Squad dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
Squad here means the large-scale tactical FPS by Offworld Industries — infantry, vehicles and logistics on huge layers — not SquadJS (the Node.js admin/RCON bot some hosts integrate for that same game). A small friend group wants a private or seeded server so practice and unit nights aren’t stuck on a public queue. Shockbyte, GameTeam and BisectHosting sell it. Apex, Nodecraft and PebbleHost Squad page URLs we tried returned 404. Prices below were read from each host’s own Squad page. Confirm availability and the bill at checkout.
RAM, slots, layers and mods
- Friend-group fit: Shockbyte’s entry Squad Leader plan is labeled 15 players / 3 GB — the natural private-crew / practice band under ~$20. Commander (40+ players / 6 GB+) is full-match sized. GameTeam’s FAQ says about 80–100 players for standard competitive size, with unlimited slots on both tiers. Full 50v50 layers are community-scale; a passworded friend night can sit on a smaller labeled tier if the host allows it.
- RAM honesty (host claims only — Squad is heavy): GameTeam’s FAQ says 8–12 GB for full-size layers. Shockbyte starts at 3 GB on Squad Leader and 6 GB+ on Commander. Treat 3 GB as a light labeled entry for a tight private crew; budget toward 8–12 GB once vehicles, mods and full layers are in play. Confirm RAM at checkout.
- Mods (host claims only): Shockbyte claims Full Mod Support / Mod Support and documents Workshop mod IDs / collections. Bisect claims Fully Integrated Steam Workshop Support, Modding Support, and SquadJS Integration (admin bot — not the game). GameTeam’s FAQ says yes via mod.io (mods and custom layers declared server-side). Apex, Nodecraft and PebbleHost were not confirmed. See Night 6.
Comparison: Squad plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own Squad page (fetched 24 Oct 2026, NZDT). No third-party or search-summary prices are used. Recurring monthly figures are preferred over first-month sale teasers (sales disclosed where shown). TBD means the host page showed no clear plan total, or the page URLs we tried returned 404. Confirm at checkout.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Notes | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Squad Leader · 3 GB · 15 players · $7.99/mo | Commander · 6 GB+ · 40+ players · $18.00/mo | Full Mod Support claimed; Workshop mod/collection IDs; auto-updates & backups; DDoS; 72-hour refund; 3 GB is light once full layers and vehicles are active (GameTeam FAQ points at 8–12 GB) | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | Labeled 15-player friend/practice plan under ~$20 |
| GameTeam | From $0.49/GB (Budget) Host unit is /GB · per week; plan totals TBD without a chosen GB amount |
Premium from $0.74/GB Same weekly /GB unit; plan totals still TBD without a chosen GB amount |
FAQ: 8–12 GB for full-size layers; ~80–100 players; mod.io yes; AI copilot claimed; unlimited slots; 72-hour money-back | Global locations (check for AU) | Pay-by-the-GB toward 8–12 GB full layers |
| BisectHosting | TBD Squad page we read showed “… / GB” without a clear dollar rate |
TBD | Steam Workshop Support; Modding Support; SquadJS Integration (admin bot, not the game); swap to 110+ games; NVMe; DDoS; stock can vary | 21 locations; the page showed an out-of-stock notice for a location | Check price and stock at checkout |
| Apex Hosting | TBD Squad page URLs we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | EX Series copy lists AU hardware on other games — not verified for Squad | Home CTA / check directly |
| Nodecraft | TBD Squad page URLs we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | Sydney / Melbourne / Auckland listed on other games — not verified for Squad | Home CTA / check directly |
| PebbleHost | TBD Squad page URLs we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | Sydney listed for Minecraft | Home CTA / check directly |
Sources (host-owned): shockbyte.com, gameteam.io, bisecthosting.com (features / “… / GB”; clear dollar rate not displayed; out-of-stock notice). Apex, Nodecraft, PebbleHost: no host-owned Squad page found (404). No host is crowned “#1”. Squad full-size layers can be RAM-heavy — confirm RAM at checkout.
Oceania note
Squad’s infantry, vehicles and command VOIP punish long routes harder than a slow-burn survival craft game. AU/NZ groups should check at checkout for an AU / APAC node on Shockbyte (Melbourne company; global locations claimed), GameTeam’s global map, or Bisect stock (21 locations; out-of-stock notice on the page we read). Apex, Nodecraft and PebbleHost were not confirmed for Squad — their Oceania notes on other games do not transfer here. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Labeled friend/practice plan under ~$20: Shockbyte Squad Leader, $7.99/mo (3 GB / 15 players). Step up to Commander ($18.00) if you need 40+ seats — and still confirm whether 6 GB+ is enough once layers fill out.
- RAM toward full-size layers (host FAQ): GameTeam Budget from $0.49/GB · week, Premium from $0.74/GB · week — confirm plan total, term and 8–12 GB at checkout.
- If Bisect price/stock is hidden: use Shockbyte or GameTeam first; home CTA for Apex, Nodecraft or PebbleHost if you want to ask support whether Squad is coming.
- Similar nights: Rust friend wipe (Night 4), DayZ (Night 23) (milsim / Arma-adjacent survival feel), CS2 (Night 27). Also budget under ~$20 and Oceania ping.
Official links (affiliate placeholders)
Buttons below point at official sites today (game pages where the host sells Squad; home where it does not). 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.