There is no independently verified “best” commercial host to name from the currently documented information. The safest choice in 2026 is a managed SCP: Secret Laboratory server whose advertised CPU, RAM, operating system, file access, plugin support, location, backups and recurring price are confirmed in writing. If you already control a compatible Windows or Ubuntu machine, self-hosting gives you more control and avoids a hosting-company markup, but you become responsible for installation, updates, security, recovery and administration.
Northwood’s server guide gives a useful starting point: 3 GB RAM, a 2-core CPU and 4 GB of storage for a full 25-player server with no plugins or modifications. That is a documented minimum baseline, not a promise of smooth performance for larger communities or customized servers.
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Listed first: Godlike.Host
Godlike.Host offers SCP: Secret Laboratory server hosting through its Pterodactyl-based game panel, with SFTP/FTP access and up to three free backups a day with restore. It also provides free DDoS protection and a personal firewall for player access and IP filtering.
What “best” means for an SCP: Secret Laboratory server
Hosting quality is less about a catchy plan name than about whether the service matches your player count, region and administration workflow. A suitable host should give you enough consistently allocated CPU and memory, place the server close to most players, let you install the files and plugins you actually use, and provide a practical way to recover from a failed update or bad configuration.
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Decide first whether you need managed hosting or self-hosting:
| Option | What you control | What the provider or machine owner handles | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed game hosting | Server settings, players, permissions and (if allowed) plugins | Physical hardware, virtualization, network connection and often operating-system maintenance | Communities that want a quick deployment and support contact |
| Self-hosting | Operating system, files, updates, network rules, plugins and backups | Nothing beyond the hardware or virtual machine you already control | Administrators who need unrestricted access or already operate servers |
Neither option is automatically faster. A low-cost managed plan can underperform if CPU is oversubscribed or memory is shared, while a well-provisioned virtual or physical machine can be reliable if it has a good network route and is maintained properly.
Official resource requirements and their limits
Northwood’s dedicated-server guide lists the following minimum for a server that is full at a 25-player cap and has no plugins or modifications:
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|---|---|---|
| Memory | 3 GB RAM | A baseline for the stated 25-player, unmodified scenario; it is not a recommendation for larger or heavily customized servers. |
| Processor | 2 CPU cores | The guide does not state a clock speed, CPU model or performance guarantee. |
| Storage | 4 GB | The listed minimum for the server installation in that scenario; updates, logs, backups and plugins require additional space. |
| Capacity context | 25 players | This is the player-cap context for the figures, not a benchmark proving that every 25-player installation will behave identically. |
The guide does not publish a tested allocation for 40-, 60- or 100-player communities, multiple servers on one machine, or plugin-heavy configurations. Treat the figures as a floor when evaluating a plan. Ask a host what CPU and RAM are actually assigned to your instance, rather than relying on a vague statement such as “high performance” or “unlimited slots.”
Planning headroom
Start with the official baseline, then add capacity for your actual workload. A modified server may load extra assemblies, maintain larger logs and perform more work per tick than the unmodified case. Running several instances also multiplies memory, CPU and storage demand. Because no official sizing table for those scenarios is supplied, request a host’s stated allocation and upgrade policy instead of treating any generic player-to-RAM formula as authoritative.
Supported operating systems in the official documentation
Northwood’s October 11, 2024 system-requirements announcement lists server support from update 14.0 for:
- Windows 10 or Windows 11, version 21H1 or newer, 64-bit.
- Windows Server 2022 or newer, 64-bit.
- Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, 64-bit.
That announcement is from 2024. Before purchasing or deploying in 2026, check the latest release notes and the host’s current image list to confirm that these versions remain supported. Do not assume that an older image, a 32-bit system or an unrelated Linux distribution will work simply because it can run other Steam servers.
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How the dedicated server is installed
The official guide describes installing the dedicated server through Steam’s dedicated-server tool or through SteamCMD, using application ID 996560. A typical SteamCMD installation sequence is:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 996560 validate +quitUse the current Northwood guide for the supported installation method and any release-specific configuration. A managed host should explain whether it installs and updates this same dedicated-server package, whether updates are automatic or manual, and whether you can roll back after an update.
Self-hosting checklist
- Choose a 64-bit Windows or Ubuntu system that meets the currently published operating-system requirements.
- Provision at least the documented baseline, while leaving practical headroom for your player count, plugins, logs and backups.
- Install SteamCMD or the dedicated-server tool and deploy app ID 996560.
