Team Fortress 2 dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
A private TF2 server for your group’s maps, Mann vs. Machine or a casual 12v12. Shockbyte, Nodecraft, GameTeam and Bisect all sell it. Prices below were read from each host’s own page.
Slots and RAM
- Small friend group (6–12 players): 1–2 GB. Shockbyte’s Scout tier is 1 GB. Nodecraft labels its 2 GB tier “Best for 1–14 players”.
- A full 24–32 player server or many plugins: GameTeam’s FAQ suggests 2–4 GB. Shockbyte’s tiers go to Soldier (3 GB) and Heavy (5 GB+).
- Slots: Nodecraft and GameTeam say they don’t cap slots. Shockbyte lists RAM only, so check slot limits at checkout.
SourceMod, MetaMod and custom maps
- Shockbyte: SourceMod, MetaMod, Workshop and plugin support, custom maps, FTP.
- GameTeam: MetaMod and SourceMod, set up by its AI assistant, plus fast download for custom maps.
- Bisect: full mod support and an instance manager.
- Nodecraft: separate servers for different game modes and maps, with save-and-swap.
- Custom maps need fast download, or friends get kicked when they join. See Night 6.
Comparison: Team Fortress 2 plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own TF2 page (fetched 24 Oct 2026, NZDT). No third-party or search-summary prices are used. For Nodecraft we quote the recurring price, not the first-month sale price. TBD means the host page showed no price, or the page URLs we tried returned 404. Confirm at checkout.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Mod notes | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Scout · 1 GB · $9.99/mo | Soldier 3 GB · $14.99 Heavy 5 GB+ · $19.99 |
SourceMod, MetaMod, Workshop, custom maps; 72-hour refund | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | A plugin-ready friends’ server |
| Nodecraft | Premium 24/7 · 2 GB · $9.98/mo Budget Wake & Play 2 GB $5.96 (Nodecraft labels it “not recommended for this game”) |
Premium 3 GB · $14.98; 4 GB · TBD Budget 3 GB $8.94 · 4 GB $11.92 |
Unlimited slots, static IP (Premium), save-and-swap | Sydney & Melbourne network-wide | Always-on server near AU/NZ |
| GameTeam | From $0.49/GB Advertised “from” rate; billing term and plan totals not shown. TBD |
TBD | SourceMod and MetaMod set up by its AI assistant, fast download, unlimited slots, weekly billing, 72-hour refund | Global locations (check for AU) | Community-style servers paid by the week |
| BisectHosting | TBD Priced per GB; the rate didn’t display on the page we read |
TBD | Full mod support, instance manager, 3-day backups, swap to 110+ games | 21 locations; the page showed an out-of-stock notice for a location | Switching between several game modes |
| Apex Hosting | TBD The TF2 page URL we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | — | Check directly |
| PebbleHost | TBD The TF2 page URL we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | Sydney listed for Minecraft | Check directly |
Sources (host-owned): shockbyte.com, nodecraft.com, gameteam.io, bisecthosting.com (features only). No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
TF2 hitscan (Scout, Sniper, Heavy) and airblast timing feel wrong at more than about 100 ms. AU/NZ groups should pick Sydney or Melbourne: Nodecraft lists both network-wide, and you should check at checkout for Shockbyte and GameTeam, or Bisect stock. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Friends’ casual or MvM server: Nodecraft Premium 2 GB ($9.98) or Shockbyte Scout ($9.99). Both fit the ~$20 budget.
- Many plugins or a full 24-player server: Shockbyte Soldier ($14.99) or Nodecraft 3 GB ($14.98).
- More Source-engine nights: Counter-Strike 2 (Night 27), Left 4 Dead 2 (Night 26) and Garry’s Mod (Night 25).
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.