Side by side
| Nitrado | Flux | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per player slot, 20 slots minimum | Per plan, sized by memory; players are not counted |
| Entry price | $24.99 for 20 slots, 30 days | $11.99/month for 16 GB and 4 vCores |
| All maps, including Astraeos and Lost Colony | 26 slots or more: $32.29 for 30 days | Every plan, from $11.99/month |
| Player limit | The slot count you buy | Max Players, a setting you change yourself |
| Memory and CPU | Not stated per package | Stated on every plan, and dedicated |
| Crossplay with PS5 and Xbox | Yes | Yes, on by default |
| CurseForge mods | Yes, from its web interface | Yes, searched and added from the Mods tab |
| Locations | 9 cities | 50+ countries on a decentralized network |
The map rule
Nitrado's 20-slot package does not run Astraeos or Lost Colony: its own page says those two maps need at least 26 slots because of their performance demands, for services bought after 22 June 2026. On Flux no map is locked to a bigger plan: you choose the map in Deployment Settings on any plan, and choose the plan for the memory your map and mods need. The players still need to own Astraeos or Lost Colony to join a server running them, wherever it is hosted.
Slots versus memory
On Nitrado the slot count is both the price and the player limit. Here the price is the hardware: each plan states its RAM and vCores and reserves them for your server, and Max Players is a field you set. A tribe that grows does not buy seats; it moves up a plan only if the world needs more memory.
When Nitrado is the better choice
- You want ARK's own hosting partner, or a cluster of several maps your players transfer between: Nitrado sells and documents clusters.
- You want rentals as short as three days, or prepaid rather than a subscription.
- Your players are close to one of its nine cities and you prefer its web interface, which many ARK players already know.
Moving a world across
Download your save from Nitrado over FTP: the map's folder in SavedArks, with the .ark file and the player and tribe files beside it. Zip it, set Map in Deployment Settings to the same map, and upload it from the World section of the Backup tab. The dashboard stops the server, swaps the world in and starts it again.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Nitrado alternative for ARK: Survival Ascended?
Flux hosts ARK: Survival Ascended on plans sized by memory, from $11.99/month for 16 GB, with crossplay, CurseForge mods and no map locked to a bigger plan, 50+ countries to choose from and no contract.
How much does a Nitrado ARK: Survival Ascended server cost?
On 4 October 2026, $24.99 for 20 slots and $32.29 for 26 slots, for 30 days. Astraeos and Lost Colony need the 26-slot package or larger.
Is Flux cheaper than Nitrado for ARK: Survival Ascended?
On 4 October 2026, Nitrado's entry package was $24.99 for 20 slots and 30 days. Flux plans are $11.99, $13.99 and $15.99 a month for 16, 20 and 24 GB, with no map locked to a bigger plan and no player count in the price.
Can I move my ARK world from Nitrado to Flux?
Yes. Download the map's SavedArks folder over FTP, zip it, and upload it from the World section of the Backup tab. The dashboard stops the server, puts the world in place and starts it again, on the same map.