Which one do you need?#
Pyro sells two kinds of hosting, and the right one depends on what you want to run and how much of the machine you want to manage yourself. A game server runs a supported game behind a managed web panel, so the setup work is already done for you. A VPS is a raw Linux machine that you control from the ground up. If you are here to play Minecraft with friends, you almost certainly want a game server. If you want to host your own software and you are happy on a command line, the VPS is the better fit.
Both products share the same Pyro account, and billing for either one lives in the client portal at portal.pyro.host. New here? Start with what is Pyro for the bigger picture.
Choose a game server if#
A game server is the easy path. Pyro runs the game for you inside a web panel, so you never have to install Linux or start a process by hand. You open the panel, hit start, change a few settings, and play. This is the right choice when:
- You want to run Minecraft or another supported game.
- You want a managed panel with a live console, one-click mods and modpacks, scheduled backups, and easy file access.
- You would rather not touch Linux or maintain a server by hand.
Everything you need lives in the panel, so the day-to-day work is starting the server and managing your world. To get going, read the game server overview, or jump straight to creating your first server.
Choose a VPS if#
A VPS hands you the whole box. You get a Linux machine with full root access, and you install and maintain whatever you want to run on it. That freedom comes with the work of looking after the server yourself, so it suits people who are comfortable on a command line. This is the right choice when:
- You want full
rootaccess to run anything, such as web apps, bots, or custom workloads. - You are comfortable managing a server over
sshand keeping it updated yourself.
Because nothing is preconfigured for a specific game, you decide how the machine is set up and you keep it running. The VPS overview covers the details.
How they compare#
The main difference is who does the work. On a game server, Pyro manages the environment and you play. On a VPS, you manage the environment and you can run anything. A few specifics make that contrast concrete.
A game server only runs supported games, but it asks nothing of you in return: there is no Linux to learn, backups run on a schedule from the panel, and mods and modpacks install with one click. A VPS runs whatever you like with full root access, and in exchange you set up your own backups and install mods or any other software by hand. If you want convenience, pick the game server. If you want control, pick the VPS.