Short answer: a Palworld dedicated server holds up to 32 players — the game's hard cap — while the built-in co-op you start from the main menu tops out at 4. If "only 3 or 4 people can join" is why you're here, a dedicated server is the fix. But "how big should my server be?" isn't really a player-count question — it's a world-size question, and it decides how much RAM and storage you actually need. Here's how slots, RAM and storage fit together in Palworld 1.0.
How many players can a Palworld server hold?
32. That's Palworld's hard cap for a dedicated server, set by the ServerPlayerMaxNum value (valid range 1–32). You can run a server for 4 players or 32, but you can't go above 32 without unsupported mods — and we don't recommend trying.
Every Connect Hosting plan ships with all 32 slots enabled by default, from Starter up. You never pay to "unlock" more seats (more on that below).
Why Palworld co-op stops at 4 players (and how a dedicated server fixes it)
The 4-player limit trips up a lot of new groups. When you start a co-op game from Palworld's menu, you're hosting off your own save file, peer-to-peer — and that mode caps at 4 players total. It also only exists while you're online; when the host leaves, the world is gone for everyone.
A dedicated server is different: it runs the world independently, 24/7, on its own address. Friends join whether you're online or not, and the player cap jumps to the full 32. So if you're seeing "only 3 players can join" or hitting the 4-player wall, you don't have a bug — you've outgrown co-op and need a dedicated server.
Server size is world activity, not friend count
Here's the part most sizing guides get wrong: Palworld's server load tracks how busy your world is far more than how many people are logged in. Bases, Pals working at those bases, buildings and breeding pens all consume memory and CPU — even while players are offline.
A 5-player server with three sprawling bases and 100+ Pals can use more RAM than a 10-player server where everyone shares one modest camp. That's why we tell people to pick a plan by world size, not headcount.
How much RAM do you need by player count?
Treat these as guidance, not gospel — real usage depends on base size and Pal count. Pocketpair recommends 16GB for a dedicated server as a general baseline; our plans start at 8GB for smaller worlds and go to 24GB for packed 32-player communities.
| Your world | Suggested RAM | What it suits | Connect plan (all 32 slots) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few friends, one modest base | 8 GB | Fresh saves, casual groups | Starter — 8GB / 25GB disk |
| Active group, a couple of real bases | 16 GB | The 16GB Pocketpair recommends | Pro — 16GB / 40GB disk |
| Established community, up to 16 players | 16 GB | Multiple bases, ongoing breeding | Pro — 16GB / 40GB disk |
| Full 32-player world, many bases & Pals | 24 GB | Long-running, heavy servers | Beast — 24GB / 60GB disk |
One thing to plan for regardless of size: Palworld servers accumulate RAM the longer they run (the well-documented memory leak). More RAM buys longer uptime between resets, but the real fix is a scheduled restart — which every Connect plan runs automatically, once a day, world saved first. Full detail in our memory-leak guide, and a deeper breakdown in how much RAM a Palworld server needs.
CPU: why clock speed beats core count
Palworld's world simulation is largely single-thread-bound — it leans on one or two fast cores rather than spreading across many. That means a modern high-clock CPU holds a 32-player world far better than an older chip with lots of slow cores. It's why raw core counts on a spec sheet can be misleading; per-core speed is what keeps a busy base from stuttering.
Palworld storage and save file sizes
Good news: Palworld saves are small. A single world's save data is typically only around 10 MB. What actually grows on disk is the backups folder — the server keeps rolling backups, and those stack up over weeks. Heavy servers with many bases can see the save folder swell to tens of megabytes, and in some cases people have reported it ballooning past ~60 MB from accumulated, unreferenced data (a good reason to keep backups pruned and restarts scheduled).
In practice you don't need much disk — but you want headroom for backups and updates. Connect plans include 25GB (Starter), 40GB (Pro) and 60GB (Beast), which is far more than a save needs and leaves plenty of room for backup history.
How to change the max players on your server
If you want fewer than 32 slots (say, a private 8-person world), it's one setting:
- Open your server's settings or
PalWorldSettings.ini. - Find
ServerPlayerMaxNumand set it to your number (1–32). - Save and restart the server.
On a Connect server you can do this straight from the panel — no file editing required. Lowering it doesn't cost you anything or save you money; all 32 slots are included either way.
Per-slot pricing vs all slots included — what you actually pay
This is where hosts differ, and it's worth understanding before you buy. Many Palworld hosts charge per player slot — you'll see ladders like $6 for 1 player up to $25+ for the full 32, so adding friends literally raises your bill.
We don't. Every Connect plan includes all 32 slots, and you choose your plan by the resources your world needs (RAM, disk, backups) — never by seat count. Invite your 5th friend or your 30th; the price doesn't move. It's the honest way to price a game where "how big is your world" matters and "how many friends do you have" shouldn't.
Which Connect plan fits your world?
- Starter — 8GB, $12.99/mo: a few friends and a modest base. Full 32 slots, room to grow.
- Pro — 16GB, $21.99/mo: the 16GB Pocketpair recommends — active groups, multiple bases, up to ~16 regulars.
- Beast — 24GB, $31.99/mo: a packed 32-player world with heavy bases and breeding. Maximum headroom before the daily restart.
All three include all 32 slots, automated daily leak-protection restarts, and full panel control. You can move up or down a plan anytime as your world grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum number of players on a Palworld server?
- That's the game's hard cap for a dedicated server, controlled by the
ServerPlayerMaxNumsetting (range 1–32). Going higher requires unsupported mods, which we don't recommend. Every Connect plan includes all 32 slots.
Why can only 4 people join my Palworld game?
Palworld's menu co-op hosts off your personal save peer-to-peer and caps at 4 players — and only runs while you're online. A dedicated server runs independently 24/7 and lifts the cap to 32, so your friends can always join.
How much RAM does a 32-player Palworld server need?
Plan for around 24GB for a busy, long-running 32-player world with lots of bases and Pals. Smaller or newer worlds run fine on 8–16GB. RAM tracks world activity more than raw player count, so base size matters as much as headcount.
Can you have more than 32 players on a Palworld server?
No — 32 is a hard cap. Only unsupported mods claim to raise it, and they tend to break on updates and hurt stability. If you need more, a second server is the reliable route.
How big do Palworld save files get?
A single world's save is small — usually around 10MB. The backups folder is what grows over time, occasionally past ~60MB on heavy servers. Keep backups pruned and restarts scheduled and storage is rarely a concern; Connect plans include 25–60GB of disk.
Does more players always mean more RAM?
No. A few players with huge bases and hundreds of Pals can use more RAM than a larger group sharing one small camp. Size your server by how active your world is, not just how many friends you have.
Do I pay per player slot at Connect Hosting?
No. Every plan includes all 32 slots. You choose a plan by resources (RAM, disk, backups), so adding friends never raises your bill — unlike hosts that charge per seat.
How do I change the max players on my server?
Set ServerPlayerMaxNum (1–32) in your server settings and restart. On a Connect server you can do it from the panel with no file editing. All 32 slots stay included regardless of what you set it to.
Sizing a Palworld world for your group? Configure a Palworld server — every plan includes all 32 slots, and you can change plans anytime as your world grows.
