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ARK community server

Rent an ARK: Survival Evolved Server

Gather your tribe, choose the right size and start your own persistent ARK world – with the same transparent resources and prices.

Entry price€14.56
Your launch plan20 slots · 12 GB RAM · 48 GB NVMe · up to 3 vCPU

✓ Set up in about 30 min · Workshop mods via mod ID and file manager · No long-term commitment

1Choose your team size
2Resources scale automatically
3Set up the server and play
ARK control panel console preview on the mcfreehost landing page
Real control panel preview

Your world, clearly managed in one place

The panel guides your tribe straight to the console, settings, files and backups. This preview comes from the real ARK area.

Live consoleARK settings without file huntingFile manager and backups
Rent an ARK: Survival Evolved Server

Configure server

ARK: Survival Evolved · from €14.56/month

Claude Code · Codex

Tell your game server what you have in mind.

Connect Claude Code or Codex to your server. Ask your assistant to install plugins, adjust settings or investigate startup issues. You choose which servers it can access.

Check my server status. Do not change anything yet.
See examples

Integration included at no extra charge. You need a compatible AI assistant; its provider may charge separately.

from €14.56/mo

Configure now No long-term minimum
The Steam Workshop mod browser surfaces S+ and other popular mods right in the dashboard.
Clusters link several maps into one world your group can travel between.
The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Genesis and more official maps are all available.
Choose DE or FR location (paid plan)
Typical initial setup: about 30 minutes. Queues or large installations can take longer.
610+ servers hosted
The Steam Workshop mod browser surfaces S+ and other popular mods right in the dashboard.
Clusters link several maps into one world your group can travel between.
The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Genesis and more official maps are all available.
Size RAM and storage to your group and mod selection.
Upload a local save through the file manager instead of starting fresh.
Your own subdomain replaces the IP address: my-ark.mc.mcfreehost.com
Data-Center DDoS Protection Included at every location
NVMe SSD Fast Storage
DE or FR Selectable on paid plans
Scheduled Backups Manual or scheduled

Transparent features with no hidden costs

The configurator shows which features and protection apply to your server before you order.

Custom Subdomain

Choose your own address like mein-server.mc.mcfreehost.com — no ugly IP:Port combinations.

Free Extras

One click in the dashboard: Uptime Kuma, Game Server Watcher and one bot such as Sinusbot are included per server at no extra cost. Every additional bot costs extra.

Uptime Kuma Sinusbot Server Watcher

Automated setup

Typical initial setup: about 30 minutes. Queues or large installations can take longer.

Zero-config setup

Rent an ARK server on a budget — dinos for everyone

Fossil

Mods via Workshop ID

S+ Structures, stacking mods or dino mods: enter the Steam Workshop ID and the mod lands on your server.

Dinosaur Rex

Switch maps any time

From The Island to Ragnarok to Genesis — every official map plus custom maps, with switching included.

Crossed Swords

Clusters for your community

Link several ARK servers into a cluster and transfer characters and dinos between maps — perfect when your group grows.

Flame Claws

12 GB minimum, honestly calculated

ARK is resource-hungry: little works below 12 GB, and for multiplayer with mods 16 GB is the recommendation. Heavily modded servers with many players run stable on 20 GB.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a ARK: Survival Evolved server cost?
A ARK: Survival Evolved server costs from €14.56 per month with us (from 20 slots), up to €38.31 for the largest tier. The configurator shows the exact monthly price before you pay; the subscription can be cancelled monthly.
Can we switch maps later?
Any time in the control panel. Every official map is available — The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis 1 & 2, Fjordur, Lost Island and more.
What is a cluster and do we need one?
A cluster links several ARK servers so you can travel between maps with your characters and dinos. It is set up via the control panel — worth it once one map gets too small for your group.
How much RAM should we plan for?
ARK is resource-hungry: little works below 12 GB, and for multiplayer with mods 16 GB is the recommendation. Heavily modded servers with many players run stable on 20 GB.
How big can our group get?
We support up to 70 players — ARK's own server default. You choose the slot count in the configurator: the bookable entry tier includes 20 slots, then the price scales without package jumps. The matching RAM scales automatically: 20 players receive 12 GB, 40 players 20 GB and 70 players 32 GB. Many community servers stay at 20–40 players, which runs noticeably smoother.
How do S+ and other mods get onto the server?
Use the built-in mod browser to research 29,000+ Steam Workshop mods such as Structures Plus, Dino Storage v2 or Awesome SpyGlass. Automatic installation is not currently enabled for ARK: check compatibility and set up mods manually via mod ID or the file manager. Everyone needs the same mods.
Our save is still local — is it lost?
No. Upload the .ark save files via the file manager and continue on the server — characters, dinos and bases stay intact.
Do I get a subdomain for my server?
Every mcfreehost server ships with its own address such as yourserver.mc.mcfreehost.com right from the start. Rename it anytime from the dashboard — no ticket required.
What do add-ons like bots and databases cost?
Monitoring and database add-ons — Uptime Kuma, MariaDB, phpMyAdmin, Game Server Watcher — never carry a surcharge. For music and chat bots, the first slot you activate is included; every additional bot is billed on top, and the dashboard shows the exact cost before you switch it on.
How long until I can actually play?
Typical initial setup: about 30 minutes. Queues or large installations can take longer. Larger Steam installs can take a bit longer depending on the game.
Am I locked into a long-term contract?
No — you are on a subscription that renews monthly, and you can cancel it from the dashboard whenever you like; the same goes for turning off automatic renewal.
Are the servers located in Germany?
You choose the location at checkout: Germany (Falkenstein and Limburg) or France (Roubaix) — all in the EU, connected to the major European exchanges. Low pings for players across Germany, Austria and Switzerland at both locations, and solid latency for the rest of Europe.
Which provider is best for my server?
The best provider is the one that shows you what you get before you pay: RAM, slots, location, price and cancellation terms. Here the price and resources are visible in the configurator before checkout, there is no minimum term and setup is automated — feel free to compare that with other offers. ARK: Survival Evolved starts here at 14.56 EUR per month, and setup typically takes about 30 minutes.
Should I host the server myself or rent one?
Self-hosting costs power, time and a machine that runs around the clock; port forwarding, updates and backups are on you. A rented server is online within minutes, keeps running when your PC is off, and updates and backups are included; data-center DDoS protection is included at every location. For one or two friends on a single evening self-hosting is often fine — for a persistent world, renting pays off.
Can I increase or decrease the RAM later?
Yes, you can do it yourself in the customer area using a slider. An upgrade takes effect immediately: you only pay the prorated difference for the remaining term, and the new price applies from the next renewal. A downgrade takes effect on the next renewal date. Your world, settings and subdomain are kept, and depending on the game, a restart is required afterwards. With monthly payment and a minimum term, the change is only possible once that term has ended, and for games with a slot-based plan it is not available.
Jump to configurator