I'm looking to host a game server in the cloud, and it has to be Windows-based. I can't host it locally because it needs to run 24/7/365. It doesn't require a powerful GPU, just enough to run Windows Server smoothly—around 4-8GB of RAM and 4 CPUs should do it. I find AWS EC2 to be overly complex and more expensive than what I need. Are there any alternatives that are simpler and cheaper? I've come across Linode, but that's only for Linux. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
If you're not too attached to using Windows specifically, it might be worth noting that you can run Windows on Linode, but you'd be on your own for support. However, if you truly need Windows, Amazon Lightsail could be an alternative since it's more simplified compared to EC2.
Have you looked into using Kamatera or OVHcloud? They provide Windows instances as well. Both of these options are generally simpler to manage than EC2 and can also offer more predictable pricing.
If you're looking for something straightforward without AWS's level of control, I suggest looking into co-location hosting. You could send a server to a data center, and they handle the power and network for you. This might be a cheaper long-term solution if you're in it for the long haul.
Definitely check out Vultr or Hetzner. They both offer Windows instances and are designed to be more user-friendly than EC2. I recommend Vultr for its simplicity and transparent pricing. If you want to avoid the complications of AWS, these could be great options!
Have you considered DigitalOcean? They have a straightforward pricing system, and it's easier to use than AWS. Plus, there are plenty of game hosting companies out there that might save you the hassle of managing everything on your own. Just a heads up, if you're looking at shared CPU options, the performance can vary since you'll be sharing resources with other users.
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