Best Terraria server hosting: how to choose

Three ways to run a Terraria server

Before you compare hosts, it’s worth knowing you might not need one. Here is how the three ways to play Terraria with friends compare.

What to look for in a Terraria host

These are the things that matter for Terraria in particular. Each one says why, links the guide with the details, and says honestly what Wilderack does about it. The checks that matter for every game, from ping to refunds, are in our guide to choosing a game server host.

1. The server type your group needs

   Mods need tModLoader, and a vanilla server can’t run them. Each type has its own game files and its own worlds folder. Vanilla or tModLoader for your Terraria server

   With a catchOn Wilderack: Pick vanilla or tModLoader when you create the server, and switch later in Settings. A backup is made first, and the address stays the same. TShock servers are coming soon.

2. The same version as your friends

   The server and every player must be on the same Terraria version. tModLoader updates once a month, and runs a little behind vanilla. Vanilla or tModLoader for your Terraria server

   YesOn Wilderack: Restart after a tModLoader update and the server takes it too, unless you pinned a version in Settings.

3. Mods your friends get when they join

   tModLoader downloads the server’s mods for each player as they join, so nobody has to hunt for them. Terraria server mods

   YesOn Wilderack: Install tModLoader mods from the Steam Workshop in the Mods tab. The server keeps enabled.json up to date for you.

4. Enough RAM for mods, not for vanilla

   Vanilla runs a small or medium world on 2 GB. Each tModLoader content mod adds items, enemies and textures to memory, so a big mod pack can need more than the world. Terraria server performance and RAM guide

   YesOn Wilderack: Plans are sold by RAM, not player slots. Seed 2 GB runs vanilla for most groups, and we recommend Seed 2 GB.

5. A way to bring your world

   Single-player worlds are .wld files, plus a .twld file on tModLoader, and both move to a server. Back up and move your Terraria world

   YesOn Wilderack: Upload your world in Games, Bring your world, or into the Worlds folder with Files or SFTP.

6. Backups you can restore yourself

   Terraria keeps only the save before the last one as a .bak file, so a bad mod or a lost fight with a mechanic can’t be undone for long. Back up and move your Terraria world

   YesOn Wilderack: A safe copy every time the server sleeps and every 10 minutes while it runs. Restore or download any of them.

What a cheap Terraria server costs

A cheap server is one with enough memory for your group, not the lowest price on a page. These are the plans we sell for Terraria, with the group size each one suits.

Monthly plans renew at the price shown, and you can cancel any time. A 3-day pass is a one-time payment that doesn’t renew. Prices in US dollars + applicable taxes.

Terraria is one of the cheapest games to host. Seed 2 GB runs vanilla for most groups. Mods are what change it: start tModLoader at 4 GB and add more for big content mods.

Part of why the price is low: your server naps when nobody is playing, so you don’t pay for hours of an empty world. Your world and settings stay exactly as you left them.

Where Wilderack falls short

No host is right for every group. These are the reasons we might not be the one for yours.

• Xbox, PlayStation and Switch players can’t join a dedicated server yet. That depends on Re-Logic’s crossplay update.
• TShock servers aren’t ready yet. They’re coming soon, for accounts, permissions and plugins on a vanilla game.
• Two regions open so far: US East and Europe. Groups in Asia, Oceania or South America will have higher ping than with a host nearby.
• We are new, so we can’t show you years of uptime yet. A 3-day pass is the cheap way to try us first.

How we checked

The facts about Terraria come from our own Terraria guides, which our team checks against Re-Logic’s documentation and patch notes, listed under Sources below. The facts about Wilderack come from our plans and the panel. Prices are read from our price list when this page is built, so they match the plans page. If something here is out of date, email support@wilderack.com and we will fix it.