FiveM server hosting 2026: How to choose and what it costs

Own PC, rented server, VPS or dedicated: which should you use?

Most people starting out should rent a FiveM server, because it is ready in minutes with a web panel, txAdmin and backups. Your own PC only suits testing, a VPS suits owners who maintain everything themselves, and a dedicated server gives you a whole machine to run.

Cfx.re says you can set a server up in under 5 minutes through one of its authorized hosting partners (opens in a new tab), and its docs call a game server hosting provider (opens in a new tab) the fastest and easiest way to start. On a VPS or dedicated server you pick Windows or Linux: the docs call the Linux build a courtesy port and say issues are more likely to be fixed on Windows. Our guide on FiveM server artifacts shows how to keep either one up to date. To follow the steps on a rented server, read How to make a FiveM server.

What to look for in a FiveM host

Compare player slots, RAM, CPU, disk, server location, DDoS protection, FiveM support and txAdmin access. First check that the host is on Cfx.re's list of authorized hosting partners, then match the plan to your player count and your resource list, not only to the price.

At the time of writing, Cfx.re's hosting page (opens in a new tab) lists GPORTAL, Shockbyte, Nitrado, Nodecraft, xREALM and ZAP-Hosting as authorized partners. The list can change.

FiveM hosts compared: ZAP-Hosting and the other partners

Cfx.re's six authorized partners look alike on the basics, and custom clothing costs the same at all of them. The table shows what we could read on each host's own public pages in November 2026, in alphabetical order. We haven't tested these hosts, and "Not checked" means we couldn't confirm it.

What size of FiveM server do you need?

Start from the players you expect at once and the resources you run. A server holds 48 players by default, and going above that needs a Cfx.re plan. Memory and CPU use grow with your resources, so take the host's recommended minimum at checkout and upgrade when its load statistics say you need more.

• Players. Count the most players you expect online together, not your community's total size. The limit is set by sv_maxclients in server.cfg.
• Resources. ZAP-Hosting's troubleshooting guide (opens in a new tab) says the requirements vary greatly with the extensions you use (mods, plugins, resources) and the expected number of players, and that the host shows a recommended minimum during ordering.
• Load. The ZAP-Hosting dashboard (opens in a new tab) shows slot, CPU and memory load for the last hour up to 30 days, so you can see when a change made it climb.

## server.cfgsv_maxclients 48    # the most players at once; above 48 needs a Cfx.re plan

We found no official RAM figure per player from Cfx.re or from ZAP-Hosting, so we don't give one. ZAP-Hosting's FiveM page says a RAM Boost upgrade or downgrade applies after the next server restart.

How much does FiveM server hosting cost in 2026?

As of November 2026, ZAP-Hosting's FiveM page (opens in a new tab) lists FiveM server hosting from $8.85 a month, or from $77.84 one time as a Lifetime Server. The Cfx.re license key is free, and plans that raise the 48-player limit are paid separately.

The price that surprises most owners is the Cfx.re plan. It is paid on top of the host, so a server with custom clothing costs from about $23.85 a month plus VAT, before the coupon:

The ZAP-Hosting prices come from their FiveM page, which shows the currency for your region, and from the Cfx.re server issues (opens in a new tab) page for the 48-slot limit. Prices vary by plan and slots, so check the page when you order. For the Element Club tiers, see How to add custom clothing to your FiveM server. Other hosts' prices are in the table above where their pages showed one.

Why we pick ZAP-Hosting for FiveM

We pick ZAP-Hosting (opens in a new tab) as our affiliate host for FiveM because Cfx.re lists it as an authorized partner and its servers include txAdmin, FTP access, backups and DDoS protection. We may earn a commission if you buy through our link or coupon. This is our pick, not a test or a ranking.

Use the coupon alivegames-a-2693 for 20% off. This is what ZAP-Hosting's FiveM page lists:

• ✓Listed by Cfx.re as an authorized hosting partner
• ✓ZAP-Hosting says a FiveM server is online within minutes of ordering
• ✓txAdmin is included, so you manage the server from the browser
• ✓Free FTP access for mods and scripts, and an online config editor
• ✓Backups with a click, and DDoS protection included
• ✓NVMe storage, and a one-time Lifetime option next to monthly billing

The banner is ZAP-Hosting's own image, and the starting price printed on it can differ from their current FiveM page. The prices in this guide come from the page.

Questions about FiveM server hosting

These answers cover which hosts can stream custom clothing, what FiveM hosting costs, whether the Cfx.re license is free, how many players a server holds, how to use the coupon and whether a rented server still needs updates. Prices and plans change, so check the host's page when you order.