Create a The Isle Evrima server: self-host or rent?
A guide for communities looking to run their own Evrima server. Updated October 6, 2026.
To create a The Isle Evrima server, you can run the dedicated server on a machine you manage or rent hosting. The decision mainly depends on who will keep it running, how many players you expect and your community’s budget.
Self-hosting suits people who want to handle setup and maintenance. Renting suits people who prefer to focus on their community and entrust the infrastructure to a provider. Either way, check that the solution is for Evrima.
Self-hosting vs renting: what changes?
| Criterion | Self-hosting | Renting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | You install and configure the dedicated server. | Check what the provider installs and configures. |
| Availability | Your machine and connection must remain available during sessions. | The provider supplies infrastructure; check the service conditions. |
| Maintenance | You handle updates, restarts and incidents. | Responsibilities depend on the plan: ask who intervenes and how. |
| Cost | Hardware, electricity, connectivity and administration time. | Subscription and any additional services. |
| Location | Determined by where your machine is located. | Choose from the regions offered. |
What do you need to self-host an Evrima server?
Start with an available machine, a suitable connection and someone able to intervene. Playing and hosting on the same computer shares that machine’s resources. Do not size your server solely from the game’s client requirements.
- Install the Evrima dedicated server. Follow the developer’s instructions and verify the server branch. A Legacy guide does not replace an Evrima guide.
- Configure the server. Prepare its identity, capacity and the gameplay settings available in the installed version.
- Check network access. Check your firewall and router port forwarding where required. Test connecting from outside your own network.
- Plan maintenance. Organize updates, restarts, data retention and recovery after an incident.
- Test with your players. Check connectivity and server behavior before an event. An empty server cannot verify how it behaves with your whole community.
Settings and instructions change with the game. This guide helps you choose a hosting approach; for installation commands, consult the Evrima guide shared by the developer and check instructions for the current version before applying them.
What costs should you compare before renting?
Self-hosting may avoid a hosting subscription, but it still has costs. Compare hardware you need to buy or already own, electricity, connectivity and time spent administering the server. A remote machine you manage yourself also adds a monthly rental bill.
When renting, compare plans with the same capacity and region. Check currency, applicable taxes, renewal terms and included services. A low price is not enough if the plan does not meet your players’ needs.
Player slots and region: start with your community
Count players connected at the same time during evenings and events instead of your entire Discord membership. Leave room for new arrivals. Choose a region near most regular players; their connections and network routing also affect ping.
There is no universal CPU or memory recommendation here for a given player count: without representative testing, such a promise would be imprecise. If you self-host, test your configuration. If you rent, ask for clearly stated capacity and its associated conditions.
When should you rent a server?
Renting makes sense when you want to launch a community without managing the machine and its connection, or need a region different from your home location. Before choosing, check administration access, updates, backups and support arrangements: these services are not automatically included with every provider.
What if you just want to play with friends?
You do not need to create or rent a server to play together. If you do not need your own server, start by choosing an existing one. Our official The Isle server list lets you check player activity before joining a session.
Prefer renting? Read the criteria for choosing Evrima hosting.