How to Make a FiveM Server in 2026

Set up a FiveM (GTA V RP) server in 2026: Cfx.re key, txAdmin, QBCore vs ESX, RAM, cost and easy managed hosting.

Published on 14 juin 2026Updated on 15 juin 2026

FiveM is the multiplayer modification for Grand Theft Auto V that powers the entire GTA roleplay scene: built by Cfx.re, it lets you run custom servers with your own scripts, jobs, economy and rules instead of Rockstar's official online mode. If you want to build a roleplay (RP) community, run custom scripts, or host dozens of players in your own version of Los Santos, you need your own FiveM server. This guide walks you through the full setup with txAdmin, compares the main RP frameworks (QBCore, ESX, vRP), and shows you the simplest way to get online without fighting a VPS.

What FiveM is (and who needs a server)

FiveM is to GTA V what RedM is to Red Dead Redemption 2: a Cfx.re multiplayer platform that runs custom servers outside the official game. Instead of GTA Online, players connect to community-run servers that load Lua and JavaScript resources for everything from police and ambulance jobs to a full economy. Server management runs through txAdmin, the same web panel used across the Cfx.re ecosystem.

You need your own FiveM server if you want to:

Run a roleplay (RP) community

The overwhelming majority of FiveM servers are RP servers. You install a framework (QBCore, ESX, vRP), add jobs, economy, gangs and custom scripts, and players create characters in a persistent Los Santos with its own rules and storyline.

Run custom scripts and mods

FiveM exists so you can run content that GTA Online never will: custom cars, maps, MLOs (interiors), drug systems, heists and minigames. A dedicated server is where all those resources live and load.

Host dozens of players 24/7

Where GTA Online caps lobbies at 30, FiveM servers regularly run 64, 128 or even 300+ slots. A dedicated server keeps your community online around the clock without relying on a host PC.

You need a Cfx.re key and GTA V

FiveM runs on the Cfx.re platform. You need a free server license key from keymaster.fivem.net, linked to an account that owns Grand Theft Auto V. Every player connecting to your server must also own a legitimate copy of GTA V.

How to make a FiveM server step by step

The process is the same whether you self-host on a VPS or use managed hosting. The big decision is where the server runs (step 2). Here is the full walkthrough.

Get a free Cfx.re license key

Every FiveM server is identified on the Cfx.re network by a license key. Go to keymaster.fivem.net, sign in with (or create) a Cfx.re account that owns Grand Theft Auto V, and generate a new server key. You'll get a token starting with cfxk_. Keep it private — it identifies your server, and it goes into your server.cfg later as sv_licenseKey.

Choose where to host: your own VPS vs managed

You have two options. Self-hosting on a VPS (or your own PC) means you rent or own a Linux/Windows machine, install everything by hand, and manage port forwarding, updates and uptime yourself — cheapest in raw compute, but you're the sysadmin. Managed FiveM hosting gives you a web panel with txAdmin already wired up: no port forwarding, no OS to patch, the server runs 24/7 with DDoS protection. For most people building an RP server, managed is the saner choice — see the managed section below for real plans.

Install txAdmin + the FiveM server artifacts

txAdmin is the web control panel for FiveM servers, and it ships *inside* the server artifacts. On a VPS: download the latest FiveM server artifacts (the cfx-server-data build for your OS) from the Cfx.re artifacts page, extract them, and launch the FXServer executable — txAdmin starts on port 40120. Open it in a browser, create your admin account, and follow the setup wizard. On managed hosting, txAdmin is pre-installed, so you just open the panel and log in.

Pick a framework (QBCore, ESX or vRP)

An empty FiveM server has no jobs, economy or character system — a framework adds all of that. The main choices in 2026: QBCore (the modern, optimized and most actively developed framework — the recommended default for a new RP server), ESX (the oldest and most widespread framework, with the largest back-catalogue of scripts) and vRP (an older, lighter alternative that's now niche). Clone the framework from its GitHub into your resources/ folder and follow its install guide.

Configure server.cfg + resources

Your server.cfg is the heart of the server. Set your license key, server name, max players, and the ensure/start lines for every resource (including your framework and its dependencies like oxmysql). Frameworks like QBCore and ESX need a MySQL/MariaDB database — create one, import the framework's SQL, and put the connection string in set mysql_connection_string.

sv_licenseKey "cfxk_yourkeyhere"
sv_hostname "My FiveM RP Server"
sv_maxClients 48

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@localhost/fivem"

ensure oxmysql
ensure qb-core
ensure qb-inventory
# start your other resources here

Launch & connect

Start the server from txAdmin (or run FXServer +exec server.cfg on a VPS). Once it's live, it appears on the Cfx.re network. To connect, open FiveM, press F8 to bring up the console, and type connect <your-server-ip>:30120 — or find it in the FiveM server list if you set it public. Share that address with your players.

QBCore vs ESX — which framework?

For a brand-new server in 2026, QBCore is the recommended choice: it's the most modern and optimized framework, actively maintained, with clean code and a large library of compatible scripts. ESX is the oldest and most widespread framework — its huge back-catalogue of scripts is the main reason established servers still run it, but it carries more legacy baggage. vRP is older and lighter, now a niche pick. Both QBCore and ESX use the same txAdmin and a MySQL/MariaDB database.

