Overview

ScalaCube provides hosted servers for Minecraft and games including ARK, Rust, Valheim, Terraria, and Project Zomboid. Its Minecraft offering combines a free server option with paid plans starting at $2/mo (excl. VAT). The free plan costs 0.00 USD per free, requires no credit card, and has no time limit, but it is not a set-and-forget server: it must be renewed every 2 days and is deleted if a renewal is missed.

For Minecraft, ScalaCube advertises instant setup and one-click installation of more than 3,298 modpacks. Player slots are described as unlimited, but that does not mean unlimited capacity: RAM, CPU, and disk space depend on the plan. The service lists 14 server locations, including options in the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Key features

Minecraft setup and customization

Minecraft servers support modpacks, plugins, custom JARs, BungeeCord, and full file access. The advertised one-click modpack catalog spans CurseForge, ATLauncher, FTB, Technic, Voids Wrath, and Modrinth. Users can also upload custom modpacks. ScalaCube notes that some modding features on the free plan may require an upgrade to a premium subscription.

Management and protection

The Minecraft control panel includes FTP and RCON, plus a LAMP stack and PHPMyAdmin. ScalaCube lists DDoS protection and automated backups among its Minecraft hosting features. However, its plan details separately mark automatic backups as unavailable, so prospective customers should confirm which backup behavior applies to the plan they choose.

Launcher and support

The ScalaCube Launcher is a standalone Windows application for managing servers and launching game clients. It also supports creating and sharing custom modpacks. For presales questions, ScalaCube directs users to live chat; server issues go through support tickets. The support guide says ticket responses are handled Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

ScalaCube advertises a 7 day money back guarantee for Minecraft hosting. It also accepts responsible vulnerability reports through its ticket system, with compensation for eligible reports depending on severity and impact.

Pricing

ScalaCube uses a freemium model. The free Minecraft server plan is 0.00 USD per free, with no credit card required and no time limit, subject to the renewal and deletion rules above. Paid Minecraft hosting is listed at 2.00 USD per month; the starting-price page does not specify billing details. The stated pricing note is Free plan · paid from $2/mo (excl. VAT).

Plan resources remain important even with unlimited player slots. An 8 GB server is listed at 24 /mo, while the largest plan offers 64 GB. The listed price per GB RAM is 3.33 /GB/mo. The free plan does not include mods according to the plan details, and some modding features may require premium access.

Platforms

ScalaCube lists Linux, web, and Windows platforms. The separate ScalaCube Launcher is for Windows. Bedrock support is available, with native Bedrock Dedicated Server, PocketMine, and Nukkit software options. Java–Bedrock crossplay is also listed.

Who it's for

ScalaCube may suit Minecraft groups that want an easy route to a modded server, access to common server customization options, or Bedrock hosting alongside Java–Bedrock crossplay. Its free tier can provide a no-cost starting point, but the recurring renewal requirement and missed-renewal deletion rule make it less suitable for anyone who needs a server to remain available without regular attention.

It may also appeal to communities hosting ARK, Rust, Valheim, Terraria, or Project Zomboid servers. Groups choosing a paid plan should weigh their required RAM, CPU, and disk space against the plan limits rather than treating unlimited slots as a guarantee of capacity.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free Minecraft hosting is available without a credit card or time limit.
Pros: Minecraft supports modpacks, plugins, custom JARs, BungeeCord, and full file access.
Pros: Bedrock hosting and Java–Bedrock crossplay are listed, with three Bedrock server software options.
Pros: The service lists 14 locations and a 7 day money back guarantee for Minecraft hosting.
Cons: The free server must be renewed every 2 days and is deleted if a renewal is missed.
Cons: Free hosting does not include mods, and some modding features require a premium subscription.
Cons: Unlimited player slots do not remove plan limits on RAM, CPU, or disk space.
Cons: Support-ticket responses are handled Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Alternatives

For players comparing hosting options for other games, browse Eco server hosts, Starbound server hosts, and Core Keeper server hosts. Eco-specific alternatives include GGServers Eco Server Hosting, Akliz ECO Server Hosting, NordikServer Eco Server Hosting, Game Host Bros Eco Server Hosting, AleForge ECO Server Hosting, CreeperHost ECO Server Hosting, Eokko Eco Server, and Host Havoc Eco Server Hosting.

Verdict

ScalaCube’s strongest case is its range of Minecraft setup and customization options, including a broad one-click modpack catalog, custom uploads, Bedrock support, and crossplay. The free tier lowers the barrier to starting a server, but its short renewal cycle and deletion rule are meaningful constraints. Paid plans start at $2/mo (excl. VAT), while actual capacity depends on the selected plan’s resources. Check the plan limits and backup terms against the needs of your community before choosing.

	Hostari	ScalaCube
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	$2/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web	Linux, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	Yes
Paid from	19.69 /mo	2 /mo
Automatic backups	Yes	—
DDoS protection	Yes	—

Hostari vs ScalaCube

Hostari

ScalaCube