Multi Theft Auto server hosting for San Andreas
Build your own GTA: San Andreas multiplayer world with MTA:SA. Gamemodes, maps and scripts are Lua resources you start and stop at will, and the built-in web server delivers them to every player.
- MTA:SA 1.6 server with Lua resources
- Web admin, admin resource and ACL rights
- Roleplay, race, freeroam and deathmatch modes
- Built-in backups and an optional external download server
- PlayersSet maxplayers in mtaserver.conf to the slots you need.
- 32 by default (maxplayers)
- Ports22003/UDP is the game port, 22005/TCP the built-in HTTP server, and the game port + 123 (22126/UDP) lists the server in the browser.
- 22003 UDP · 22005 TCP · 22126 UDP
- Scripting
- Lua resources (zip or folder)
- Config
- mtaserver.conf · acl.xml
- Version
- MTA:SA 1.6
- Players needPhysical copies and the Steam version work; the Definitive Edition and the Windows App Store version do not.
- A compatible PC copy of GTA: San Andreas
Built-in resources
- admin
- webadmin
- mapmanager
- votemanager
- scoreboard
- voice
- play
- ACL
Game facts from the official Multi Theft Auto wiki (server manual and mtaserver.conf reference), checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
MTA:SA plans are being prepared
Tell us your gamemode, the slots you need and whether you run a database for your scripts, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much does an MTA:SA server need?
The server itself is light. Your scripts, maps and the number of players set the real load.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small
Up to 32 players
|
Recommended Community
Up to 100 players
|
Large
Up to 250 players
|
Busy roleplay
250+ players or heavy scripts
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your resources and their data. Scripts that keep data in memory need more. | 1 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB | 6 GB+ |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 1–2 | 2 | 2–3 | 3+ |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 5 GB | 10 GB | 15 GB | 20 GB+ |
| Bandwidth reductionnone, medium (default) or maximum. More reduction saves traffic but can desync mapped objects. | medium (default) | medium | medium or maximum | Test per gamemode |
| Typical use | Race or deathmatch with friends | Freeroam or a growing roleplay server | Popular roleplay with a database | Large community with heavy scripts |
-
Small
Up to 32 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your resources and their data. Scripts that keep data in memory need more.
- 1 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 1–2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 5 GB
- Bandwidth reductionnone, medium (default) or maximum. More reduction saves traffic but can desync mapped objects.
- medium (default)
- Typical use
- Race or deathmatch with friends
-
Recommended
Community
Up to 100 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your resources and their data. Scripts that keep data in memory need more.
- 2 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 10 GB
- Bandwidth reductionnone, medium (default) or maximum. More reduction saves traffic but can desync mapped objects.
- medium
- Typical use
- Freeroam or a growing roleplay server
-
Large
Up to 250 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your resources and their data. Scripts that keep data in memory need more.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 15 GB
- Bandwidth reductionnone, medium (default) or maximum. More reduction saves traffic but can desync mapped objects.
- medium or maximum
- Typical use
- Popular roleplay with a database
-
Busy roleplay
250+ players or heavy scripts
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your resources and their data. Scripts that keep data in memory need more.
- 6 GB+
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3+
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB+
- Bandwidth reductionnone, medium (default) or maximum. More reduction saves traffic but can desync mapped objects.
- Test per gamemode
- Typical use
- Large community with heavy scripts
MTA publishes no hardware figures: an idle server uses about 50 MB of memory, and the wiki advises a restart when the process grows past about 1.2 GB. These starting points are our estimate for scripts and players.
Resources, rights and web tools
An MTA:SA server is a set of resources. Start the ones you need and give your team the rights they need.
Lua resources
Gamemodes, maps and scripts live in mods/deathmatch/resources as a zip or a folder. Type refresh to load new or changed ones.
ACL rights
acl.xml decides who may do what. Add an account to the Admin group to make it an administrator.
Web admin
With webadmin, resourcebrowser, resourcemanager and webmap running, manage the server in a browser on the HTTP port.
Fast downloads
Point httpdownloadurl at an external web server so players fetch resources from there instead of the game server.
Built-in backups
At startup the server copies its data every few days: 3 days apart and 10 copies by default, set with backup_interval and backup_copies.
Voice and client versions
Turn on voice chat with the voice setting, and require an up-to-date client with minclientversion.
Set up your MTA:SA server
Four steps to your first players in San Andreas.
-
Choose your gamemode
Start with the default resources or bring your own roleplay, race or freeroam gamemode. Pick a size from the table above.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Configure and secure it
Set servername, maxplayers and an optional password in mtaserver.conf, create your account with addaccount and add it to the Admin group in acl.xml.
-
Invite your players
Players find you in the MTA server browser or connect with the address and port 22003.
Other game servers you might like
Frequently asked questions
Which ports does an MTA:SA server use?
22003/UDP for the game, 22005/TCP for the built-in HTTP server that sends resources to players and hosts the web admin, and the game port + 123 (22126/UDP) to appear in the server browser. The openports command checks them.
How many players can join?
As many as maxplayers in mtaserver.conf allows; the default file sets 32. Raise it to the slots you need and size memory and CPU for your scripts.
What do players need to join?
The free MTA:SA client and a compatible PC copy of GTA: San Andreas. Physical copies and the Steam version work, the MTA installer makes digital copies compatible, and the Definitive Edition and the Windows App Store version do not work.
How do I make myself an admin?
Type addaccount with a name and password in the server console, stop the server, add the line object name="user.yourname" to the Admin group in acl.xml and start it again. In the game, log in with login, your name and password.
How do I add a gamemode or map?
Copy the resource as a zip or folder into mods/deathmatch/resources and type refresh in the console. To start it with the server, add a resource line with startup="1" to mtaserver.conf.
Is there a web panel?
Yes. With the webadmin, resourcebrowser, resourcemanager and webmap resources running, open the server address and HTTP port in a browser, such as port 22005, and log in with an admin account.
Can players download resources faster?
Yes, with an external web server. Set httpdownloadurl in mtaserver.conf and serve the resource-cache/http-client-files folder there. Lua files must be sent as application/octet-stream.
How do I set a password or turn on voice chat?
Set password in mtaserver.conf; empty means anyone may join, and it can be changed while the server runs. Set voice to 1 to turn on voice chat.
Does the server make backups?
Yes, a basic one at startup. By default it runs every 3 days and keeps 10 copies in the backups folder; change backup_interval, backup_copies and backup_path to suit you. Keep your own copies of databases as well.
How do I force players to update their client?
Set minclientversion in mtaserver.conf: older clients cannot connect. recommendedclientversion only offers them an update. Both can be changed while the server runs.
Why does memory use keep growing?
Memory can grow over time, also after players leave. The wiki advises restarting the server regularly, and certainly once the process passes about 1.2 GB, and checking your scripts for leaks.
Ready to take over San Andreas?
Tell us your gamemode and player count, and we will help you pick the right MTA:SA server.