Yes—you can run a free dedicated ARK server if you provide the computer, internet connection, electricity, and maintenance yourself. The genuinely no-hosting-fee option is self-hosting: download the dedicated-server software with SteamCMD and keep it running on your own PC.
For a simpler experience, a non-dedicated session lets friends play without paying, but it is not a persistent server: the host must be playing and players are subject to a tether. Console-only players generally cannot turn an Xbox or PlayStation into a conventional dedicated server with the PC SteamCMD method.
What counts as a “free” ARK server?
A free ARK server usually means no monthly hosting-company bill, not zero operating cost. You still need an always-on computer, electricity, upload bandwidth, router access, backups, updates, and time to troubleshoot.
| Option | Persistent? | Host must stay online? | Dedicated? | Cost to the player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-player | No | No | No | Free if you already own the game |
| Non-dedicated session | No | Yes, while playing | No | Free |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Yes, while your machine runs | Yes | Yes | No hosting fee, but hardware and internet have costs |
| Existing unofficial server | Maybe | No, for you | Yes | Usually free to join |
| Rented server | Yes | No | Yes | Paid |
| Free trial or promotion | Usually temporarily | No, for you | Usually yes | Free only during the promotion |
If you want a persistent world that you control, the practical free method is a self-hosted dedicated server on a PC.
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Choose ASA or ASE before installing anything
ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) and ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) use different dedicated-server applications and launch syntax. Do not copy an ASE command into an ASA installation or combine instructions from different editions.
- ASA: dedicated-server app ID
2430930. The current community setup documentation requires a 64-bit operating system and Windows or a Windows-like environment; ASA does not have native Linux dedicated-server support. See the ASA/ASE dedicated-server setup reference. - ASE: dedicated-server app ID
376030. ASE supports native Windows and Linux dedicated-server installations and has a broader selection of older management tools.
ASA also uses Epic Online Services for its server-list infrastructure, so server visibility and crossplay behavior can differ from older ASE guides. Platform compatibility depends on the edition, current game versions, and configuration.
Which free method fits you?
Self-host a dedicated server if:
- You have a spare Windows PC that can remain powered on.
- You want control of settings, saves, maps, and administration.
- You can configure your router and firewall.
- Your group accepts occasional maintenance and home-internet outages.
Use a non-dedicated session if:
- Only a few friends play together at the same time.
- You want the fastest setup with no SteamCMD or port forwarding.
- The host being present and the tether are acceptable.
Use a paid host if:
- The world must remain online while you are offline.
- You do not have a suitable PC.
- Console crossplay, backups, support, or easier administration matters.
- You do not want to expose an inbound service from your home network.
What you need for free self-hosting
This guide is for a PC-hosted dedicated server, not a console-only installation.
- A capable 64-bit PC. ASA is substantially more demanding than ASE, and the required capacity varies with map, mods, player count, and whether the machine also runs the game.
- Windows for the documented ASA route. ASE can also run on native Linux.
- Administrative access to install SteamCMD and create firewall rules.
- Reliable internet with strong upload capacity. The ARK community documentation recommends a 100 Mbps-or-better home connection for properly supporting a good number of players and gives approximately 60 KiB/s per connected player as a VPS planning guideline, depending on tick rate and world complexity. Treat these as planning figures, not universal minimums.
- A wired Ethernet connection whenever possible.
- Router access, a reserved local IP address, free disk space, and a backup plan.
A second PC is not mandatory, but it is preferable. Running the game and server on the same machine can cause CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth contention. A laptop may work for testing but can sleep, overheat, or lose its Wi-Fi connection.
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How to set up a free ASA server on Windows
1. Install SteamCMD
Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official SteamCMD documentation. You do not need to keep the ARK game client open while the dedicated server runs; SteamCMD downloads and updates the server files separately.
2. Create a server folder
For example:
C:arkserverLeave room for the binaries, updates, logs, optional mods, and ShooterGameSaved, which contains the world and configuration data.
3. Download the ASA server files
Run this SteamCMD command, adjusting the path if necessary:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quitThe interactive equivalent is:
force_install_dir C:arkserver
login anonymous
app_update 2430930 validate
exitIf anonymous downloads are rejected or unusually slow, Steam CDN throttling may be involved. A normal Steam login can sometimes help, especially when downloading or updating multiple mods. Never place a Steam password in a publicly shared script.
