Which Minecraft plan should I choose? (RAM vs players vs modpacks) Print

This article helps you choose the right PlayNHost Minecraft plan based on how many players you expect and whether you want to use plugins or heavy modpacks.

1. Open the Minecraft plans page

1. Go to https://playnhost.com.
2. In the top navigation, click MINECRAFT HOSTING.
3. You will see the Minecraft Server Hosting page with all available plans grouped by use case.

2. How our Minecraft plans are organised

On the Minecraft page, plans are grouped into three main sections:

• PLAY VANILLA – Ideal for small groups using light plugins.
• PLAY WITH MODPACKS – Recommended plans for heavy modpacks.
• START A COMMUNITY SERVER – Designed for larger servers with many players.

Each plan shows:

• A plan name (for example: SAND, STONE, COAL, IRON, GOLD, LAPIS, REDSTONE, DIAMOND, EMERALD, AMETHYST, OBSIDIAN, NETHERITE, BEACON).
• The recommended number of players (for example, “5+ Players”).
• The amount of RAM included.
• A first-month discount such as “30% OFF FIRST MONTH”.

3. Small vanilla servers (friends & light plugins)

If you want a mostly vanilla server for a small group of friends with light plugins only, the PLAY VANILLA plans are the best starting point:

• SAND – 3+ Players | 1GB RAM
  Good for a very small vanilla world with a couple of friends and minimal plugins.
• STONE – 5+ Players | 2GB RAM
  Ideal for a small group of friends playing vanilla with a few lightweight plugins.
• COAL – 8+ Players | 3GB RAM
  Better if you expect more players online at the same time or want to use more plugins.
• IRON – 15+ Players | 4GB RAM
  A solid choice if you expect up to around a dozen players online regularly.
• GOLD – 20+ Players | 5GB RAM
  Great for slightly larger private servers that still mostly play vanilla.
• LAPIS – 25+ Players | 6GB RAM
  Suitable for more active vanilla servers with more players and plugins.

Recommendation: If you are brand new and only playing with a few friends, start with STONE or COAL. If you expect 10–20 players fairly quickly, look at IRON or GOLD.

4. Servers with modpacks & heavier setups

If you plan to run heavier modpacks (for example packs from CurseForge, FTB, ATLauncher, or Technic) or a lot of mods/plugins, we recommend using the PLAY WITH MODPACKS plans:

• REDSTONE – 30+ Players | 7GB RAM
  A strong starting point for many popular modpacks and modded servers.
• DIAMOND – 30+ Players | 8GB RAM
  Better if you expect more people online or a slightly heavier modpack.
• EMERALD – 40+ Players | 10GB RAM
  Recommended for larger or more demanding modpacks.
• AMETHYST – 45+ Players | 12GB RAM
  Ideal for heavy modded setups and busy servers with many players online at once.

Recommendation:

• For light to medium modpacks, start with REDSTONE or DIAMOND.
• For heavy modpacks or multiple modpacks, consider EMERALD or AMETHYST for more headroom.

5. Large community servers

If you are running a larger public or community server, or you know you will have a lot of players online regularly, look at the START A COMMUNITY SERVER plans:

• OBSIDIAN – 60+ Players | 16GB RAM
• NETHERITE – 60+ Players | 24GB RAM
• BEACON – 60+ Players | 32GB RAM

These plans are designed for larger, active communities that need a lot of resources for players, plugins and modpacks.

Recommendation:

• If you are starting a growing public server, OBSIDIAN is a good baseline.
• If you already have a large, busy community or run multiple heavy plugins/mods, consider NETHERITE or BEACON.

6. General tips for choosing a plan

• It is usually better to have a little more RAM than you think you need, especially with plugins and modpacks.
• Performance is affected by:
  • Number of players online at the same time.
  • Size and age of the world.
  • Number and type of plugins/mods.
  • Redstone farms, mob farms and automation.
• If you are not sure, start with a plan that fits your expected player count and modpack usage, and upgrade later if you need more resources.

7. Can I upgrade later if I choose wrong?

Yes. If you find that your server is lagging or you expect more players than planned, you can upgrade your plan from the Client Area. You can also request a refund within 72 hours (3 days) of your first payment, according to our refund policy, if you decide that PlayNHost is not a good fit for you.

If you are still unsure which plan to choose, please open a ticket from the Support → Submit a Ticket section in the Client Area and tell us:

• How many players you expect online at the same time.
• Whether you will use vanilla, plugins, or heavy modpacks.

Our team will recommend the most suitable plan based on your needs.