Rent vs self-host: which is right for you?
You can run the Enshrouded dedicated server yourself. It is a Windows application (app ID 2278520) that also runs on Linux through Proton/Wine, and the server binaries are free from Steam. What is not free is everything around them: a machine that stays powered and online 24/7, re-running SteamCMD after every patch, forwarding UDP ports 15636 and 15637 on your router, and mitigating DDoS traffic aimed at your home connection. Renting hands all of that to a managed host so you only ever touch the game settings.
Enshrouded is also memory- and CPU-hungry as your world grows and more players build in separate corners of the map, so hosting it on your own PC ties up that machine and your bandwidth for as long as you want the world reachable. A rented server keeps Embervale online while your computer is off, asleep, or busy with something else.
How much does it cost to rent an Enshrouded server?
Rental is priced by the size of your group, pay-as-you-go with no contract, and every tier ships dedicated CPU, RAM and SSD/NVMe storage rather than a shared slice:
| Plan | Players | RAM | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Group | Up to 4 | 4 GB | from $3.99/mo |
| Medium Group | Up to 8 | 6 GB | from $9.99/mo |
| Full Server | Up to 16 | 8 GB | from $19.99/mo |
Sixteen players is the Enshrouded co-op cap, so the Full Server plan is as large as a world gets. New users get the first month free and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can run a real dedicated server before you pay anything. Prices shown are starting prices — live pricing and exact specs are on the homepage pricing section.
What you get when you rent on Flux
Every rented server is a full Enshrouded dedicated server with resources reserved for you. Included on every plan:
- Instant deployment — your world is live in about 30 seconds, with UDP ports 15636 and 15637 already open and routed.
- Enterprise-grade DDoS protection at no extra cost, so attacks never reach your home IP.
- Full control of enshrouded_server.json — difficulty presets, combat, survival and resource multipliers — through a web file browser with a Monaco editor.
- A live web terminal and one-click restarts, plus backups you own and can download.
- Automatic updates that track the latest Enshrouded release, and a 99.9% uptime target backed by the decentralized node network.
Rent a server close to your players
Latency is set by distance, so where you rent matters more than raw bandwidth for Enshrouded. Traditional hosts run a fixed set of data centers; Flux is a decentralized network of thousands of independent nodes across 50+ countries, so you pick a region near your group at deploy time and can move if your community shifts. There is no single point of failure and no egress (bandwidth) fee. Our guide to decentralized Enshrouded hosting has more on how the network is built.
How to rent an Enshrouded server in 30 seconds
- Create a free account with Google, email, or a Flux (ZelCore / SSP) wallet.
- Pick a plan for 4, 8, or 16 players — from $3.99/mo, first month free.
- Choose a server region close to your group from 50+ global locations.
- Click Deploy. Your dedicated Enshrouded server is live in about 30 seconds with a clean connect address to share.
No OS to install, no SteamCMD, no router to port-forward. Pay by card through Stripe, or with FLUX cryptocurrency from ZelCore or SSP if you would rather not use a card. Comparing against a specific host first? See how renting on Flux stacks up as a GPORTAL alternative or a Nitrado alternative for Enshrouded.
Your world is yours: no lock-in
Enshrouded save data is just files, and on Flux it stays that way. Your world is portable — download it through the file browser and take it anywhere. Migrating in works the same way in reverse: deploy a server, upload your existing save and settings, keep playing. Billing is pay-as-you-go with no long-term contract, so you can scale up when the Discord fills out, scale back down when a run winds down, or cancel whenever you like. Renting today closes no doors tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent an Enshrouded server?
Renting an Enshrouded dedicated server on Flux starts at $3.99/mo for up to 4 players (4 GB RAM), with 8-player (6 GB) and 16-player (8 GB) tiers for larger groups. Billing is pay-as-you-go with no contract, new users get the first month free, and every plan includes dedicated resources and DDoS protection.
Where can I rent an Enshrouded dedicated server?
You can rent one on the Flux decentralized cloud: deploy in about 30 seconds, pick a region from 50+ countries, and get a web file browser, live terminal, backups and DDoS protection on every plan — up to the 16-player Enshrouded co-op cap.
Is renting an Enshrouded server better than self-hosting?
Renting removes the work of self-hosting: no machine to keep online 24/7, no SteamCMD updates after every patch, no forwarding of UDP ports 15636 and 15637, and no exposed home IP. Self-hosting on Windows or Linux is free of hosting fees but you take on the hardware, networking and uptime yourself.
Can I rent a 16-player Enshrouded server?
Yes. The Full Server plan runs the maximum 16 players on 8 GB of RAM. Smaller groups can rent a 4-player plan from $3.99/mo or an 8-player plan and scale up at any time from the dashboard.
Can I cancel my Enshrouded server rental any time?
Yes. Billing is pay-as-you-go with no long-term contract, so you can scale down or cancel whenever you like, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your Enshrouded world is just files and stays portable — download it from the file browser any time.