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4. Create the launch script
Inside the server installation, the executable is under a path equivalent to:
C:arkserverShooterGameBinariesWin64Create start_server.bat there or in a convenient folder. This basic ASA template starts The Island:
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyFreeARKServer?ServerPassword=JoinPassword?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=10?ServerAdminPassword=ReplaceThisAdminPassword -port=7777Replace the server name and both passwords with unique values. To allow anyone to join without a player password, remove the entire ?ServerPassword=JoinPassword section.
Important ASA difference: when changing the game port, use -port=7777, not the older ASE-style ?Port=7777. The community setup documentation also warns that ServerAdminPassword should be the final argument when using the question-mark parameter syntax; recheck the current ASA setup reference if a copied command fails after a patch.
5. Allow the ports through Windows Firewall
Press Win+R, enter wf.msc, and create inbound rules for:
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic | Yes |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer/server networking | Yes |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query and server browser | Usually |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON administration | Optional |
In Advanced Windows Firewall, create an inbound Port rule, select UDP or TCP, enter the required port, choose Allow the connection, and apply it to the appropriate network profiles. Do not open RCON unless you need it, and never use a weak administrator password.
6. Reserve the PC’s local IP address
Give the host a consistent address, such as 192.168.1.50, using a DHCP reservation in your router or a correctly configured static IP. If the address changes after a reboot, the router may forward traffic to the wrong computer.
7. Forward the ports on your router
Router labels vary, but look for Port Forwarding, NAT, or Virtual Server. Forward these ports to the host’s reserved local IP:
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UDP 7777 -> 192.168.1.50:7777
UDP 7778 -> 192.168.1.50:7778
UDP 27015 -> 192.168.1.50:27015
TCP 27020 -> 192.168.1.50:27020 (optional RCON)ARK may not configure these reliably through UPnP, so manual forwarding can be necessary. Multiple servers need separate port ranges.
8. Start and test the server
Run start_server.bat and wait for startup to finish and the save directories to appear. Search for the exact session name in ARK’s unofficial-server list using the correct edition and filters. The list may take time to populate because of search-rate limits. Steam players can also use Steam’s server browser and add the server by its public IP and query port.
Test from outside your home network if possible. Some routers do not support NAT loopback, so a connection test from the same Wi-Fi network can fail even when internet players can connect.
9. Back up the world before inviting everyone
Stop the server cleanly, then copy C:arkserverShooterGameSaved to a separate drive or machine. Back it up again before every server update and keep multiple dated versions. This directory contains world, player, tribe, configuration, log, and cluster data; a server that starts successfully but cannot preserve its save is not reliable.
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 problemsHow ASE differs
For ASE, install the dedicated-server files with app ID 376030:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 376030 validate +quitA basic ASE-style launch template is:
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyFreeARKServer?ServerPassword=JoinPassword?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=10?ServerAdminPassword=ReplaceThisAdminPasswordDo not reuse this command unchanged for ASA. ASE normally specifies the game port with ?Port=7777, while the documented ASA syntax uses -port=7777. ASE supports native Linux dedicated servers, and its Epic crossplay configuration may require arguments such as:
-crossplay -PublicIPForEpic=<public IP address>Those are ASE-specific crossplay considerations, not universal options for every ARK server. Also, ARK Server Manager is an ASE tool and is not supported for ASA according to the community setup documentation.
Free alternatives to a dedicated server
Non-dedicated multiplayer
A non-dedicated session is the easiest free option for occasional cooperative play. It requires no dedicated-server download and is quick to launch, but the host must be playing, the world is not always online, and the session has a tether or distance limitation. Performance is also shared with the host’s game. Call it free multiplayer hosting—not a free persistent dedicated server.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
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Join an existing unofficial server
This costs nothing to join, but someone else controls the settings, map, moderation, wipes, backups, uptime, rules, and any monetization. It is useful if you want a persistent world without owning or maintaining one.
Try a cloud free tier cautiously
A free cloud VM is not automatically suitable. Free tiers may have too little CPU or RAM, storage and transfer limits, inactivity suspensions, expiration dates, regional latency, credit-card requirements, or Windows licensing complications. Confirm that the provider permits game-server workloads and do not assume “free” means permanent.
Troubleshooting: why the server is missing or unreachable
The server does not appear in the browser
- Confirm the server process is still running and inspect its startup log.
- Use the exact server name, the correct unofficial-server category, and the correct edition.
- Check Windows Firewall rules for UDP
7777,7778, and27015. - Check that the router forwards to the host’s current reserved local IP.
- Wait for the server browser to refresh; listing can be delayed.
- Test from an external network and check whether the router supports NAT loopback.
