The Best s&box Server Hosting

Hosting an s&box server

s&box is Facepunch Studios' Source 2 sandbox and game-creation platform, often described as the successor to Garry's Mod. It launched on Steam on 28 April 2026, and instead of one game it holds hundreds of community-made ones, from shooters and racing to roleplay and horror, built in C# and shared through the platform.

That shapes what a server is. An s&box dedicated server loads one game package, plus an optional map package, chosen with the +game switch at launch, for example the sandbox game on a flatgrass map. Players reach it through Steam's networking rather than a raw IP, so the main jobs for a host are keeping the server software current and letting you choose and change the package it runs.

What to compare

• Package and launch control. You need to set +game, +hostname and the ports yourself, and change the game or map without opening a support ticket. A panel field for the startup line is the minimum.
• Disk space. Facepunch's server files plus downloaded game and map content need around 10 GB or more, and that grows if you switch packages often.
• Fast updates. s&box is new and patched frequently. A server that falls behind the client stops players joining, so look for automatic updates through SteamCMD.
• Resources for the game you run. A light sandbox lobby and a busy roleplay or shooter package put very different loads on CPU and RAM. Size the plan for the package and player count you expect.
• Server token. Facepunch documents an optional +net_game_server_token that keeps your server's Steam ID the same across restarts. Check the host lets you add it.
• Location. Shooters and racing games are sensitive to ping, so pick a datacentre near most of your players.

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

s&box server hosting FAQ

How many players can an s&box server hold?

It depends on the game package. s&box is a platform rather than a single game, so the player count is set by the game you load and the hardware behind it.

How do players join an s&box dedicated server?

Connections are routed through Steam's servers, and Facepunch's docs have players connect from the in-game console using the server's lobby ID rather than an IP address.

Can I host an s&box server for free?

Yes, if you run it yourself. The s&box dedicated server is a free download through SteamCMD (app 1892930) for Windows, and Linux with the .NET runtime. It is only online while that machine is on, so a rented server suits groups who want it up all the time.

Is s&box the same as Garry's Mod?

No. It is a separate game from the same studio, built on Source 2, and Garry's Mod servers and addons do not run on it.