Don’t know if this Reddit is the best place to ask this but here we go.
I’m the guy in my friends group that always hosts servers for us whenever we want to play some games where dedicated servers are just better.
Sometime in December we wanted to play Ark and I’ve done many servers for Ark in the past but I’m kinda wondering if it’s cheaper to tun a dedicated computer 24/7 just for the server or if it’s better to pick a hosting service?
Nitrado would cost 12€ for 30 days. Is self hosting cheaper?
As a general rule, self hosting is not cheaper, in the same way that it’s not cheaper to sew your own clothes, make your own furniture, raise your own chickens, etc, because by the time you invest all the time and effort into tools and labour, you’re well over the cost of the actual thing.
What it is a satisfying hobby and in the longer longer term might save you a little bit.