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Counter-Strike 2 Server Hosting Built for sub-tick - Workshop & CounterStrikeSharp

Rent a Counter-Strike 2 server and get going right away: host your own server at MainHoster.de - ideal for competitive 5v5, retakes, surf or casual fun wars. Workshop maps & collections, Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp are supported. Instead of advertising an outdated tickrate, we use CPUs with high single-thread performance - exactly what the CS2 sub-tick model needs. Thanks to our location in Germany and DDoS protection up to 250 Gbit/⁠s, you play with low ping and a stable connection.

Hardware built for sub-tick Unlimited slots Workshop maps & collections Metamod:Source & CounterStrikeSharp DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s Ready in 120 s
MainHoster.de Counter-Strike 2 server

Prepaid

Counter-Strike 2

  • Dedicated CS2 server
  • Hardware built for sub-tick
  • Workshop maps & collections
  • Metamod:Source & CounterStrikeSharp
  • DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s
  • Instant provisioning

starting at €5.99 / month

View plans

Our CS2 plans

CS2S

For small matches & training

€5.99 / month

  • 4 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 70 GB NVMe storage
  • Recommended: ~12 players
  • 5v5, Wingman & 1v1
  • DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s
  • Instant provisioning
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Most popular

CS2M

For competitive teams

€9.99 / month

  • 6 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 75 GB NVMe storage
  • Recommended: ~20 players
  • MatchZy 5v5 & retakes
  • DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s
  • Instant provisioning
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CS2L

For active communities

€14.99 / month

  • 8 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 80 GB NVMe storage
  • Recommended: ~32 players
  • Deathmatch & practice
  • DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s
  • Instant provisioning
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CS2XL

For large community servers

€23.99 / month

  • 12 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 85 GB NVMe storage
  • Recommended: ~64 players
  • Surf, KZ & bhop
  • DDoS protection 250 Gbit/⁠s
  • Instant provisioning
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Features CS2 SCS2 MCS2 LCS2 XL
RAM4 GB DDR46 GB DDR48 GB DDR412 GB DDR4
Storage70 GB NVMe SSD75 GB NVMe SSD80 GB NVMe SSD85 GB NVMe SSD
SlotsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Recommended for~12 players~20 players~32 players~64 players
ProcessorHigh single-thread performanceHigh single-thread performanceHigh single-thread performanceHigh single-thread performance
Built for sub-tick Included Included Included Included
Workshop maps & collections Included Included Included Included
Metamod:Source & CounterStrikeSharp Included Included Included Included
Fixed server address (IP:Port) Included Included Included Included
RCON access Included Included Included Included
Web file manager & SFTP access Included Included Included Included
Sub-users / admin access Included Included Included Included
Automatic CS2 updates Included Included Included Included
Uplink1 Gbit/⁠s1 Gbit/⁠s1 Gbit/⁠s1 Gbit/⁠s
TrafficUnmetered (fair use)Unmetered (fair use)Unmetered (fair use)Unmetered (fair use)
DDoS protection (250 Gbit/⁠s) Included Included Included Included
Provisioning120 seconds120 seconds120 seconds120 seconds
Network availability99.9 %99.9 %99.9 %99.9 %
Price (month)€5.99€9.99€14.99€23.99
OrderOrderOrderOrder

Sub-tick in CS2: why "128 tick" no longer matters

In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the tickrate (64 or 128) was the key figure - it defined how many times per second the server calculated the game state. Counter-Strike 2 replaced that model: with sub-tick, the server records the exact moment of every action - shot, movement, throw - between the ticks. Whether someone fired or peeked first is no longer rounded to the next 64 or 128 interval.

A sv_tickrate setting or a -tickrate 128 launch parameter no longer exists in CS2. Anyone still advertising "128 tick" is describing technology that is no longer in the game. What really matters for smooth, fair gameplay in CS2 is:

  • CPU single-thread performance - CS2 mainly loads one core heavily; a high clock speed keeps the simulation responsive.
  • Stable server FPS - the more consistently the server runs, the more precise the sub-tick evaluation.
  • Low, consistent latency - a location in Germany and short routes across Europe.

That is why we do not quote a made-up tickrate, but use hardware that optimizes exactly these factors.

CS2 sub-tick server hardware at MainHoster.de

GSLT: the Game Server Login Token for public servers

For your CS2 server to show up publicly in the Steam community server browser, Valve requires a GSLT (Game Server Login Token). It is a free token that links your server to your Steam account. Here is how to create it:

  1. Open steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers and sign in with your Steam account.
  2. Enter 730 (Counter-Strike 2) as the app ID plus a note, and generate the token.
  3. Add the token to your server configuration (launch parameter +sv_setsteamaccount or in the web interface).

For a purely private server that friends join via connect IP:Port, you do not need a GSLT. As soon as the server should be publicly visible, it is mandatory.

