Frequently Asked Questions
The short version of how ServerLabs benchmarks Minecraft hosting and why you can trust the numbers.
What is ServerLabs?
An independent, benchmark-driven comparison site for Minecraft server hosting. Instead of generic "top 10" lists, we run real performance tests on real plans and publish the data.
How do you benchmark hosts?
We buy a real plan, run a benchmark session every 8 hours across a full day (longer for inconsistent hosts), and monitor uptime for a month. Read the full methodology.
What do the Overall, Minecraft and Hardware scores mean?
The Minecraft score reflects game-specific workloads, the Hardware score reflects the raw machine you're renting, and the Overall score blends performance into a single comparable number. Higher is better.
What are performance tiers?
A quick label based on the hardware score: Enterprise (200+), High-End (150+), Performance (125+), Standard (100+), and Budget (under 100).
What does "Performance per dollar" mean?
It's the performance score divided by the monthly price, so you can spot which hosts give you the most power for your money, not just the highest raw score.
Which plan do you test?
We test a comparable mid-range plan (around 4 GB RAM) on each host so the comparison is apples-to-apples. The exact tested plan is shown on each provider's page. If a host only sells plans with more than 4 GB of RAM, we try to limit the server to 4 GB using launch options; when that isn't possible, we note it in the review.
Why are some metrics shown as N/A?
We only publish what the benchmark actually measured. If a game's server doesn't expose a value, or the plugin didn't record it, the field stays N/A rather than an estimate.
Can I compare scores across games?
No. Each game has its own test suite and category set, so scores are only comparable within one game. That's why rankings are kept separate per game.
Are you sponsored or biased?
Rankings are driven by the measured data, not by payment. Any sponsorship or affiliate relationship is disclosed, and it never changes a score.
How often is the data updated?
We re-test hosts periodically and as plans change. Each review shows when it was last tested.