- Apply the server configuration and administrative files required by your community.
- Install only plugins compatible with the server build and your chosen framework.
- Test joining, permissions, restarts and update recovery before advertising the server publicly.
- Document the installation location, configuration files and backup procedure so another administrator can recover it.
The documentation supplied here does not establish a universal launch command, port list or firewall recipe. Obtain those values from the current server guide and your host’s control panel rather than copying settings from an older game version.
Plugins, LabAPI and file access
Northwood’s LabAPI repository describes LabAPI as the official server-side modding framework and states that dedicated-server builds bundle a compiled LabAPI.dll. The bundled framework does not mean that every managed provider offers unrestricted file access or supports every community plugin.
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Before ordering, ask these specific questions:
- Can you upload, replace and remove server files, assemblies and configuration files?
- Can you restart the instance after a plugin change, and can you view the console and logs?
- Are plugins permitted under the provider’s terms, and are there restrictions on executable files?
- Who performs game and framework updates, and how are incompatible plugins handled?
- Can you download a complete backup before changing the installation?
If your administration model depends on direct shell access, scheduled tasks or custom scripts, confirm those capabilities before paying. A one-click panel may be convenient but insufficient for a community that needs detailed control.
How to compare hosting plans without being misled
The available documentation does not verify current commercial providers, prices, locations or allocations. Use the following table as a due-diligence worksheet; fill each item from the provider’s current terms or a written support response.
| Comparison point | What to verify | Why it affects the decision |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Number of dedicated or guaranteed cores, CPU generation where stated, and whether limits are shared | Two nominal cores can perform very differently, and oversubscription can create inconsistent tick performance. |
| RAM | Exact allocated amount, whether it is guaranteed, and upgrade steps | The official 3 GB figure is a minimum for a narrow 25-player scenario, not a universal plan size. |
| Player capacity | Advertised slots and the conditions behind that number | A slot count is not proof that the instance has enough CPU or memory for your plugins and settings. |
| Operating system | Current 64-bit Windows or Ubuntu image and version | The 2024 list may have changed; compatibility must be confirmed for the 2026 server build. |
| Installation and updates | Whether the host uses Steam’s dedicated-server package, how updates are scheduled, and whether rollback is possible | An automatic update can break a plugin; a rollback path reduces downtime. |
| File and plugin access | Panel, SFTP or shell access; permission to use LabAPI and your intended plugins | Restricted file access can make an otherwise suitable plan unusable. |
| Location | Datacenter city or country, available regions and any network test or latency policy | Physical distance and routing affect player responsiveness. |
| Backups | What is backed up, retention period, storage location, restore process and extra cost | A snapshot of only the world or configuration may not restore plugins and logs. |
| Network protection | DDoS and abuse response, included limits and what happens during an attack | Protection claims vary; read the actual acceptable-use and incident terms. |
| Support | Support hours, response target, escalation path and whether game-specific help is included | A ticket queue is different from real-time assistance during an outage. |
| Price and cancellation | Recurring price, renewal price, billing period, setup fees, taxes, refund rules and cancellation timing | A low introductory price can conceal a higher renewal cost or a difficult cancellation process. |
When a cell cannot be verified from current provider documentation, record it as not stated and ask before ordering. Do not infer a guarantee from a marketing adjective or from the number of advertised slots.
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Managed hosting: questions to ask before checkout
- “What is allocated to this exact plan?” Request the RAM amount and CPU allocation, not a general hardware description.
- “Which server regions are available?” Select the region nearest the majority of players, then ask whether the address can be moved later.
- “Can I manage the complete installation?” Confirm access to configuration, logs, plugins and backups.
- “How are updates handled?” Ask whether you choose the update window, whether files are backed up first and whether a previous build can be restored.
- “What happens when the server crashes?” Check automatic restart behavior, alerting and the support escalation route.
- “What exactly is included in the monthly price?” Confirm storage, backups, additional IP addresses, taxes, renewal pricing and cancellation terms.
Keep the answers in a ticket or email. A written answer is more useful than an informal promise on a sales chat when you need to resolve a compatibility dispute.
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Self-hosting is attractive when you already have a reliable machine, need unrestricted plugin and file control, or operate several related services on the same infrastructure. It is less attractive when you do not want to maintain an operating system, expose a service to the internet, monitor failures or handle game updates.
Advantages
- Full control over the operating system, server files, LabAPI installation and plugin lifecycle.
