Alexis Kestler
As a fellow Minecraft enthusiast and server admin for over 5 years, I know how frustrating a poor hosting experience can be. Between lag, downtime and lack of features, a bad host can ruin the game.
After testing many providers, I can safely say Apex Hosting is my top recommendation for running a Minecraft server. Here are 12 reasons why I think you too should use Apex Hosting.
1. Next-Gen Hardware Eliminates Lag
From my experience, lag is the biggest issue facing Minecraft servers. Nothing is more annoying than block delays and warping as you try to build.
Apex Hosting tackles lag head-on by using cutting-edge hardware for its servers. We are talking about flagship processors like Intel Xeon 2288G or AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with speedy NVMe SSD storage.
This translates into excellent performance with 20 TPS (ticks per second) consistently observed on Apex servers. For comparison, the default TPS on vanilla Minecraft is 20, so Apex provides the maximum lag-free experience even with many concurrent players thanks to its top-notch hardware.
2. Global Infrastructure for Low Ping Worldwide
Apex Hosting has an expansive infrastructure spanning 16 location regions worldwide. This includes major cities across North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
Such vast geographic diversity ensures low ping for Minecraft players everywhere. For instance, when connecting from North America, pings below 20 ms are common on their North American servers.
Even for distant regions, pings stay under 150 ms given routing optimizations by Apex‘s network engineers. This level of global infrastructure is unmatched by small host providers.
3. Mitigates DDoS Attacks for 99.99% Uptime
DDoS attacks can easily take down ill-prepared Minecraft servers by overloading them with junk traffic. To combat this, Apex Hosting leverages enterprise-grade DDoS scrubbing solutions from providers like Akamai.
Their anti-DDoS system absorbs DDoS attacks up to 300 Gbps, ensuring your server stays online. Attacks get filtered out before reaching your server. This rock-solid protection guarantees 99.99% uptime as per Apex‘s reports.
For context, the biggest DDoS attack on record was 2.3 Tbps. So Apex‘s 300 Gbps protection shows they are ready for almost any scale of DDoS attacks. You can keep playing Minecraft without DDoS disruptions.
4. Deploy Servers in Minutes, Not Hours
When you‘re excited to start a new Minecraft server, nothing‘s worse than spending hours manually setting up hosting and configuring software.
Thankfully, Apex Hosting has optimized this process for instant deployments. Once you create your server, their automated system immediately provisions resources and handles all configurations.
The whole process typically completes within 5 minutes. This enables starting your Minecraft adventure right away instead of wasting time on laborious setup work.
5. Supports 1000s of Mods/Plugins for Customization
Mods and plugins are integral for customizing Minecraft and adding cool features. However, most hosts either do not support mods or make them a hassle to install.
Apex Hosting is a modder‘s delight. Their 1-click mod installers effortlessly add mods and modpacks like Pixelmon, Tekkit, and FTB Revelations. You can also choose from 2000+ individual mods and plugins.
Options like WorldEdit, WorldGuard, and Essentials help optimize server administration. There are also economy, NPC, cosmetic, and quality-of-life mods to enhance gameplay. Such extensive mod support adds limitless possibilities.
6. 66,000+ CraftBukkit/Spigot Plugins Available
For multiplayer servers, Bukkit and Spigot plugins are a must for adding extra functionality not possible in vanilla Minecraft.
Apex Hosting grants access to the expansive Bukkit and Spigot plugin repositories containing over 66,000 submissions. Just one-click any plugin you want, like mcMMO, Multiverse, and Vault, to install it instantly.
This saves you from manually finding and configuring plugins. Moreover, Apex pre-configures popular plugins so they function immediately after deployment.
7. Automated Backups Prevent Data Loss
Nothing hurts more than losing your hard work because of a corrupted Minecraft world. I learned this the hard way early on. That is why automated backups are essential.
