The Best Aloft Server Hosting

Hosting an Aloft server

Aloft is a co-op sandbox survival game from Astrolabe Interactive, published by Funcom, set in a sky of floating islands that you can turn into flying ships. It entered Steam Early Access in January 2025 for up to 8 players. The final Early Access update, Discovery & Ancestry, arrived in August 2026, and the team is now working towards 1.0, which has no release date yet.

Aloft has peer-to-peer lobbies for casual sessions and a free dedicated server included with the game files. It runs headless on Windows through PowerShell scripts, one to create a world and one to load it. Players join with the room code the server prints and saves to ServerRoomCode.txt, or through the server browser if the server is public. A rented server keeps the world online while the host player is away.

What to compare

• Small plans for small groups. With 8 players the cap, you rarely need a large plan. Compare memory and CPU against your group size and the island count you choose.
• World settings at creation. Island count, survival or creative mode, visibility and private island protection are set through the server scripts. Look for a host that exposes these in the panel or gives you file access.
• Admin control. Admins are set by Steam ID, so check you can edit the admin list yourself.
• Save backups. Aloft saves your world to a Saves folder. Automatic backups and easy restores protect weeks of building and exploring.
• Updates towards 1.0. The game is still changing, and the server has to match the client. A host that updates promptly keeps everyone able to join.
• Location. Pick a datacentre near your group so flying and combat feel smooth.

See the current Aloft hosting deals for offers from listed providers. For a whole machine, see dedicated servers.

Aloft server hosting FAQ

How many players can join an Aloft server?

Up to 8. The dedicated server lets you set a lower player count in its load settings.

How do friends join my Aloft server?

They enter the room code the server generates, which is also saved to ServerRoomCode.txt in the server files.

Can I run a creative mode server?

Yes. Game mode is a server setting, so you can run survival or creative.

Is Aloft out of Early Access?

Not yet. The last Early Access content update shipped in August 2026, and Astrolabe has not announced a 1.0 date.

Can I host an Aloft server for free?

Yes. The dedicated server comes free with the game and runs on Windows. It is only online while that machine is on, so groups who play at different times usually rent one.