Comparison
Expanse Host vs MelonCube
MelonCube is a budget-friendly Minecraft host known for its low entry price and broad location list. This comparison looks at how its hardware and plans stack up against Expanse Host's Ryzen 9 9950X-based servers.
Methodology
How we compared
This comparison is published by Expanse Host. MelonCube pricing, hardware claims, and location list were taken from its public site as of 2026-08-04. Pricing and plan details can change frequently; confirm current rates on MelonCube before choosing based on cost.
Pricing and features are sourced from public listings and may have changed. Verify on MelonCube's website before purchasing.
Overview
At a glance
Summary
MelonCube wins on price and location variety, but Expanse offers a more modern hardware platform and included backups. For serious Minecraft servers that need consistent performance, Expanse is the better value; for casual or test servers, MelonCube's low cost is hard to beat.
Features
Side-by-side comparison
MelonCube starts at $3.00/mo for a 1GB plan, while Expanse Host's entry plan is $8/mo for 4GB RAM. MelonCube's per-GB cost is roughly $3, similar to Expanse's effective ~$2/GB, but Expanse includes daily backups and a newer CPU across every plan.
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8.00/mo (4GB RAM) | $3.00/mo (1GB RAM) |
| CPU | Ryzen 9 9950X (16C/32T) | Ryzen 3700X (8C/16T) on some plans |
| Storage | Gen 4 NVMe SSD, dedicated allocation that scales per plan | 2x500GB NVMe + 4TB HDD (plan-dependent) |
| Locations | New York, Frankfurt, Singapore, Malaysia | Montreal, Paris, Miami, Dallas, LA (network plans); Dallas, Miami, New Jersey, LA (dedicated) |
| DDoS protection | Cloudflare, 500+ Tbps capacity, included | Included (details vary by plan) |
| Memory | 4GB DDR5 (entry) | 1GB to 12GB on VPS plans (DDR4); dedicated servers scale to 64GB |
| Backups | Daily automated backups included | Free backups included on VPS plans |
| Game catalog | 100+ games via game switch | Minecraft-focused, but supports other games |
Recommendation
Which host fits you?
Choose MelonCube if
Choose MelonCube if your budget is extremely tight and you need a server in a location Expanse doesn't cover.
Choose Expanse Host if
Choose Expanse if you want a top-tier CPU, included daily backups, and a proven DDoS mitigation service.
Analysis
Where each provider shines
Strengths
MelonCube
- Low entry price ($3.00/mo) with per-GB cost around $3
- Locations across North America and Europe (Montreal, Paris, Miami, Dallas, LA, New Jersey)
- Same price regardless of location, simplifying budgeting
- VPS plans scale to 12GB RAM; dedicated servers scale to 64GB for larger communities
Strengths
Expanse Host
- Newer Ryzen 9 9950X CPU with DDR5 RAM for better performance
- Daily automated backups included on every plan
- Cloudflare DDoS protection rated for 500+ Tbps attacks
- Game switch feature lets you change games without buying a new server
Questions
Common questions
Related
More comparisons
Still evaluating? Review Expanse plans if we fit your use case — or stay with MelonCube if that is the better match.