6 Best Free Garry's Mod Server Hosting 2025

Looking for the perfect free hosting solution for your Garry's Mod server? In this article, we've compared the 6 best free Garry's Mod server hosting providers in 2025, so you can find the right option whether you're a casual builder or a serious admin.

🏆 Comparison Table

Provider	Starting Price	Locations	Hourly Billing	Free Plan Available	Performance Score
LightNode	$7.71/month	40+ locations	✅	❌	⭐ 4.8/5
Aternos	Free	Europe, US	❌	✅	⭐ 4.2/5
Scalacube	Free Trial	10+ locations	❌	✅ (Trial)	⭐ 4.3/5
Nodecraft	$9.98/month	13+ locations	✅	✅ (Trial)	⭐ 4.5/5
Server.pro	Free/paid	EU, US, Asia	❌	✅ (Free tier)	⭐ 4.1/5
Playit.gg	Free	Worldwide (via tunnels)	❌	✅	⭐ 4.0/5

1️⃣ LightNode

LightNode Garry's Mod Server Hosting
LightNode is a flexible cloud hosting provider that's also great for hosting GMod servers thanks to its customizable VPS, hourly billing, and global coverage.

• Overall score: 4.8
• Pricing: 4.8
• Features: 4.9
• Performance: 4.8
• Support: 4.7
• User Friendly: 4.8
• Pricing: Starts as low as $7.71/month or $0.012/hour. Payment via credit cards, PayPal, Alipay, and WeChat.

Features:

• NVMe SSD storage
• Custom OS images and instant 2-minute deployment
• Full root access
• 1-click backups and snapshot management
• Hourly/monthly billing flexibility

Performance:

Fast read/write speeds, low latency globally with 40+ data center locations.

Support:

24/7 ticket support system and comprehensive knowledge base.

User Friendly:

Intuitive control panel that simplifies the deployment and management process.

Additional Parameters:

• ✅ Hourly billing is perfect for testing and scaling
• ✅ Global reach ensures low ping for players worldwide

Pros and Cons:

✅ Hourly billing flexibility
✅ 40+ locations worldwide
✅ Great performance and quick deployment
✅ Fully customizable OS images
❌ Requires manual setup (not a 1-click GMod host)
❌ No permanent free plan

👉 Visit LightNode

2️⃣ Aternos

Aternos Free Hosting
Aternos is one of the most popular names in truly free hosting, offering unlimited free Minecraft and GMod servers.

• Overall score: 4.2
• Pricing: Completely Free

Features:

• One-click GMod server deployment
• Automatic updates and backups
• DDoS protection

Performance:

Good enough for small servers, but expect occasional lag due to the fully free nature.

Support:

Community-based support, no live chat.

User Friendly:

Very easy to use, even for beginners.

Additional Parameters:

• Free, no hidden fees
• No credit card required

Pros and Cons:

✅ 100% free
✅ Super easy to set up
❌ Limited performance
❌ Can’t scale beyond casual use

👉 Visit Aternos

3️⃣ Scalacube

Scalacube Free Trial Hosting
Scalacube offers a short-term free trial and then paid hosting, supporting Garry's Mod servers.

• Overall score: 4.3
• Pricing: Free trial, then from $2.50/month

Features:

• Pre-configured GMod setups
• Full FTP access
• Easy mod and plugin installs

Performance:

Good performance for smaller servers, slight dips under load.

Support:

Ticket-based support, generally responsive.

User Friendly:

Simple to get started, thanks to their control panel.

Additional Parameters:

• Supports various games beyond GMod
• Free trial lets you test risk-free

Pros and Cons:

✅ Free trial available
✅ Pre-configured for easy start
❌ Free tier is time-limited
❌ Performance can be inconsistent

👉 Visit Scalacube

4️⃣ Nodecraft

Nodecraft Free Trial and Paid Hosting
Nodecraft offers powerful servers and a short free trial to test Garry's Mod hosting.

• Overall score: 4.5
• Pricing: Starts at $9.98/month

Features:

• One-click mod and plugin installer
• DDoS protection
• Custom control panel

Performance:

Solid performance with reliable uptime and good speed.

Support:

24/7 live chat and email support.

User Friendly:

Smooth interface, designed for beginners and pros alike.

Additional Parameters:

• Hourly billing available
• One of the best free trials

Pros and Cons:

✅ Polished UI and support
✅ One-click plugin installs
❌ Free trial is short
❌ Higher starting price

👉 Visit Nodecraft

Server.pro

Server.pro Free Hosting
Server.pro offers a free tier for Garry's Mod servers, plus premium plans with more power.

• Overall score: 4.1
• Pricing: Free or premium starting from $5/month

Features:

• Instant setup for GMod servers
• Basic DDoS protection
• Limited plugin support in free plan

Performance:

Adequate for small groups, free tier has restrictions.

Support:

Ticket-based, faster on premium plans.

User Friendly:

Easy to navigate, especially for hobbyists.

Additional Parameters:

• Free plan limited in resources
• Upgrade for premium features

Pros and Cons:

✅ Free plan with no credit card
✅ Good for small casual servers
❌ Limited resources on free tier
❌ No hourly billing

👉 Visit Server.pro

Playit.gg

Playit.gg Free Tunnel Hosting
Playit.gg is a free tunneling service to turn your PC into a public GMod server, suitable for casual hosting.

• Overall score: 4.0
• Pricing: Free

Features:

• Turns local servers public instantly
• No port forwarding needed
• Simple to set up

Performance:

Depends on your local PC's performance and network.

Support:

Community guides and Discord help.

User Friendly:

Very straightforward for hobby use.

Additional Parameters:

• Best for local hosting scenarios
• No direct server resources

Pros and Cons:

✅ 100% free
✅ No need to open ports
❌ Limited to home hardware capabilities
❌ Not a full hosting platform

👉 Visit Playit.gg

❓ FAQ: Free GMod Server Hosting

Where to host a GMod server?

You can use free services like Aternos or Playit.gg, or affordable VPS/cloud hosts like LightNode for full control.

How much RAM does a GMod server need?

At least 2 GB for small servers; for mod-heavy servers, aim for 4–8 GB.

Why are GMod servers so laggy?

Lag can be due to insufficient RAM, CPU resources, bad network latency, or heavy mods.

How do I host a GMod server myself?

You can use your own PC, open ports, and configure the server manually, or use a hosting service for simpler setup.

How to host a dedicated GMod server?

Download the GMod server files (via SteamCMD), configure server.cfg, and run the server process. Hosting providers like LightNode also let you do this on powerful cloud servers.