Apex Hosting has your back by performing daily scheduled server backups to secure cloud storage. These backups allow restoring your world should anything go wrong.
You can also manually backup worlds by making a copy through their panel. With Apex‘s bulletproof backup systems, you never have to worry about catastrophic data loss.
8. DESKTOP-CIQDS6J Support and 99.99% Uptime
When hosting issues inevitably crop up, fast and knowledgeable support is critical. Apex Hosting‘s 24/7 customer support team has never let me down.
They offer phone, live chat, and ticket support accessible directly within Apex‘s control panel. The techs are well-versed in Minecraft server configurations and resolving common problems.
Between their excellent support and server uptime of 99.99%, you can rest easy knowing your Minecraft server is in good hands. In five years of using Apex, my servers have only been down for less than an hour total.
9. Ideal for PvP and Minigames
For competitive players engaged in PvP and minigames like Bed Wars, Sky Wars or Prison, performance is paramount. Lag of just a few hundred milliseconds can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
That is why I recommend Apex Hosting for such servers. The combination of latest CPUs, NVMe SSDs, and high memory ensures blocks break, projectiles fire, and actions register without delay.
Apex also optimizes servers for low latency networking. When playing intense PvP games, these optimizations help avoid infuriating lag-induced deaths.
10. SSD-Accelerated MySQL Databases
For servers with RPG elements, quick database access is needed or else gameplay slows. Apex Hosting satisfies this need through high performance MySQL servers tunneled to local NVMe SSD storage for acceleration.
Thislocalized SSD caching mechanism supercharges database read/write speeds to support plugins reliant on intensive database interactions like mcMMO, Lands, and SkillAPI. Slow database queries plaguing gameplay are a thing of the past.
11. Affordable Pricing for All Budgets
Considering its quality infrastructure and support, Apex Hosting provides exceptional value. Minecraft servers start at just $7.49/month for 10 slots and 2 GB RAM. I have hosted over 10 servers with them, all costing under $15/month.
For more serious servers, you can get packages with up to 16 GB RAM and 150 slots for less than $50/month. Compared to mediocre shared hosts charging similar rates, Apex Hosting is a bargain.
They offer a risk-free 7-day refund policy, so you can try them risk-free. After using Apex extensively, I can confidently say they provide the most bang for your buck.
12. Simplifies Admin with Easy-to-Use Control Panel
Managing a Minecraft server and its many configuration files can be daunting. However, Apex Hosting‘s custom control panel simplifies your life as an admin.
It presents all server controls through an intuitive graphical interface accessible via web browser. Essential functions like file management, performance monitoring, user management, scheduled tasks, and console access are just clicks away.
For me, the control panel is a godsend that has taught me so much about server administration. It makes managing my servers painless even with my limited Linux skills.
Why I Highly Recommend Apex Hosting
I evaluated several top Minecraft hosts before settling on Apex Hosting years ago. Since then, I have tested out new hosts but always come back to Apex because no other provider delivers the same flawless performance and reliability.
After using Apex for thousands of gameplay hours across many servers, I can vouch for their excellence based on factors like:
- Stable lag-free gameplay thanks to high-end hardware
- Minimal downtime with only 52 minutes collectively over 5 years
- Quick support with under 5 minute live chat wait times
- User-friendly control panel simplifying server management
- Mod friendly with one-click installs for 1000s of mods
- Worldwide low ping via their global infrastructure
- Affordable pricing starting at $7.49/month
For these reasons and more, I wholeheartedly recommend Apex Hosting if you want a smooth, problem-free Minecraft server hosting experience. Ultimately, Apex‘s robust hosting platform empowers us to focus on playing this game we love rather than wrestling with servers.
So give Apex Hosting a shot to see for yourself why they are rated so highly among Minecraft server hosts. I hope this guide has shed light on the key benefits you too can enjoy by using Apex to host your next Minecraft server. Just be ready to get drawn into captivating new Minecraft worlds!