DDoS protection is not optional

Public FiveM servers are a notorious target for DDoS attacks — a popular RP server will get hit. If you self-host, you need a provider with real network-level DDoS mitigation, or your server (and possibly your home connection) will go down. Managed FiveM hosts include DDoS protection by default, which is one of the biggest reasons to use them over a bare VPS.

Managed FiveM hosting (skip the VPS hassle)

Self-hosting a FiveM server sounds cheap until you hit the reality: forwarding the right ports on your router, keeping a machine online 24/7, patching the OS, surviving DDoS attacks, and restarting the server every time it crashes at 3 a.m. Managed FiveM hosting removes all of that — txAdmin comes pre-installed, the server runs around the clock, and DDoS protection and updates are handled for you.

On our comparison, Shockbyte is currently the only host that sells FiveM plans. Here are the real plans and prices.

Plan	Max players	Price
Sandy Shores	12 players	€7.72/mo
Vespucci	24 players	€13.73/mo
Vinewood	300 players	€21.40/mo — best value

Shockbyte FiveM plans (2026). All plans include txAdmin pre-installed, SSD storage, DDoS protection and 24/7 support. All are eligible for the LAUNCH promo code (25% off). Prices shown are monthly.

For a 20–30 player QBCore RP, Vespucci is the sweet spot

The Vespucci plan (24 players) hits the sweet spot for a typical QBCore roleplay server: enough slots for an active community and enough headroom for a full framework with dozens of scripts. If you expect to grow past 30 concurrent players or run a heavily scripted server, jump to Vinewood (300 slots) — at €21.40/mo it's the best value in the lineup. Apply the LAUNCH code for 25% off.

How much RAM and budget you need

FiveM is more demanding than vanilla GTA Online because a full RP framework loads dozens of Lua and JavaScript resources, an inventory system and a database. RAM is the main thing that scales with player count and the number of scripts you run. As a rough guide:

Server type	Players	RAM	Budget
Private / friend server	5 to 12 players	4 to 6 GB	€8–12/month
Semi-public RP server	12 to 24 players	6 to 8 GB	€12–22/month
Community RP server	24 to 64 players	8 to 12 GB	€20–40/month
Large public server	100+ players	12 to 16 GB	€35–70/month

A heavily scripted QBCore or ESX server at 20–30 players comfortably wants around 8 GB of RAM. A large 100+ player server needs 12–16 GB. CPU single-thread performance also matters a lot for FiveM, so favour a host with strong per-core clocks.

Latency matters for RP

FiveM RP interactions — driving, gunfights, animations, synced scenes — are sensitive to latency. Pick a host with a node close to your players (a Western Europe node for a French- or EU-based community) and aim for a ping under 50 ms. FiveM shares the Cfx.re platform with [RedM](/en/guides/redm/how-to-make-a-redm-server), so the same hosting logic applies if you ever run an RDR2 server too.

Ready to launch your FiveM server?

Take the 2-minute quiz to get a host matched to your RP server, or jump straight to Shockbyte's FiveM plans.

Frequently asked questions

Is FiveM free?

The FiveM platform and server software are free — you don't pay Cfx.re anything to run a server. What you pay for is the machine it runs on, either a VPS/managed host or your own electricity and hardware if you self-host. You do, however, need to own a legitimate copy of Grand Theft Auto V, and so does every player who connects to your server.

Do I need a Cfx.re key to run a FiveM server?

Yes. Every FiveM server needs a free Cfx.re server license key, generated at keymaster.fivem.net from an account that owns GTA V. The key (starting with cfxk_) goes into your server.cfg as sv_licenseKey. Without it, the server won't register on the Cfx.re network and players can't connect.

QBCore vs ESX — which should I use?

QBCore is the modern, optimized framework and the recommended choice for a new server in 2026: it's actively maintained, has clean code and a large library of up-to-date scripts. ESX is the oldest and most widespread framework, so it has the biggest back-catalogue of scripts — that's why many established servers still run it, but it carries more legacy baggage. Both use the same txAdmin and a MySQL/MariaDB database; the main difference is the ecosystem and code quality.

How much RAM does a QBCore RP server need?

A typical QBCore roleplay server at 20–30 players comfortably runs on around 8 GB of RAM. A small private server (5–12 players) is fine on 4–6 GB, while a large 100+ player community needs 12–16 GB. The number of Lua and JavaScript resources you run matters as much as the player count, so a heavily scripted server needs more RAM than its player slots suggest.

Can I run a FiveM server 24/7 without my PC on?

Only if you use a managed host or a rented VPS. A managed FiveM plan (like Shockbyte's) runs the server around the clock independently of your computer, with DDoS protection and txAdmin pre-installed. If you self-host on your own PC, the server goes offline the moment your machine shuts down, sleeps or loses its connection.

Our recommendation

Ready to launch your FiveM server?

Here are the best FiveM hosting deals right now, promo codes included. Still unsure? Our quiz finds the ideal host for you in under 2 minutes.

Budget

Sandy Shores

Shockbyte

7.72€/month

-25% with code LAUNCH

Max players:12

Mods:

Yes

Compatible games

FiveM

Features

✓txAdmin
✓DDoS Protection
✓Instant Setup
✓24/7 Support

See offer

See all FiveM offers