Where your Minecraft server runs changes how the game feels for the people on it. ValueGameNode hosts Minecraft servers in a Helsinki datacenter in Finland, with a North America location as well. This guide explains why location matters, who gets the most out of a server in Finland, how to choose RAM, and how Java and Bedrock fit in. If you already know you want one, the Helsinki Minecraft hosting page has the plans.
Why location matters for ping
Every block you break and every hit you land is sent to the server and confirmed back. The time that round trip takes is your ping. Distance is a big part of it, because data has to physically travel there and back, and longer paths usually pass through more networks on the way.
High ping shows up as blocks that reappear after you break them, mobs that hit you from further away than they should, and rubber-banding when you sprint. A faster CPU on the server does not fix this. Only a shorter or better route does.
So a shorter distance between the players and the server typically means lower latency. It is not the only factor: your own ISP, Wi-Fi at home and the route your traffic takes all matter too. That is why it is worth measuring rather than trusting a number on a website.
Who benefits from a Helsinki server
- Groups in Finland. The server is in the same country, so the path is short.
- Nordic and Baltic players. Players in Sweden, Norway, Estonia and nearby countries are usually closer to Helsinki than to servers in central or western Europe, so they typically see lower latency.
- Mixed groups centred on the region. Pick the location closest to most of your players. Anyone else can still join, just from further away.
If most of your community is in North America, choose the North America location instead. The why Helsinki guide on our VGNCloud site covers the location choice in more depth.
To see what your players actually get, check the address with the server status checker, then look at the connection bars in the Minecraft multiplayer list from each player's own connection.
Choosing RAM
Location sets the ping. RAM sets how much the server can do before it lags or runs out of memory. All Helsinki plans use NVMe storage:
- Dirt Starter – €3.99/mo, 4 GB RAM, 15 GB NVMe. A small group on Paper or vanilla.
- Stone Builder – €7.99/mo, 8 GB RAM, 30 GB NVMe. Plugins, or a light modpack.
- Iron Survivor – €12.99/mo, 12 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe. Bigger modpacks or a busier community.
- Diamond Pro – €19.99/mo, 16 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe. Heavy modpacks.
- Netherite King – €35.99/mo, 32 GB RAM, 150 GB NVMe. Large servers.
These are rough starting points, not limits. Mods, plugins and how much new terrain players explore matter more than the player count. The RAM calculator gives a better estimate, and the first Minecraft server guide walks through the other first decisions. If a server dies with exit code 137, it ran out of memory.
Java & Bedrock
Both editions are available as server types. Java Edition is what you want for mods and plugins, through Paper, Spigot, Forge or Fabric. Bedrock is the edition on phones, consoles and the Windows store version, and runs as the "Vanilla (Bedrock)" server type.
Pick the edition your group already plays. A Java server and a Bedrock server are separate servers, so choose the one that matches what your friends own. Not sure whether you want plugins? Paper vs vanilla explains the difference on the Java side.
Free trial vs paid
The free server lets you try a Minecraft server with no credit card: 2 GB RAM, 5 GB NVMe, Paper (Java), sessions up to 3 hours, and your world is kept between sessions. It is good for an evening with friends or for testing before you pay.
A paid plan runs 24/7, has more RAM, and offers more server types including Bedrock and modded Java. When you upgrade from free, you keep the same server, world and plugins.
Get a Helsinki Minecraft server from €3.99/mo →
Or compare every plan on the Minecraft plans page, or start free with no card.