Free on your own PC

Free Valheim dedicated server on your own PC

Host your Viking world on hardware you already own. NodeMesh installs the dedicated server, keeps it running and relays your friends' connections, so there is nothing to open on your router.

Free on your own PC — one host, no time limit.

How it works on your PC

1

Install the agent

Sign up, then paste one command from your dashboard on the PC that will run the server — PowerShell on Windows, a terminal on Linux. The agent installs as a service and pairs with your account.

2

Pick the game

Choose the game in the panel. NodeMesh downloads the dedicated server, sets it up and starts it, and you watch every step in the live console.

3

Share the address

Switch on the traffic relay for the server and the panel gives you a public address. Send it to your friends: their traffic goes through the relay to your PC, so you never open a port on your router.

What your PC needs

Memory for the server (minimum)2 GB
Memory for the server (recommended)4 GB
WindowsSupported (newer, in beta)
LinuxSupported

The memory figures are for the game server alone. If you also play on the same PC, the game itself needs its own memory on top.

Friends join without port forwarding

Valheim uses UDP on its game and query ports. The relay forwards those ports to your PC, so you make no changes to your router.

Mods

Search Thunderstore from the server's Mods tab and install with one click. Dependencies come along, and the first mod sets up BepInEx for you. Mods work on Linux hosts for now; on a Windows host the server runs unmodded.

What is free

One host — your own PC — is free with no time limit, for up to 5 game servers: the web panel and console, the config editor, the mod manager, auto-restart on crash and the traffic relay. Extra hosts cost credits.

See pricing →

Beta: this game runs on NodeMesh today, but our full hardware test of it is not finished yet. We would rather say so than call it stable.

Looking for a server to join instead?

Our public server list shows the servers that are online right now, with player counts, uptime and game version.

Browse live public servers

Questions

Do I have to buy Valheim again for the server?

No. The Valheim dedicated server is a free download on Steam. NodeMesh fetches it for you anonymously, so no Steam login is stored on your PC.

Is it really free?

Yes, for one host. Running game servers on your own PC is free with no time limit — up to 5 servers, traffic relay included. You only pay, in credits, if you add more hosts.

Does it run on Windows?

Yes. The Windows server is supported but newer and still in beta; Linux is our most-tested path. Mods (BepInEx) currently need a Linux host.

Can I change the world settings?

Yes. The Config tab covers the server name, password and world name, the difficulty presets and individual world modifiers such as combat, death penalty and raids.

What happens when my PC is off?

The server goes offline too: it runs on your PC, not on ours. Leave the PC on while your friends play, or use a spare PC as the host.

Your server, on your PC

Create an account, install the agent and pick the game. One host is free with no time limit.

Create a free account