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Starbound Server Hosting
Explore a universe of planets and build a home among the stars with friends while the AI copilot keeps the ship flying.
What do you need to host a Starbound server?
To host a Starbound server you need 2–4 GB of RAM, the starbound_server program that ships with the game, TCP port 21025 reachable and a starbound_server.config with your accounts and rules. Or skip the home setup: GameTeam's Starbound server hosting is pay per GB of RAM, from $0.49/GB a week, slots are unlimited, and the AI copilot sets passwords, edits the config and reads the log when a mod stops someone joining.
Run your Starbound server by just asking.
Starbound keeps its accounts, bans and rules in one JSON file, and its biggest headache is a mod one player is missing. Tell the copilot what you want: it edits the file, restarts the server and reads the log when someone bounces off the login screen.
Universe That Persists
Every planet you visited is still there at the same address.
Mods in the Server Folder
Workshop or manual mods placed by the copilot; clients get prompted for what they need.
Small Game, Small Bill
Starbound sips RAM — keeping the crew's server up is cheap.
Starbound with friends
A 2D sandbox that hands you a spaceship and a galaxy: land on procedurally generated planets, explore, build, fight bosses and follow the story from world to world. Together it becomes a shared expedition — a home planet, a fleet of ships and a lot of alien souvenirs.
Starbound server RAM requirements
2-4 GB, rising as players visit and store more planets.
| Your server | Starting RAM | From (Budget, weekly) |
|---|---|---|
| 2–4 players, a home planet and a few trips | 2 GB | $0.98 / week |
| 5–8 players exploring lots of planets | 3 GB | $1.47 / week |
| 8+ players, a long-running universe or a heavy mod list | 4 GB | $1.96 / week |
Starbound is light on the server. Memory and disk grow with the universe: every planet someone visits is generated and saved, so a world your crew has played for months needs more than a fresh one. Big overhaul mods add more on top. Start small and add RAM in one click when you need it; every planet stays at the same coordinates. Player limit: 8-16 comfortably.
How to set up a Starbound server on GameTeam
Pick RAM and a location
2 GB is enough to start a small crew. Choose the location closest to most of your players: we have 25+ across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
Set it up your way
Tell the copilot the server name, password, admin account and player limit, or edit starbound_server.config in the file manager. Upload mod .pak files into mods, or upload the storage folder of a universe you already have.
Invite your crew
Copy the address from the panel. In Starbound, click Multiplayer, pick a character, paste the server address, add the account and password if you set them, and choose Join Server.
Good to know before you start
Universe files are created as players explore, so the save grows rather than being sized at generation.
Starbound server settings explained
starbound_server.config lives in the server's storage folder and is plain JSON, so a missing comma breaks it. Edit it while the server is stopped, then start it again. The settings owners change most:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
serverName | Name of the server. Default A Starbound Server. |
maxPlayers | Players at once. Default 8; raise it as far as your RAM allows. |
serverUsers | Accounts, each with a password and "admin": true or false. Several people can share one account, so a single guest account works as a server password. |
allowAnonymousConnections | Default true: anyone can join without an account. Set it to false so only serverUsers accounts get in. |
allowAdminCommands | Whether admin commands work at all. Default true. |
allowAdminCommandsFromAnyone | Default false. Set to true and every player can use admin commands; leave it off. |
bannedIPs / bannedUuids | Permanent bans. To lift one, remove the entry and restart the server. |
gameServerPort | The port players connect on. Default 21025. |
allowAssetsMismatch | Default true: players whose game assets, mods included, don't match the server's can still join. Set it to false to turn them away. |
runQueryServer / queryServerPort | Runs the query server, on port 21025 by default. Off by default. |
runRconServer / rconServerPort / rconServerPassword | Remote console on port 21026. Off by default; set a password before turning it on. |
clearUniverseFiles | Wipes every world file on the server. Back up before you ever touch it. |
Starbound server commands
Type these in chat. Log in with an admin account, then type /admin to switch admin mode on; the admin commands only work in admin mode. The copilot handles the config side, so you rarely need more than these:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/admin | Toggles admin mode on and off. |
/whoami / /serverwhoami | Shows your name and whether you are an admin, locally and on the server. |
/list | Lists everyone connected with their client ID, nickname and UUID. |
/kick <player> [reason] | Kicks a player. They can rejoin. |
/ban <player> [reason] [uuid|ip|both] [seconds] | Bans a player. With no time it is permanent; timed bans are forgotten when the server restarts. |
/unbanip <address> | Lifts a ban on an IP address. |
/warp <destination> | Teleports you to a world, position or instance. |
/spawnitem <item> [count] | Spawns an item at your cursor. |
/timewarp <seconds> | Moves universe time forward, or back with a negative number. |
/serverreload | Reloads server-side assets. Expect a moment of lag. |
/pvp | Toggles your own PvP flag, if the server allows it. |
/help [command] | Lists commands, or explains one. |
Can I add mods to a Starbound server?
