Best Team Fortress 2 Server Hosting

Are you looking for the best game hosting server provider out there for Team Fortress 2? Take a look at this Team Fortress 2 Server Hosting review and comparisons to see which hosting site outperforms the others. True, finding the best server for a game is not easy. 

There are more than a hundred servers out there, narrowing down to a few best ones can be a daunting and frustrating task. But, don’t worry! We have got your back here. Yes, we have gone ahead and tested more than a hundred servers just to find the top 5 ones which provide the best hosting services for Team Fortress 2. But, before that, let’s see what the hype is all about!

What Is Team Fortress 2?

Undoubtedly, a very popular game, Team Fortress 2 was published and developed by Valve. It is a multi-player, shooter game which has taken the world by storm since it came out in 2013. Sounds old? You bet it is. But, still it has managed to create its place in the gaming world of today.

The main reason for its success and popularity is that it is fairly simple. Hence, it does not require a large amount of resources to be played. Therefore, the prices are also much cheaper than the other games available on the internet. Now, the question arises on how you can play this game online? For that, we need to see what types of servers are available.

Team Fortress 2 Servers

There are three major types of servers for TF2.

• Trade Servers
  

If you are familiar with the game (which I am pretty sure you are), you must be knowing that TF2 has its own virtual world; its economy. Best of all, it has in-game money and currency. With the money, you can buy different weapons and cosmetics.

As the name suggests, a trade server is where the trading happens. What happens is that different players come on the server and trade their items. For instance, if I have a hat that I would like to trade, I will try my best to gain a profit on it and trade it online. For that, joining a trade server is the best option. 

Undoubtedly, this is the best way you can gain a profit in the game and do well. So, if your aim in this game is to make big money and make it big, a trade server is the thing for you!

• Surfing
  

This is the most popular game server for TF2. Surfing is something that is only associated with TF2 and games which use TF2’s engine. It lets the players move around a map through aerial motion. Interesting, isn’t it? For this, they use a plugin that supports rotation. 

• Custom mods and maps
  

For the most passionate gamers, the vanilla version of a game and normal servers don’t do much good. They go for modifications and additions. Playing on such a server is as cool as it can get!

Why Would You Host a TF2 Server?

The better question here would be that why wouldn’t you host a TF2 server? Initially, it can get a little challenging. Then again, what is the fun in life without a challenge? Moreover, the rewards of it are much greater than the challenges. 

Are you tired of playing the vanilla version of TF2? Therefore, hosting a server is just the best option for you. Through this, you get to play TF2 differently from the rest. 

Another point to notice is that you will get full control over your game. Your server, your rules. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? You get the option to choose EVERYTHING. For instance, the players, the modification, map, rules, etc. Furthermore, you can even make money from it. How? By charging the players for special features that are not available to everyone. 

But, How Much Does It Cost?

Unlike the other gaming servers, TF2 is very economical and budget-friendly. It roughly costs between $15-$ 35/ month. 

How to Host a TF2 Game Server?

Now, there are two ways to go about it. Either you can host your server by setting it up from scratch or you can pay a game hosting server. The first process is very lengthy and tedious as compared to the second. Let’s look at both of them in detail. 

Paying For A Server

The second and easiest option is to go ahead and pay for a server. You will not have to bother about any performance or connectivity issues. Everything will be the headache of the company that is renting you the server.

Pros: 

• Less usage of your PC’s CPU.
• Support for issues related to the server
• Your computer does not need to be up and running all the time
• Better game performance

Cons:

• It is not free and a monthly fee needs to be paid.

Hosting a Private Server

Are you new to the gaming world? If yes, this option is perfect for beginners. This will allow your server to be private and only people who have the password can join you. Any person can setup this kind of server by paying a nominal fee. But, if you want to add modifications that can easily be done too. 

Value for Money – What Are We Getting?

You should never go to extremes. Simply going for the most expensive server just for the sake of it is not a wise decision. Generally, it is believed that the more expensive a server is, the better it will be. But, that is not the case. Similarly, don’t go for the cheapest one either. The cheaper plans usually have a bad performance. How to get out of this mess? The easiest way is to check the host server provider’s value for money. Didn’t get it? Wait, let me explain. You need to see what features the host server provider is offering and then evaluate it against the price tag. If you think the features are worth your money, go ahead and get your server.

DDos Security – How Safe Is It?

Check what DDoS protection they are offering to you. All the server hosts we have included are giving excellent DDoS protection against any malware or external threat.

Memory – How Much Can It Take?