- Check for CGNAT. Compare the router’s WAN address with the public IP shown by a reputable IP-check service; a private or carrier-range WAN address can indicate that inbound traffic is not reaching your router.
- Confirm that the public IP has not changed and that all players have compatible versions and platforms.
Players see it but cannot join
Check for a version mismatch, incorrect map name, incompatible mods, platform or crossplay mismatch, a mistyped player password, or a firewall rule that allows query traffic but not game traffic. On ASA, verify that the launch script uses -port=7777 rather than ASE’s ?Port=7777.
The world resets after a restart
Confirm that the same server directory is used every time and that the Windows account running the server can write to ShooterGameSaved. Stop the server, restore the latest known-good backup, and avoid updating before making another copy.
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Check disk space, permissions, the installation path, and whether a running server has locked files. Anonymous-login throttling and Steam CDN load can also affect downloads. Stop the server before updating and validate the files afterward.
Your ISP uses CGNAT
Port forwarding cannot overcome carrier-grade NAT by itself. Ask the ISP for a public IPv4 address, use a compatible overlay or tunnel only after checking its ARK and platform support, move to a paid VPS or game host, or use non-dedicated play. No generic tunnel is guaranteed to work with every ASA, ASE, or console configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep a free server online safely
- Disable sleep and hibernation on the server PC.
- Use wired Ethernet and reliable power where possible.
- Reserve the local IP address.
- Forward only the required ports and keep Windows patched.
- Use strong, unique server and administrator passwords.
- Avoid exposing RCON unless necessary; if enabled, secure it carefully.
- Back up
ShooterGameSavedto a separate device before updates. - Do not run unrelated sensitive services on the same machine.
- Remember that self-hosting exposes an inbound service from your home network. It does not automatically expose every device, but incorrect firewall or router settings increase risk.
When paid hosting is worth it
Renting a server is sensible when you need 24/7 availability without leaving a PC on, want a control panel and easier backups, need support, care about console crossplay, or do not want to configure inbound access at home.
As a time-sensitive reference, Nitrado’s ASA page showed US-dollar plans observed on August 18, 2026 at $24.99 for 30 days and 20 slots, while a 26-slot plan was listed at $32.29 for 30 days. The 20-slot plan excluded Astraeos and Lost Colony, while the 26-slot plan supported all listed maps. Nitrado advertises ASA crossplay among PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on its hosted service. Prices, maps, geography, and platform availability can change, so confirm the details at Nitrado’s current ASA page.
Those hosting-service crossplay claims should not be treated as proof that every free PC-hosted configuration accepts every console version. For ASE, check the edition-specific Nitrado ASE page rather than copying ASA availability.
For ASA commercial operation, review the current dedicated-server terms in the community setup documentation. It describes personal, non-commercial hosting limits and exceptions concerning donations and operating costs; that is a licensing issue, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I host a free dedicated ARK server on Xbox or PlayStation?
Console-only users generally cannot install and run the conventional PC SteamCMD dedicated-server software on the console itself. Use a non-dedicated session, join an existing unofficial server, or use a compatible paid host.
Can I host ASA on Linux?
The current ARK dedicated-server documentation says ASA has no native Linux dedicated-server support and requires Windows or a Windows-like environment. ASE supports native Linux.
Do I need to own ARK to run the dedicated server?
The server files are downloaded separately through SteamCMD using the dedicated-server application ID. You should still verify the current edition, platform, and licensing requirements before operating a server.
Can I play ARK on the same PC that runs the server?
Possibly, but the game and server compete for CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth. A separate always-on PC is usually more reliable.
How much RAM do I need?
There is no safe universal number: requirements vary by edition, map, mods, player count, and whether the host is also playing. ASA generally demands more capacity than ASE, so monitor memory and performance for your configuration.
Can a free PC-hosted server accept Xbox or PlayStation players?
Not automatically. Crossplay depends on edition, current platform compatibility, launch settings, and the service or configuration being used. Do not assume a self-hosted PC server has the same crossplay support advertised by a paid provider.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Does free self-hosting support mods?
Mod support depends on the edition, server configuration, and client compatibility. Mods also increase download time, storage needs, and update risk, so back up the save before changing the mod set.
What happens when the host PC shuts down?
The dedicated server stops and players cannot access the world until the machine and server process are running again. Sleep settings and power outages therefore matter for persistence.
Can I monetize a free ASA server?
Review the current ASA dedicated-server licensing terms before doing so. The community documentation describes restrictions on ordinary commercial hosting and specific exceptions; do not treat donations or cost recovery as blanket permission.
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