DayZ dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
DayZ is a hardcore zombie survival sandbox, and even a private server for a few friends needs a lot of RAM. Shockbyte starts at 8 GB for 8 players, and Nodecraft calls 8 GB “Minimum Viable”. Shockbyte and Nodecraft both sell it. All prices below were read from the hosts’ own DayZ pages.
RAM, slots and mods
- Up to 8 friends: 8 GB (Shockbyte Berezino; Nodecraft “Minimum Viable”).
- Up to 24 players or modded: 10 GB (Shockbyte Elektro; Nodecraft calls 10 GB “Best Value”).
- 40+ players or heavy mods: 12–14 GB+ (Shockbyte Cherno 12 GB+; Nodecraft 14 GB).
- Mods: Shockbyte says it supports the DZSA Launcher and DayZ Expansion. Nodecraft offers SFTP and a file manager for uploads. Every player needs the same mods, which DZSA Launcher handles. See Night 6.
- Maps: Shockbyte has a guide to changing maps on its page.
Comparison: DayZ plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own DayZ page (fetched 23 Oct 2026), shown as the recurring monthly price. No third-party or search-summary prices are used. TBD means the host page showed no price, or the page returned 404. Confirm at checkout.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Mods / notes | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Berezino · 8 GB · 8 players · $19.99/mo | Elektro 10 GB · 24 players · $28.99 Cherno 12 GB+ · 40+ · $36.00 |
DZSA Launcher and DayZ Expansion support, FTP, backups, 72-hour refund | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | The only confirmed always-on 8 GB plan under $20 |
| Nodecraft | Premium 24/7 8 GB · $39.98 recurring Budget Wake & Play 8 GB $23.84 (hibernates; Nodecraft says “not recommended for this game”) |
Premium next tier up $49.98 Budget 10 GB $29.80 · 14 GB $41.72 |
Sub-users, SFTP, automated tasks, no slot limit, free 24-hour trial | Sydney & Melbourne (network-wide) | AU/NZ groups who want a polished panel and accept the 24/7 price |
| BisectHosting | TBD The DayZ page URL we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | — | Check whether Bisect offers it |
| Apex Hosting | TBD The DayZ page URL we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | — | Check whether Apex offers it |
| GameTeam | TBD | TBD | TBD | Not confirmed | Check directly |
| PebbleHost | TBD | TBD | TBD | Sydney listed for Minecraft | Check directly |
Sources (host-owned, fetched 23 Oct 2026): shockbyte.com, nodecraft.com. No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
DayZ gunfights are unforgiving. High ping means desynced shots and losing to players you couldn’t see. AU/NZ groups: Nodecraft (Sydney and Melbourne) or Shockbyte if it has an AU node at checkout. Ping-test before paying for a year. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Up to 8 friends, always on: Shockbyte Berezino 8 GB, $19.99, just inside the ~$20 budget.
- Modded (Expansion) or bigger groups: Shockbyte Elektro 10 GB, $28.99 — or see the full Night 76 DayZ modded page.
- AU/NZ, polished panel: Nodecraft Premium 8 GB, $39.98.
- Other zombie survival games: 7 Days to Die (Night 10), Project Zomboid (Night 13). Similar PvP survival: Rust (Night 4).
Official links (affiliate placeholders)
Buttons below point at official sites today. Tracked affiliate URLs will replace the #aff-* anchors once programs approve — see affiliates.md.
Related (pipeline)
Affiliate disclosure
HostForTheSquad may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page (Shockbyte, Apex, BisectHosting, GameTeam, and others when approved). Commission rates do not decide table rows or “best for” notes. Prices and stock change — always verify on the host’s site before you pay.