- Ability to choose hardware and storage rather than accepting a provider’s fixed plan.
- No separate managed-hosting margin when the machine and network are already available.
- Freedom to design your own backup, monitoring and maintenance schedule.
Responsibilities
- Apply operating-system and server updates safely.
- Protect administrative credentials and limit unnecessary services.
- Monitor CPU, memory, storage growth, logs and restart behavior.
- Maintain tested backups and a documented restore process.
- Handle network incidents and player support yourself.
The official minimum does not remove those operational duties. A machine that technically meets 3 GB RAM, two cores and 4 GB storage can still be a poor public server if its connection is unstable, its disk fills with logs or no administrator can recover it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Capacity and performance decisions
For a small, unmodified community
Use the official 25-player baseline as the starting reference. Confirm that the plan’s memory and CPU are guaranteed, and leave storage for updates, logs and backups rather than allocating exactly 4 GB.
For plugins or modifications
Ask the plugin authors and host about compatibility with the current game build and LabAPI version. Measure actual resource use after installing the intended set; the official guide does not provide a universal modified-server requirement.
For larger or multiple servers
Do not multiply the 25-player minimum and assume the result is a tested capacity. Request an allocation for each instance, account for operating-system overhead and plan how a restart or update affects all servers sharing the machine.
Legal and distribution requirements
The SCP: Secret Laboratory EULA defines the dedicated server as the special server version distributed under Steam application ID 996560. It permits loading the software on devices under your control subject to the license. The EULA also prohibits developing, hosting, distributing, sharing or using an “Emulated Central Server.”
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The Steam search record identifies that EULA as last updated December 22, 2022. Read the current EULA and Northwood’s current server guidance before deployment; do not treat an old copy as legal advice or assume that a hosting company’s terms override the game license.
A practical buying decision tree
- Do you need unrestricted files, shell access or custom automation? If yes, shortlist self-hosting or a managed service that explicitly provides those controls.
- Do you already operate a reliable 64-bit Windows or Ubuntu machine? If yes, compare the cost and administration time of self-hosting with managed plans. If no, managed hosting removes the hardware and network setup burden.
- Is your server unmodified and limited to about 25 players? Use the official baseline as a floor, then verify headroom. If you use plugins or a higher cap, require a provider to state the allocation and upgrade path.
- Are most players in one geographic region? Choose the nearest available location and confirm that relocation is possible before committing.
- Can the provider answer every compatibility question? If CPU/RAM allocation, operating-system version, plugin policy, backups or renewal terms remain unclear, keep comparing.
Common failure modes and recovery checks
The host advertises slots but not resources
Ask for guaranteed CPU and RAM for the exact plan. If the answer remains vague, treat the capacity claim as unverified and choose a plan with explicit allocation.
A plugin stops working after an update
Stop making additional changes, preserve the logs, check plugin and LabAPI compatibility with the new server build, and restore the last known-good backup if the host supports rollback. Confirm the update policy before re-enabling automatic updates.
The server cannot be installed on the selected image
Verify that the image is 64-bit and that its Windows or Ubuntu version is on the current Northwood-supported list. Ask the host to confirm support for app ID 996560 rather than assuming a generic Steam image is sufficient.
Players report inconsistent responsiveness
Check the server’s CPU contention, memory pressure, storage capacity and network route. Compare results from the region nearest your players and ask the provider whether the instance is sharing a physical host. The 25-player minimum is not a guarantee against these external causes.
An update or crash destroys configuration
Restore from a backup that includes configuration, plugins and any required data, then document the recovery steps. If the provider cannot state what its backups contain or how long they are retained, maintain an independent copy.
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Final pre-purchase checklist
- Current 64-bit operating-system support is confirmed for the server version you will run.
- CPU and RAM are stated as an allocation or guarantee, not only as a slot count.
- The plan leaves room above the 3 GB/2-core/4 GB baseline for your real player count and workload.
- The datacenter region suits most players.
- File, console, restart and plugin access match your administration workflow.
- LabAPI and your intended plugins are allowed and manageable.
- Updates, rollback and backups are documented.
- DDoS/network protection and support escalation are clearly described.
- Recurring price, renewal price, billing period and cancellation terms are understood.
- You have read the current EULA, including the prohibition on an Emulated Central Server.
Godlike.Host is listed first here for SCP: Secret Laboratory hosting, with a Pterodactyl-based game panel, SFTP/FTP access and up to three free backups a day with restore; compare those features with the checklist before ordering.
Quick Recap
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