Yes, through Steam Workshop or the server mods folder. Clients need matching mods for anything that adds assets.
On the server, mods are .pak files (or unpacked mod folders) in the mods folder; restart and the log shows what loaded. Players install the same mods on their side, most easily by subscribing to one Steam Workshop collection. allowAssetsMismatch is on by default, so a player with different mods still gets in; set it to false to turn mismatched players away instead.
Starbound server ports
At home you forward 21025 on your router and firewall. On GameTeam there is nothing to forward: the panel shows the address and port your server actually uses, which may differ from these defaults, so give players both.
Pay per GB of RAM. Never per slot.
You pay for memory, not seats, and billing can be weekly, so you are never locked into a month the group might not play. Change RAM in one click, or switch the same server to another game. The AI copilot is included on every plan.
- ✓ AI copilot included on every plan
- ✓ Unlimited player slots — we never charge per slot
- ✓ Ryzen 9 7950X · NVMe storage
- ✓ DDoS protection included
- ✓ Switch to another game anytime
- ✓ 25 GB NVMe storage · 160 Gbps DDoS protection
- ✓ AI copilot included on every plan
- ✓ Unlimited player slots — we never charge per slot
- ✓ Ryzen 9 7950X · Unlimited NVMe storage
- ✓ 480 Gbps DDoS protection
- ✓ Switch to another game anytime
- ✓ Dedicated threads
- ✓ Automatic backups
- ✓ Priority support
Hardware & network
Locations
What server owners say
"Honestly didn't expect much from an 'AI manager', but it's how I run my server now. I'll type something like 'why did the server crash last night' and it actually reads the logs and tells me."
Verified review
"I'd been on two other hosts before this. What sold me was the AI manager catching a memory leak in one of my mods and naming the exact one — something I'd been chasing for weeks."
Verified review
"I'm not very technical and setting up servers always stressed me out. Now I just ask the assistant to fix a config, and it either walks me through it or does it for me."
Verified review
Starbound server hosting FAQ
How do I make Starbound multiplayer?
There are two ways. Join a friend's game from your Steam friends list, which only works while they are playing. Or connect to a dedicated server: click Multiplayer, pick a character, type the server address and join. A dedicated server keeps one shared universe up for everyone, even when the host is offline.
How much RAM does a Starbound server need?
Plan for 2–4 GB. A small crew on a fresh universe is fine on 2 GB. Memory and disk grow as players visit more planets, and big overhaul mods add more, so a long-running or heavily modded server wants 4 GB. RAM changes in one click on GameTeam.
How many players can join a Starbound server?
maxPlayers is 8 by default, and you can raise it. 8–16 players run comfortably. GameTeam never charges per slot, so the limit is the one you set.
Can I host a modded Starbound server?
Yes. Starbound server hosting with mods works the same as at home: upload the mod .pak files into the server's mods folder and restart, and every player installs the same mods. Ask the copilot to back the universe up first, because a broken overhaul mod can stop it loading.
How do I put a password on my Starbound server?
Add an account to serverUsers with a password (a shared one called guest is the usual trick) and set allowAnonymousConnections to false. On GameTeam you can just tell the copilot the password you want. That makes it a Starbound private server: same price per GB, unlimited slots.
How do I make myself admin?
Add your own account to serverUsers with "admin": true, restart, log in with that account and type /admin. /serverwhoami tells you whether it worked.
How do I host a Starbound server myself?
The server comes with the game: run starbound_server from the win32 folder (or linux on a 64-bit Linux machine), or choose Launch Starbound Server from Steam. Forward TCP 21025 and give friends your public IP. The catch is that your PC has to stay on. The Starbound dedicated server guide covers every step.
How much does it cost to rent a Starbound server?
To rent one, you pay per GB of RAM: $0.49/GB a week on Budget, or $1.99/GB billed monthly. A 2 GB server is $0.98 a week and 4 GB is $1.96 a week. Slots are unlimited and the AI copilot is included.
Is Starbound basically Terraria?
They look alike: both are 2D sandboxes about digging, building and boss fights. The difference is scale. Terraria is one big world; Starbound gives you a ship and a whole universe of generated planets to fly between, with quests and colonies. If your group plays both, Terraria server hosting works the same way, and the Terraria dedicated server guide shows how to host a Terraria server yourself.
Run it yourself — or let the copilot.
Same server, any game.
Your universe, still in orbit when the crew logs back on.
Pick the RAM, tell the copilot who gets in, and beam your crew the address.
Deploy your Starbound server