RAM is the life blood of your game. When you throw in a command, the server goes to its memory and tries to find that information and loads it from there. If you have less RAM available, the CPU will wipe off the previous data and take time to load your request. 

Hence, you need to check if you are getting ample RAM in the package you have brought. But, keep in mind that memory is shared amongst all the players on the server. Thus, be careful in making a choice.

Server Locations

Another thing to check is where the servers of the gaming host provider are located. Hmmm, thinking why that makes a difference to us? Well, it impacts the performance and output of your game manifold. If you are not playing on a local server, the game will lag and you will face serious latency issues. Hence, it is wise to check where the servers are located to check you connect to a local one or the one nearest to you.

Storage Space

Servers provide flexibility when it comes to storage. Instead of going with a full SSD storage solution, you can go with  something else. Some servers are offering SSD-operated server software with the option of storing data on normal storage. Opting for the second option is much better.

Processor

There is no doubt about it that the backbone of an online game is the processor. Therefore, it is imperative to check the speed of the processor. All the servers included in our review are equipped with high-class and powerful servers. Hence, you will give you excellent uptime on your game.

Customer Support

Often overlooked, this is a very important aspect to look into while renting a server. Sure, you can be the best player in the world and have the most advanced host; still there is a time when everyone needs a little help. Mostly, help is needed in installing and setting up mods. So, check the reviews of people before you jump ahead and make a purchase.

How to Evaluate TF2 Server Hosting? 

Look at the following technical details and performance parameters before going ahead and selecting a service provider through which to rent a TF2 host. We have evaluated the best 6 hosts for TF2 on very strict and thorough criteria before shortlisting them. Take a look at the parameters we have checked:

• Value for money
• DDoS Security
• Memory
• Server Locations
• Storage Space
• Processor
• Customer support

Best Team Fortress 2 Server Hosting 

After checking almost a hundred TF2 hosts, the following ones have been shortlisted. We have evaluated each and everyone on very strict criteria that have been mentioned above already. Check the comparison of all three:

Here are the best Team Fortress 2 server hosting, and host, with GameServers taking the best spot: 

• GameServers
• GTX Gaming
• Nitrous Networks
• PingPerfect
• HostHavoc
• Streamline Servers

As you can see we have only included dedicated servers for TF2.

1. Game Servers

Being one of the oldest server host companies out there, it has maintained its name even to date. Having served more than 500,000 players worldwide, they are a class above the rest.

Pros:

• Coupons and discounts
• Worldwide locations
• Voice servers
• Established company
• Large options of games to choose from
• DeBranding support

Cons:

• Average customer support

It provides servers for TF2 in $0.79 per month for private servers and $0.99/month for public ones. With TF2, they offer many other games likes:

• Rust
• Minecraft
• Conan Exile
• Insurgency sandstorm
• Call of duty
• 7 days to die and many more

Unlike its counterparts, GameServers offers the DeBranding option to the player. Moreover, they have the free DDoS Support and supports all types of Mods. Best of all, it has a large list of games to choose from.

2. GTX Gaming  

If you are looking for a budget-friendly game host provider for TF2 with the most features being offered, GT Gaming is the best option for you. 

Pros:

• Game switching option is available
• Steam Workshop support
• Custom control panels
• Economical
• Great servers
• Easy to use control panel

Cons:

• Staff needs to be more knowledgeable 

Without a doubt, it is one of the best TF2 hosting servers out there. Apart from TF2, it offers a variety of games like: 

• Rising World
• Conan Exile
• ARMA 3
• Space Engineers
• Life is Feudal
• Insurgency 
• Hurtworld
• Heat
• Counter-strike: Source and many more.

It provides a number of features on a budget. Starting from free jumping from one game server to the other, custom control panel, Steam workshop support, high-grade CPU’s and an overall excellent game experience, they have it all. Even though it is priced at $1 per slot, it still falls within your budget. The only thing that needs working on is the customer support. It does offer customer support like the rest, but neither is the staff knowledgeable nor do they respond well to queries. It takes time and the answers are not useful. It has a staggering 28 data centers around the world.

3. Nitrous Network 

Are you looking for reliability along with great performance? Throw in very economical prices and you are looking at a perfect server for yourself.

Pros: 

• Free MYSQL
• Free Web hosting
• Voice server is free
• Affordable
• High reviews
• Instant Setup
• DDoS protection

Cons:

• Fewer server locations

Surprisingly, they offer a server for $0.31, which is one of the cheapest on our list. Other games offered by it include:

• Minecraft
• Rust
• Unturned
• Counter-Strike: Source
• Killing Floor 2
• Terraria
• Ark and many more.

