty, zombies, loot and other rules. - On Windows, launch the server with the supplied
startdedicated.batfile. Keep the console visible during the first start so you can spot missing files or port errors.
Linux uses the same SteamCMD application and server files, but the launch wrapper and service management depend on your distribution. Run the process under a separate user, keep its data directory writable by that user and use your system’s service manager if you need automatic restarts. Do not run a public game server as the root account.
Rank #2
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- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Install the Windows prerequisite
One hosting guide lists the Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 Redistributable as a Windows prerequisite. Install the current supported package from Microsoft, then restart the server process if it previously failed to start with a runtime-library error.
Network ports and remote administration
Port numbers differ between guides and can change with builds or configuration. One community guide lists TCP 26900 and UDP 26900–26902 for external access; another host guide lists 26900–26903. Use the values in your current configuration and startup output as the authority, then forward the matching protocols from your router to the server’s fixed local IP.
| Use | Ports reported by guides | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Game traffic | TCP 26900; UDP 26900–26902 | Community-guide values; verify against your build |
| Alternative game range | 26900–26903 | Listed by a hosting guide; do not open extra ports without confirming they are required |
| Remote administration | TCP 8080–8081 | Only if you administer remotely; keep restricted by firewall or VPN |
| Web-map mod | TCP 8082 | Only when that mod is installed and configured |
Remote-admin ports expose control functions, not just gameplay. If you enable them, limit source addresses, use strong credentials and avoid forwarding them broadly to the internet. A web-map port should be closed when the map mod is not in use.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Keeping versions and worlds compatible
All players must connect with a game version compatible with the server build. Update the server during a planned maintenance window, back up the world first and tell players which branch to select in Steam. A review page reported that the V3.0 “Dead Hot Summer” update was expected to reach stable on 29 June 2026, but that date was not independently verified here and may already be outdated as of 14 October 2026. Confirm the current branch and build in Steam before changing a live world.
Some community instructions describe a -beta flag for selecting a particular branch. Those instructions are low-confidence and branch names change, so treat the flag as an example rather than a permanent recipe. A forum report also says app_update can continue retrieving an older build until the experimental branch is selected. If clients report a version mismatch, compare the branch selected in SteamCMD with the branch selected by the players, then update both deliberately; do not delete the world as a first troubleshooting step.
Back up before updates and experiments
- Stop the server cleanly before copying its world and configuration directories.
- Keep at least one dated backup outside the live server folder.
- Test an experimental branch with a copied world, never your only save.
- Record the branch, server build and mod list alongside each backup.
Free promotional hosts: useful, but not permanent guarantees
Credit-funded servers
AxentHost advertises a free server earned through in-site credits. That makes the cash price zero only while you can earn or maintain the required credits. Check how credits expire, what happens when the balance reaches zero, whether the server is suspended, and whether you can download your world before relying on it. One review page showed only 34 reviews for AxentHost, so that count is a limited signal rather than proof of reliability.
Rank #4
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- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
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Ad-funded servers
Squadnox advertises free private servers supported by advertising. Confirm whether advertisements appear only on the provider’s site or affect the game experience, and check limits on slots, CPU, RAM, storage, mods, backups and idle shutdowns. A private server can still be unsuitable for a large blood-moon session if its free tier throttles CPU time.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Questions to answer before uploading a world
- Can you export the complete save and configuration at any time?
- Is the advertised free period indefinite, credit-dependent or subject to approval?
- What queue, inactivity, slot or world-size limits apply?
- Are custom XML settings, server-side mods and map tools allowed?
- Who controls updates, and can you pin a branch when clients have not updated?
- What support exists if the node disappears or the world becomes corrupted?
Trials and inexpensive paid hosting
Some “free hosting” listings are actually trials; one listing advertises 30 days with account credit. A trial is a way to evaluate latency and administration, not a permanent free server. Set a reminder before the trial ends, verify whether the world remains downloadable, and cancel any renewal you do not want.
For a predictable always-on service, vendor pages cite approximately $1.99 per gigabyte with unmetered NVMe storage, while a Skynet Hosting guide gives roughly $10–$15 per month for 8–10 slots. These are vendor-provided figures, not an independent market survey; region, CPU allocation, backups, taxes and promotions can change the final bill. Compare the guaranteed CPU and RAM, not storage alone, because horde performance is CPU-bound.
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
| Choose this when… | Best fit | Accept the trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| You have a spare PC and can manage networking | Self-hosting | Home uptime, electricity, maintenance and possible ISP restrictions |
| You need a temporary test world | Trial | Expiry and possible conversion to a paid plan |
| You want $0 cash and can tolerate uncertainty | Credit- or ad-funded host | Limits, policy changes and weaker control |
| Your group expects reliable access | Paid rented server | Recurring monthly cost |
Performance, uptime and control trade-offs
Self-hosting offers the broadest control: you choose the XML settings, world size, mods, update timing and backups. Its uptime ends when your PC, router or ISP connection fails. A hosted service keeps the machine in a data center and may offer monitoring, but free tiers can cap resources or stop idle servers. Neither model removes the game’s CPU and memory demands; a large world and blood-moon horde can overwhelm an under-provisioned node.
SteamDB recorded a peak of 1,068 concurrent users for the dedicated-server tool on 4 February 2024. That is a tool-only SteamDB figure, not the capacity of one server and not the player count for the full game. Use it as evidence that the tool is actively distributed, not as a sizing recommendation.
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Troubleshooting a free server
Players cannot see or join it
- Confirm the server process is running and listening on the configured port.
- Check that the router forwards the correct TCP and UDP protocols to the server’s reserved local IP.
- Allow the same ports through the host firewall.
- Test from outside your home network; a local connection can work even when inbound internet access is blocked.
- Ask the ISP whether carrier-grade NAT or blocked inbound ports are in effect.
The server starts, then crashes or refuses to launch
- Install or repair the Visual C++ 2022 Redistributable on Windows.
- Run SteamCMD again and verify that App ID 294420 completed its update.
- Check file permissions and available disk space.
- Remove a newly added mod or restore the last known-good configuration.
Clients report a version mismatch
- Compare the server branch with the branch selected by every player.
- Update during a maintenance window and restart the process.
- If an experimental branch is involved, confirm its exact name instead of copying an old
-betaexample. - Restore the backup only after confirming that the world itself is healthy.
The game lags during a blood moon
- Watch CPU and RAM usage on the host while the horde is active.
- Reduce simultaneous load by limiting player count or demanding world settings.
- Stop unrelated applications and background indexing on a self-hosted machine.
- Move to a host with a stated CPU allocation if the free tier throttles the process.
A practical decision
Start with self-hosting if you already have a spare Windows or Linux machine, can forward ports and want full control. It is the only route in this comparison that remains free without depending on a provider’s promotion. Use a credit- or ad-funded host for a low-stakes experiment only after confirming world export and resource limits. Use a trial to test latency and administration, not to promise a permanent service. If your group expects dependable access without maintaining a 24/7 computer, budget for a rented server and compare CPU, RAM, backups and support before storage or headline slot counts.
Quick Recap
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