HostSimple vs Shockbyte
Compare HostSimple and Shockbyte on pricing, server performance, control panels, and free trials.
| Feature | HostSimple | Shockbyte |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $3.99/mo | $2.50/mo |
| Free Trial | 7 days | |
| NVMe Storage | ||
| DDoS Protection | ||
| Instant Setup | ||
| Control Panel | Pterodactyl | Multicraft / Custom |
| Mod Support | Full (Forge, Fabric, Oxide) | Full (Forge, Fabric) |
| Daily Backups | Paid add-on | |
| Supported Games | 7 games | 15+ games |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 7-day trial | No refunds |
Pricing Side by Side
| Game | HostSimple | Price | Shockbyte | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | Value (1.5 GB) | $4.99/mo | Dirt (1 GB) | $2.50/mo |
| Minecraft | Standard (4 GB) | $9.99/mo | Iron (4 GB) | $10.00/mo |
| Minecraft | Premium (8 GB) | $17.99/mo | Diamond (8 GB) | $20.00/mo |
| Terraria | Standard (1 GB) | $3.99/mo | Standard | $2.50/mo |
Why HostSimple
- 7-day free trial to test before committing
- NVMe storage included on every plan
- Daily backups included at no extra cost
- Modern Pterodactyl panel with Docker isolation
- Competitive pricing at 4 GB and above
Why Shockbyte
- Lower entry-level pricing starting at $2.50/mo
- Larger game selection with 15+ supported titles
- Budget-friendly for very small servers
Shockbyte Drawbacks
- No free trial and no refund policy
- Backups are a paid add-on, not included
- No NVMe storage — uses standard SSDs
- Mixed reviews on support response times
- Older Multicraft panel on many game servers
Overview
Shockbyte and HostSimple both target the budget-conscious gamer who wants reliable multiplayer server hosting. Shockbyte has been in the market longer and is known for aggressive entry-level pricing, while HostSimple focuses on delivering better hardware and a risk-free trial experience. This comparison helps you decide which host gives you the best value for your specific needs.
The most important distinction upfront: Shockbyte's $2.50/mo starting price is eye-catching, but it comes with trade-offs — no free trial, no refund policy, paid backup add-ons, and standard SSD storage. HostSimple starts slightly higher at $3.99/mo but includes NVMe storage, daily backups, and a full 7-day free trial on most plans.
Pricing Comparison
Shockbyte wins on raw entry price. Their Minecraft "Dirt" plan starts at $2.50/mo for 1 GB RAM, making it one of the cheapest options on the market. HostSimple's lowest Minecraft plan is $4.99/mo for 1.5 GB — more expensive at first glance, but you're getting 50% more RAM and NVMe storage included.
At the 4 GB tier, the gap nearly disappears. Shockbyte charges $10.00/mo while HostSimple charges $9.99/mo — essentially the same price, but HostSimple includes NVMe storage and daily backups that Shockbyte charges extra for. At 8 GB, HostSimple is $17.99/mo vs Shockbyte's $20.00/mo, making HostSimple the better deal at higher tiers.
The hidden cost with Shockbyte is their backup pricing. Daily backups — which HostSimple includes free — are a paid add-on with Shockbyte. When you factor in the cost of backups and the lack of a trial period, Shockbyte's cost advantage at the low end shrinks significantly.[1]
Performance and Hardware
HostSimple uses NVMe SSD storage across all plans. NVMe drives deliver significantly faster read/write speeds than SATA SSDs — up to 7x faster in sequential operations. This translates to faster world loading, snappier chunk generation in Minecraft, and shorter server startup times.
Shockbyte uses standard SSDs on their shared hosting plans. While SSDs are a reasonable baseline, they don't match NVMe performance, especially under the heavy random I/O workloads that game servers generate. For small vanilla servers, the difference may be negligible. For modded Minecraft or large Rust maps, NVMe storage provides a noticeable improvement.
Both providers include DDoS protection as standard, which is non-negotiable for any publicly listed game server in 2026.
Control Panel and User Experience
HostSimple runs on the Pterodactyl panel, a modern, open-source platform that uses Docker containers to isolate each server. This means your server can't be affected by noisy neighbors on the same node. The panel includes a file manager, console, scheduled tasks, and real-time resource graphs.
Shockbyte uses a mix of Multicraft and custom panels depending on the game. Multicraft is functional but dated — it was first released in 2010 and hasn't seen the same level of modernization as Pterodactyl. Some users report that Shockbyte's custom panels for non-Minecraft games can be confusing or lack features.[2]
Trial and Refund Policies
This is where HostSimple stands out significantly. HostSimple offers a 7-day free trial on most plans — you can spin up a server, install mods, invite friends, and test performance for a full week before deciding to pay. It's the best way to evaluate a host without any financial risk.
Shockbyte has a strict no-refund policy. Once you pay, your money is committed. Combined with the lack of a free trial, this means you're taking a leap of faith when signing up. If the performance or features don't meet your expectations, you're stuck for the billing period.
For anyone who's been burned by a bad hosting experience before, HostSimple's trial-first approach removes the risk entirely.
Game Selection
Shockbyte supports 15+ games including Minecraft, ARK, Rust, Valheim, Terraria, Palworld, and others. Their catalog is solid and covers most popular multiplayer titles.
HostSimple currently supports 7 games: Minecraft Java, Valheim, Satisfactory, Terraria, Rust, Veloren, and OpenRA. The library is smaller but growing, with each game receiving dedicated optimization rather than a generic hosting setup.
The Verdict
If your only priority is the absolute lowest price for a small Minecraft server, Shockbyte's $2.50/mo plan is hard to beat on sticker price alone. But once you factor in paid backups, no trial, no refunds, and standard SSD storage, the value proposition weakens.
For anyone running a 4 GB or larger server, HostSimple matches or beats Shockbyte's pricing while delivering NVMe storage, included backups, and the Pterodactyl panel. And the 7-day free trial means you can verify performance before spending a cent.
Our recommendation: Start with HostSimple's free trial. If the performance works for your use case — and for most players, it will — you'll save money and get better hardware. There's no financial risk in trying.