Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about accounts, credits, and game servers.

Billing and credits

Is this a subscription?

No. You buy credits in advance and each running server uses credits at its displayed hourly rate. See How Pay-As-You-Go Works.

When am I charged?

Creating or starting a server charges one full hour upfront. If it remains running, another hour is charged when its paid hour ends. Check Cost & Usage when you want to review hourly charges.

Does a stopped server use credits?

No. Stop pauses billing. Unused time from the paid hour becomes the server's Banked Hour and continues when you start that server again.

What happens when my Credit Balance is too low?

A server that cannot cover its next hour is stopped, not deleted, and the Credit Balance does not go below zero. Top up, then return to Console and select Start.

Do credits expire?

Credits remain in your Credit Balance until they are used. They do not reset each month.

Can I get a refund for unused credits?

Credits are purchased in advance and are non-refundable except where applicable law requires otherwise. Stop servers when they are not in use to avoid new hourly charges.

Can I change my wallet currency?

No. Your account currency is selected when your account is created and remains fixed. It controls the prices, top-up amounts, and payment options shown to you. See Your Wallet Currency.

Which payment options will I see?

The checkout options depend on your account currency. USD accounts use PayPal. IDR accounts use Midtrans options such as QRIS, GoPay, and virtual account transfer.

Why has a completed checkout not changed my Credit Balance?

Open the payment result and check whether it says Payment received, Payment pending, or Payment processing. Credits appear only after the payment is confirmed. Refresh Console and review your transaction history before contacting Support with the payment reference. See My Payment Didn't Add Credits.

Servers

How do I create a server?

Select Create Server in Console, choose a game, then complete the wizard. Choose the region, Server tier, and Server size, review game settings and supported mods, then confirm the hourly rate before creating the server.

What is the difference between Server tier and Server size?

Server tier describes the platform level available in a region. Server size selects the capacity within that tier, such as Small, Medium, or Large. Availability, specifications, and price are shown together before you confirm. See Choosing a Server Tier and Server Size.

Can I change the region, Server tier, or Server size later?

Yes. Open Server Settings. A running server restarts when you apply a configuration change; a stopped server uses the new configuration on its next start. An upscale can charge the displayed cost difference immediately, while a downscale has no extra change charge.

How do friends join the game?

Share the game connection address and the connection instructions from the relevant game guide. For access to server controls, create an appropriate role in Roles & Sharing instead of sharing your own account. See Connecting and Inviting Players.

A share link grants the permissions of one role. A login-required link adds the visitor as a member and the server appears in their Console. If Allow anonymous is enabled, anyone holding the link can use that role without signing in. The owner's Credit Balance always pays server costs.

Can I manage connected players?

For supported games, Player Management shows online and banned players and the actions available for that game. The server must be Running for live player actions.

Can I schedule the server?

Use Automation to configure Auto-start and Auto-shutdown for selected days, times, and a timezone. Supported games can also show Repeating Broadcast, which sends messages only while the server is Running.

Are saves kept when I stop or restart?

Stopping and restarting are designed to preserve supported games' current save data. Deleting is permanent. There is no self-service save download, version history, or restore control in Console, so use the game's own backup or export tools when available.

Can I install mods?

The Mods section appears only for games with supported mod management. Search or paste a mod URL, complete any game-specific required fields, and save. A running server may require Save & Restart before the changes take effect.

How long does starting take?

Start time varies by game and configuration. Wait while the status is Starting. When it changes to Running, allow the game a short time to finish loading before connecting. Repeated failures should be checked in the Activity Log.

Account and access

Do I need a separate password?

No. Sign in with Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Discord, or Steam. HourlyGameServer.com does not issue a separate account password.

An additional supported sign-in option can be linked when it resolves to your existing account. If you do not see your existing Credit Balance and servers after signing in, sign out and use the option you previously used, then contact Support before creating duplicate resources or payments.

How do I stop paying without losing the server?

Select Stop. Use Delete Server only when you want to permanently remove the server and its save data. Deletion cannot be undone.