Sons of the Forest dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
Sons of the Forest is a co-op survival horror game for up to 8 players, and it needs a lot of RAM. Every host we checked starts at 6–8 GB, so it costs more than Terraria or V Rising. All prices below were read from the hosts’ own Sons of the Forest pages.
RAM and slots
- Host minimums: Apex calls 6 GB the “Minimum for Sons of the Forest”. Shockbyte’s only plan is 8 GB+ for 8 players, and Nodecraft starts at 8 GB (“Best for 1–4 players”).
- 4 friends: 8 GB is the common starting point.
- 8 friends (the game’s cap) or big bases: 10–12 GB gives headroom. That’s our rule of thumb, based on the host ladders.
- Mods: Shockbyte lists “Full Mod Support”, Apex mentions installing mods from the panel, and Bisect lists modding support. See Night 6.
Comparison: Sons of the Forest plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own 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 we could read. Confirm at checkout.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Notes | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Kelvin · 8 GB+ · 8 players · $19.99/mo | No other tier listed | Full mod support, file access, backups, 72-hour refund | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | The only confirmed 8 GB always-on plan under $20 |
| Apex Hosting | 6 GB · $22.49 recurring $16.87 first month |
8 GB $27.99 · 16 GB $71.99 (also EX: dedicated cores, Ryzen 7 5800X in AU) | Mod installs from the panel, FTP, free subdomain | AU EX hardware listed | Groups who want the polished panel |
| BisectHosting | TBD | TBD | Modding support, instance manager, game swapping, automatic updates | 21 locations; the page showed an out-of-stock notice for a location | Check the price and Sydney stock at checkout |
| GameTeam | TBD | TBD | TBD | Not confirmed | Check its Sons of the Forest page directly |
| 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 · 12 GB $35.76 |
Sub-users, SFTP, automated tasks, no slot limit | Sydney & Melbourne (network-wide) | AU/NZ groups who don’t mind paying for 24/7 |
| PebbleHost | TBD | TBD | TBD | Sydney listed for Minecraft; check for SotF | Check the product page directly |
Sources (host-owned, fetched 23 Oct 2026): shockbyte.com, apexminecrafthosting.com, bisecthosting.com (features only), nodecraft.com. No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
Cannibal fights and building co-op desync on long routes. AU/NZ groups: Nodecraft (Sydney and Melbourne), Apex (AU EX hardware), and Shockbyte or Bisect if they have an AU node in stock at checkout. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Up to 8 friends, cheapest confirmed: Shockbyte Kelvin 8 GB, $19.99, just inside the ~$20 budget.
- Smallest RAM with a panel: Apex 6 GB, $22.49 (Apex’s stated minimum).
- Weekend-only AU group: Nodecraft Wake & Play 8 GB, $23.84 (hibernates).
- Similar survival games: 7 Days to Die (Night 10), Project Zomboid (Night 13), Enshrouded (Night 15).
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.