Visibility at a glance

  • Fixed server address made of IP and port
  • Listed in the community browser with a GSLT
  • Without a GSLT, reachable via connect IP:Port
  • IP & port visible in the web interface at any time

Game modes & recommended slots

Slots are unlimited on every CS2 plan - there is no hard slot limit. The recommendation per plan is based on the available RAM, not on a cap: competitive formats need few but clean slots, while community modes like surf or deathmatch benefit from more RAM headroom. Guidelines:

Game mode Recommended slots Recommended plan
Competitive 5v510 - 12CS2 S
Wingman 2v24 - 6CS2 S
1v1 / aim training2 - 8CS2 S
Retakes & executes9 - 10CS2 S
Practice (nades)5 - 10CS2 S
Deathmatch (FFA)16 - 20CS2 M
Surf, KZ & bhop20 - 40CS2 L / XL
Jailbreak20 - 40CS2 L / XL
Community & casual32 - 64CS2 XL

Guidelines for sizing - since slots are unlimited, RAM is what counts: more players and many plugins raise the requirement. If in doubt, choose one plan larger; you can upgrade at any time without losing data. Prices per plan and a recommendation per mode are on What does a CS2 server cost?.

Built for sub-tick

CS2 uses sub-tick instead of a fixed tickrate. Our CPUs with high single-thread performance and stable server FPS deliver precise hit registration - exactly the factors that count in CS2.

Workshop maps & collections

Add individual Workshop maps by ID or set an entire collection with host_workshop_collection - surf, bhop, retake, KZ or classic competitive maps, including automatic rotation.

Metamod:Source & CounterStrikeSharp

Extend your CS2 server with Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp - the current plugin ecosystem for MatchZy, RetakesPlugin or Get5. SourceMod (from the CS:GO era) is no longer used by CS2.

RCON & task scheduler

Full RCON access for admin commands and match flows. In the task scheduler of the web interface you set automatic restarts and recurring console commands.

Web file manager & SFTP

Manage configs, practice setups and plugins in the browser with the web file manager or with an SFTP client - upload your own files, take backups, swap things out.

Unlimited slots

No hard slot limit: you set the player count yourself. The recommendation per plan is based on RAM - for 5v5, deathmatch or large surf communities.

Automatic updates

After every Valve patch, your CS2 server updates itself automatically - no manual SteamCMD update needed, your server stays ready to play.

Sub-users & team access

Give teammates and co-admins their own access to console, configs and restarts - without sharing your main password. Ideal for clans and community teams.

DDoS protection

Our DDoS protection filters attacks of up to 250 Gbit/⁠s - especially important for public or competitive servers.

Made in Germany

All CS2 servers run in our data center near Frankfurt - short routes to players across Europe for low ping in competitive matches.

Provisioning

Thanks to our automated ordering system, your CS2 server is ready in around 120 seconds - load a map, invite your friends, play.

Before you order

More game servers

Payment methods

Paysafecard logo PayPal logo Credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay - payment via Stripe

Frequently asked questions - Counter-Strike 2

Since the move from CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 uses a sub-tick model. Unlike before, there is no fixed, configurable tickrate any more (no sv_tickrate, no -tickrate 128): the server records shots and movement with their exact timing between ticks, so hit registration is no longer tied to 64 or 128 ticks. What decides how smooth CS2 feels is therefore CPU single-thread performance and stable server FPS - and that is exactly what our hardware is built for. The old question "64 or 128 tick" simply does not apply to CS2.

For a public CS2 server that should be visible in the Steam community browser, a GSLT (Game Server Login Token) from Valve is mandatory. You create the token for free at steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers with app ID 730 and then add it to your server configuration. For a purely private server that friends join via IP and port, no GSLT is needed.

Yes. You add individual Workshop maps directly by their Workshop ID - ideal for surf, KZ, retakes or your own competitive maps. For community servers you can also set an entire Workshop collection with host_workshop_collection, so your server rotates through all the maps it contains automatically.

Yes. For CS2 we support Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp - the current plugin ecosystem of the game. That runs popular plugins like MatchZy (5v5 match server), RetakesPlugin or Get5. The old SourceMod from the CS:GO era no longer exists for CS2; CounterStrikeSharp is its successor for server-side plugins.

Yes. Your server has a fixed address made of IP and port and can be reached directly via the console (connect IP:Port). Combined with a valid GSLT, it also appears in the Steam community server browser. You can find IP and port in our web interface at any time.

Yes. RCON access is available on every plan - ideal for admin commands, match flows (for example with MatchZy) and configuration changes at runtime. You also manage the console, config files and restarts directly in the web interface.

Automatic backups are not part of the plan - instead you have full control: you back up configs, practice setups and plugin data yourself at any time via SFTP or the web file manager in your browser, and restore them immediately when needed.

Rule of thumb: competitive 5v5 and retakes run with 10 - 12 slots (plan S), deathmatch with around 20 slots (plan M), surf, KZ and larger community servers with 32 - 64 slots (plan L/XL). You configure the slot count yourself - the plan you choose depends on RAM and the load you expect.

Yes, you can upgrade to a bigger plan at any time. Configuration, maps and plugins are fully kept.