Starbound dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
Starbound is a 2D space sandbox — ship, planets, colonies — and a small friend crew still wants an always-on universe between sessions. Shockbyte, Apex, BisectHosting, GameTeam and Nodecraft all sell it. PebbleHost page URLs we tried returned 404 (not sold as a listed game product on the catalog we read). Prices below were read from each host’s own Starbound page. Confirm availability and the bill at checkout.
RAM, slots, planets and mods
- Friend-group fit: Shockbyte’s Primitive plan is labeled 4 players / 2 GB; Industrial is 12 players / 4 GB; Atomic is 24+ / 5 GB+. Apex labels 1 GB “Minimum for Starbound”. Nodecraft does not cap slots. GameTeam’s FAQ says about 8–16 players comfortably, with unlimited slots on a per-GB price.
- RAM honesty (host claims only): GameTeam’s FAQ says Starbound needs 2–4 GB, rising as players visit and store more planets. Apex’s entry tier is 1 GB (labeled minimum). Shockbyte starts at 2 GB. Nodecraft sells 2 / 4 / 6 GB tiers. Treat 2 GB as a light friend-group entry; budget for 4 GB+ if the universe is heavily explored or modded.
- Mods: Shockbyte claims Full Mod Support and Steam Workshop compatibility. Bisect claims Integrated Steam Workshop Support and StarryPy3k Plugin API. GameTeam’s FAQ says Steam Workshop or the server mods folder. Nodecraft’s page says you can create modded servers / install modpacks (KB covers Workshop into the mods folder). Apex’s panel copy says you can install mods. Confirm at checkout. See Night 6.
Comparison: Starbound plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own Starbound page (fetched 24 Oct 2026, NZDT). No third-party or search-summary prices are used. For Nodecraft and Apex we quote the recurring price, not the first-month sale price (sales disclosed inline). 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 | Primitive · 4 players · 2 GB · $7.99/mo | Industrial · 12 players · 4 GB · $14.99/mo Atomic · 24+ players · 5 GB+ · $19.92/mo |
Full Mod Support / Steam Workshop claimed; auto-updates & backups, full file access, DDoS, 72-hour refund | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | Cheapest listed always-on friend-group entry with clear slot/RAM cards |
| Apex Hosting | 1 GB · $3.99/mo recurring First-month sale $2.99 (25% off); labeled “Minimum for Starbound” |
2 GB · $7.99/mo; 4 GB · $14.99/mo First-month sales $5.99 / $11.24; we quote recurring |
Panel: install mods, FTP, auto-updates; EX Series copy lists Ryzen 7 5800X (AU) | EX Series AU hardware listed on the page | Lowest recurring entry if 1 GB is enough for a light crew |
| BisectHosting | TBD Priced per GB; the rate didn’t display on the page we read |
TBD | Integrated Steam Workshop Support, StarryPy3k Plugin API, swap to 110+ games; stock can vary | 21 locations; the page showed an out-of-stock notice for a location | Check price and stock at checkout |
| GameTeam | From $0.49/GB (Budget) Advertised “from” rates; billing term and plan totals not shown. TBD |
TBD | FAQ: 2–4 GB, ~8–16 players, Steam Workshop or mods folder; weekly billing; 72-hour money-back; AI copilot claimed | Global locations (check for AU) | Groups that want weekly seasons while the universe grows |
| Nodecraft | Premium 24/7 · 2 GB · $9.98/mo Budget Wake & Play 2 GB $5.96 (first-month sale $4.17); comparison markup includes “Not recommended for this game” on Budget — confirm in UI |
Premium 4 GB · $19.98; 6 GB · $29.98 Budget 4 GB $11.92 · 6 GB $17.88 First-month sales disclosed on page; we quote recurring |
Static IP (Premium), save-and-swap, no host slot cap; Budget hibernates when unused; modded servers / modpacks claimed | Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland listed on the page | AU/NZ groups who want 24/7 RAM for a long-running universe |
| PebbleHost | TBD Starbound page URLs we tried returned 404; not sold as a listed game product on the catalog we read |
TBD | Not confirmed | Sydney listed for Minecraft | Home CTA / check directly |
Sources (host-owned): shockbyte.com, apexminecrafthosting.com, bisecthosting.com (features only), gameteam.io, nodecraft.com. No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
Starbound is 2D and fairly forgiving on latency, but colony fights and ship boarding still feel better on a shorter route. AU/NZ groups should look at Nodecraft (Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland listed on the page), Apex EX Series AU hardware, or check at checkout for an AU node on Shockbyte or GameTeam, or Bisect stock. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Listed under ~$20: Apex 1–4 GB ($3.99–$14.99 recurring); Shockbyte Primitive $7.99, Industrial $14.99, Atomic $19.92; Nodecraft Premium 2 GB $9.98 and 4 GB $19.98 — under the ~$20 budget (confirm RAM fit as planets accumulate).
- More RAM near AU/NZ: Nodecraft Premium 6 GB ($29.98) rather than Budget Wake & Play if you want 24/7.
- Weekly seasons while the universe grows (host claim): GameTeam from $0.49/GB — confirm plan total and RAM at checkout (FAQ points at 2–4 GB).
- Similar nights: Terraria (Night 9), Core Keeper (Night 18), Vintage Story (Night 35) and Minecraft small group (Night 1).
Official links (affiliate placeholders)
Buttons below point at official sites today (game pages where the host sells Starbound; 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.