Not only do they provide excellent servers, they have an amazing support staff. They are one of the few service providers that offer voice server hosting too. They have an instant and easy setup procedure that makes things simpler along with a customized control panel to give more authority to the players. The only drawback is that they have few server locations around the world. Therefore, the game can lag a little in certain areas.

4. PingPerfect

Great servers, great customer support team and an amazing control panel. This is what you are signing up for if you rent a server from PingPerfect.

Pros: 

• Multiple server locations worldwide
• Excellent support
• Customized control panel 
• Affordable prices for smaller severs
• Excellent game performance
• Amazing graphics

Cons:

• Large servers tend to be costlier.

PingPerfect offers TF2 game server hosts for $0.44. Hence, if you want to host a dedicated server for 10 friends, it will cost you only $4.4 per month. Other games it has to offer apart from TF2 are: 

• Conan Exiles
• Crust
• Terraria
• Ark
• Minecraft
• The Isle and many more.

Moreover, it has server locations in Asia, Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Yes, that’s a lot, isn’t it? So, be sure to connect to a local server when you are playing. This way, the game will have no latency issues and will not lag at all. Along with it, it has a free DDoS Protection, free web hosting and many other features.

5. Host Havoc

Host Havoc is a great all-round host, and have been around for quite some time, a Canadian based hosting provider that cost little yet performs very well in all aspects, and are one of the best Garry’s mod server hosts, as well as supporting plenty of other games than TF2. 

Host Havoc yet again as plenty of server locations to ensure that you’re connection is fast, as well as your friends/clan or even unique players, Host Havoc has it all.

6. Streamline Servers

They have been here a while. For this reason, the servers are a little costly as compared to the other game hosting server providers, but it is worth your money. When we tested all the servers, they turned out to be the best.

Pros:

• Fast servers
• Excellent performance
• Customized control panel
• Voice server 
• One-click mod installations
• DDoS support

Cons:

• Expensive
  

Are you a die-hard fan of TF2 and love modifications? This server is just for you. It supports unlimited modifications and still has a high performance level. Other games it supports are: 

• ARK: Survival Evolved
• Arma:3
• Minecraft 
• Rust
• 7 Days to Die
• Contagion and many more.

With server locations in more than 4 continents, the game runs smoothly for everyone. Along with free DDos Protection, excellent customer service and one-click modification option, it also offers a voice server. Of course, with so many options, they also charge a little more than others.

Hosting It Yourself

This is the tough way. As, there are many things to consider. First of all, your computer needs to be running and up all the time. Secondly, the immense amount of data will make your PC overloaded. For you and a couple of friends it is not going to be a big issue. But, once your server starts to get populated; things are going to go bad. The game already has a lot of load on the PC, now the increasing number of players on it will further burden the processor.

Pros: 

• It is free of cost

Cons: 

• Lags when players increase
• The PC needs to be running all the time
• Latency issues
• The server is not available to others when your PC is turned off.
• A normal RAM and CPU cannot take so much load.
• Is not reliable

How to Host a Server?

Let’s see how easy it is to host your own server in no time. The following steps need to be kept in mind if you want to host your own server:

• First of all, you need to boot the TF2 application.
• Here you will see the game menu. Click the “find a game” option which is available on the right corner on the top of the page.
• Look at the bottom, click on “create a server”
• You will get two options; “game” and “server”
• The option of “game” will let you select the no of players, win limit, the limit of the round, server password and time per map.
• By clicking on “server”, you can see the maps which will be available on your server.
• Now, you can click on “start”
• Wait for the booting process
• Done already. Now you can easily invite your friends.

What if you want to make your server private? The entire process is the same. Yes, just where you get the two options of either selecting “server” or “game”, here select “server password” and set a password. Hurrah! Your server is private now. Oh, wait! Did your friend just make one and asked you to join? No issues. Let me tell you an easy way to join your friends in the game:

• Go to the Steam Application
• Check your friends by clicking on the tab marked “friends”
• See which friend is playing TF2. Now, hover the cursor on his/her name and a small arrow will appear.
• Click on the “join the game” option
• The game will boot up and you will join your friends within seconds.

It’s a Wrap

Yes, I knew it. You must have already selected the server for your Team Fortress 2 game. Still want to opt for your own server? Go ahead. In the gaming world, everything is possible. Play with your friends or play alone. The choice is yours. Anything is possible here. With the hosts we have reviewed, you will not have any problem with lags, boring game mods, and the server crashing again and again.

Get your server right now and start gaming!