Project Zomboid dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
Build 42 needs more server RAM than older builds. Plans sized for Build 41 now feel tight, and Steam Workshop mod lists push RAM higher. Below: RAM and slots, Workshop support, Oceania locations and prices, with each price source labelled.
RAM and slots (Build 42)
- Build 42 base: about 6 GB just to load the world, before any mods³.
- 4–6 friends, vanilla: 8 GB is comfortable³. Shockbyte’s 4 GB Wood Axe plan is described as likely too small for Build 42³.
- ~50 Workshop mods: 10–12 GB³.
- Heavy mods and map overhauls: 12–16 GB³.
- Players spread across the map keep more cells loaded, which uses more RAM than the same group in one town.
The developer hasn’t published an official minimum. These figures are editorial estimates from 2026 guides³.
Mods / Steam Workshop
Zomboid servers load mods from Workshop IDs and mod IDs in the server config. Bisect advertises fully integrated Steam Workshop support on its own page. Shockbyte lists full mod support and a Workshop install guide on its own page. Check that the host lets you pick the Build 42 or Build 41 branch, because mods are built for one or the other. More on mods by host: Night 6.
Comparison: Project Zomboid plans
Price sources: Shockbyte prices are from its own Zomboid page (Oct 2026). Bisect features are from its own page, but its per-GB price is third-party (³). Nodecraft prices are TBD (not confirmed on a host-owned page). Confirm all third-party figures at checkout. TBD means we couldn’t confirm it.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Workshop / mods | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Wood Axe · 4 GB · 6 players · $11.99/mo Tight for Build 42³ |
Metal Pipe 6 GB · 10 players · $16.99 Chainsaw 8 GB+ · 16+ · $20.00 |
Full mod support and Workshop guide; Build 42 available; 72-hour refund | Australia location (Melbourne company) | The Chainsaw 8 GB plan is the realistic Build 42 pick for 4–8 friends |
| Apex Hosting | TBD | TBD | Mod support³ | APAC hardware listed for other games; check for Zomboid | Check its Zomboid page directly |
| BisectHosting | ~$3/GB³ (so 8 GB ≈ $24, worked out from that rate). Confirm the exact price at checkout. | Same per-GB rate³ | Integrated Steam Workshop, automatic updates, 3 days of backups (Bisect’s own page) | Sydney among 21 locations; stock varies | Big Workshop mod lists |
| GameTeam | TBD | TBD | TBD | Not confirmed | Check its Zomboid page directly |
| Nodecraft | TBD No price confirmed from Nodecraft’s own page |
TBD | SFTP / panel; Wake & Play hibernates (poor fit for a persistent world³) | Sydney & Melbourne | AU/NZ groups who want a 24/7 world |
| PebbleHost | TBD | TBD | TBD | Sydney listed for Minecraft; check for Zomboid | Check the product page directly |
Sources (Oct 2026), host-owned: shockbyte.com Zomboid, bisecthosting.com Zomboid (features). ³ Third-party: itechguides Zomboid 2026, Supercraft RAM/pricing guide (Sep 2026), plus a search summary for the Apex and Nodecraft feature notes (no prices taken from it). Confirm at checkout. No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
Zomboid melee and zombie desync get worse with latency, and losing a character to lag hurts. AU/NZ groups: shortlist Shockbyte (AU), Nodecraft (Sydney and Melbourne) and Bisect if Sydney has stock. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- 4–8 friends, Build 42, light mods: Shockbyte Chainsaw 8 GB, $20.00. That’s right at the ~$20 line.
- Big Workshop list: Bisect at 10–12 GB. Price it at checkout.
- Avoid: 4 GB plans for Build 42 unless it’s 2–3 friends on vanilla.
- Other zombie survival games: 7 Days to Die (Night 10). Other base-builders: Satisfactory (Night 12).
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.