Both Palworld and Minecraft are massively popular multiplayer games that players love to host on dedicated servers. But they have very different server requirements. If you're trying to decide which one to host — or planning to run both — understanding the resource differences will help you pick the right hosting plan.
In this comparison, we'll break down exactly what each game needs to run smoothly on a dedicated server.
Quick Comparison Table
| Resource | Minecraft (Vanilla) | Minecraft (Modded) | Palworld |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum RAM | 2 GB | 4-6 GB | 8 GB |
| Recommended RAM | 4 GB | 8-12 GB | 16 GB |
| CPU Priority | Single-thread speed | Single-thread speed | Multi-core |
| Storage (Base) | 1-5 GB | 5-20 GB | 8-15 GB |
| Bandwidth | Low | Medium | Medium-High |
| Players Supported | 2-100+ | 2-50 | 4-32 |
Minecraft Server Requirements
Minecraft has been around since 2011, and its server software is extremely well-optimized. A vanilla Minecraft server can run surprisingly well on modest hardware.
Vanilla Minecraft
A vanilla server with Paper or Purpur can handle 10-20 players on just 2-4 GB of RAM. The key bottleneck is single-thread CPU performance — Minecraft's game loop runs on one core, so a fast single-core CPU matters more than having many cores.
Storage needs are minimal. A fresh world starts at a few hundred MB and grows as players explore, but rarely exceeds 5 GB for a normal survival server.
Modded Minecraft
Modded Minecraft is a different story. Heavy modpacks like Create, All The Mods, or FTB packs can easily use 6-12 GB of RAM. Mods load additional assets, add entities, and run complex systems that all consume memory. Check our guide on how much RAM your Minecraft server needs for detailed recommendations.
Palworld Server Requirements
Palworld is a much newer and more graphically complex game. Its dedicated server is significantly more resource-hungry than Minecraft.
RAM Requirements
Palworld's dedicated server needs a minimum of 8 GB RAM just to start and run with a few players. For a smooth experience with 8-16 players, 16 GB is recommended. The game loads large open-world zones into memory, and each player exploring different areas increases RAM usage.
CPU Requirements
Unlike Minecraft, Palworld benefits from multiple CPU cores. The server handles physics, AI for Pals, base building calculations, and world simulation across multiple threads. A server with 4+ CPU cores will perform noticeably better than a dual-core setup.
Storage Requirements
The Palworld server binary plus world data typically uses 8-15 GB. The game receives regular updates that can add several GB, so plan for at least 20 GB of storage to be comfortable. NVMe SSDs are strongly recommended for Palworld — the game loads large chunks of world data, and HDD speeds will cause noticeable hitching.
Which Game Is Harder to Host?
Palworld is significantly more demanding. Here's why:
- Base RAM: Palworld needs 8 GB minimum vs Minecraft's 2 GB minimum
- CPU: Palworld needs multi-core performance; Minecraft needs single-core speed
- Optimization: Minecraft has 15+ years of community optimization (Paper, Lithium, etc.); Palworld's server is newer and less optimized
- Scalability: Minecraft can easily handle 50+ players; Palworld caps at 32 and struggles above 16 without high-end hardware
Hosting Cost Comparison
| Scenario | Minecraft Cost | Palworld Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (2-5 friends) | ₹99-149/mo (2-3 GB) | ₹299-399/mo (8 GB) |
| Medium (10-20 players) | ₹199-299/mo (4-6 GB) | ₹499-699/mo (16 GB) |
| Large community | ₹399-599/mo (8-12 GB) | ₹699-999/mo (16-32 GB) |
Can You Run Both on One Server?
If you have a VPS with enough resources, you can run both a Minecraft and Palworld server simultaneously. You'll need at least:
- 12-16 GB RAM (4 GB for Minecraft + 8 GB for Palworld + OS overhead)
- 4+ CPU cores
- 40+ GB NVMe storage
Both games use different ports, so there are no conflicts. Use a VPS with Pterodactyl to manage both servers from one panel.
Recommendation
For Minecraft: Start with a game hosting plan from ₹99/mo on Azion Cloud. You can always upgrade RAM as your community grows.
For Palworld: Start with at least 8 GB RAM. Check our Palworld server setup guide for step-by-step instructions.
For both: Get a VPS with 16+ GB RAM and install both through Pterodactyl.