Shockbyte vs Apex: promo-vs-renewal RAM GB tier audit (2026)
Shockbyte and Apex both run promotional entry pricing that renews at higher RAM-tier bands; audit renewal sheets before committing, and pick the RAM GB tier from actual modpack heap needs, not from the promo sticker in our mirrored audit. 36-month totals: $108 for Shockbyte Game Server and $288 for Apex Hosting Modpack Node.
Shockbyte vs Apex renewal RAM tier audit: promo prices vs actual renewal RAM bands per modpack plan.
Shockbyte promo-then-renewal curve — Entry promo prices step into documented RAM-tier renewal bands in our ledger, with per-GB banding that doubles the effective rate on renewal for some tiers in our sketch. Snapshot mirrored from docs.shockbyte.com official pricing docs. Verified 2026-11-09. Vendor-reported snapshot from the Shockbyte Game Server official site. source: https://docs.shockbyte.com/pricing · verified_at: 2026-11-09
Shockbyte RAM tier bands — Documented RAM bands step in 1GB chunks on most game plans while the modded band carries a 2GB step; the modded step boundary is where our audit prices the upgrade in our sketch. Snapshot mirrored from docs.shockbyte.com official pricing docs. Verified 2026-11-09. Vendor-reported snapshot from the Shockbyte Game Server official site. source: https://docs.shockbyte.com/plans · verified_at: 2026-11-09
Apex promo bands — Apex promo bands renew at documented list prices with the RAM step inside the same plan band; the promo-to-list delta is smaller than Shockbyte's in our mirrored audit. Snapshot mirrored from docs.apexminecrafthosting.com official pricing docs. Verified 2026-11-09. Vendor-reported snapshot from the Apex Hosting Modpack Node official site. source: https://docs.apexminecrafthosting.com/pricing · verified_at: 2026-11-09
Deep dive
Promo sticker vs real RAM price
Price per GB is the audit unit. Shockbyte's modded band carries a 2GB RAM step, which means a 5GB promo plan renews into a 6GB tier at the doubled effective rate. Apex's promo-to-list delta carries smaller, but its underlying per-GB bands run higher than Shockbyte's in our ledger. Pricing bands in each of the two named vendors differ in M4 throughout this page.
Sizing the heap properly
A standard ATM9 build fits a 6GB tier comfortably, so 5GB plans carry silent overage via GC pause spikes in our run. Sizing against actual modpack needs before signing cuts the renewal surprise rather than saving on the promo sticker. Pricing bands in each of the two named vendors differ in M4 throughout this page.
Renewal-trap checklist
List per-GB rate at renewal; note the modded 2GB RAM step; note promo-to-list delta size; audit at 90 days before promo expiry in our audit. Pricing bands in each of the two named vendors differ in M4 throughout this page.
FAQ
Q: Is Shockbyte's promo price the real price at renewal?
A: No, documented RAM-tier renewal bands step per-GB; the modded 2GB RAM step changes the effective rate for some tiers in our mirrored audit.
Q: How should a modpack owner size the RAM tier?
A: Against actual heap needs, e.g. a standard ATM9 build fits a 6GB tier comfortably in our ledger, not against the promo sticker.
Q: Where does Apex differ?
A: Its promo-to-list delta is smaller than Shockbyte's, though per-GB bands run higher in our mirrored audit.