Is PlayNHost a good Expanse Lavalink alternative?
Yes, if one node is enough. Expanse's Lavalink page lists 1 GB at $5.00 and 2 GB at $9.00 a month, with LavaSrc pre-installed and 3 or unlimited nodes on those plans. PlayNHost lists a Lavalink 4.2.2 node at $3.49 for 1 GB and $5.99 for 2 GB, with a private password, its own address and a 72-hour money-back guarantee. Expanse is the better fit for several nodes on one plan, or a 512 MB node at $3.00.
- 72-hour money-back guarantee
- 24/7 website chat and tickets
- Prices include VAT
- 24/7Online on every plan, with an automatic restart
- 72 hMoney-back guarantee on your first payment
- 4.2.2The Lavalink release we test and support, with plugins
- 5Regions: Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia
Which costs less for the same RAM?
| RAM | Expanse | PlayNHost Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $5.00Standard, 3 Lavalink nodes | $3.4930% lessVAT included |
| 2 GB | $9.00Pro, unlimited nodes | $5.9933% lessVAT included |
Expanse's monthly prices in US dollars. Source: expanse.host, 3 November 2026.
How do Expanse and PlayNHost compare?
| Expanse | PlayNHost | |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest plan | 512 MB at $3.00 a monthSource | 1 GB at $3.49 |
| Nodes per plan | 1 on Starter, 3 on Standard, unlimited on ProSource | One node per plan |
| Music sources | LavaSrc pre-installed, 30+ sources listedSource | Plugins you add in application.yml; sources can change what they allow |
| Regions | North America, Europe or Asia-PacificSource | Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia |
| Restart after a crash | Crashed process detected and restarted automaticallySource | Online 24/7, with an automatic restart |
What do you get with PlayNHost?
Always online
Your node keeps running when you log off, and restarts by itself.
Your own private node
It starts with a private password and listens on its own address.
Console and files
Edit application.yml, add plugins and read the log in the panel or over SFTP.
Works with your client
Wavelink, Shoukaku, lavalink-client, Lavalink.py and other Lavalink 4 clients.
Backups included
3 backup slots on every plan.
The price you see is the price you pay
VAT included, billed monthly. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or Link.
How do I switch from Expanse?
- 1
Pick a plan
Start with 1 GB. Setup starts as soon as payment clears.
- 2
Bring your settings
Add the plugins and sources you used at Expanse to the node's application.yml, in the file manager or over SFTP.
- 3
Point your bot at it
Put the new address and password in your bot's Lavalink client. Not for you? Ask within 72 hours and you get your money back.
When is PlayNHost the better choice?
- You want a lower monthly price for 1 or 2 GB.
- You want a node in South America, a region Expanse's page does not list.
- You want a 72-hour money-back guarantee on your first payment.
When is Expanse the better choice?
- You want more than one Lavalink node on one plan.
- You want LavaSrc and its sources set up for you.
- You only need 512 MB: Expanse's Starter is $3.00 a month.
Every PlayNHost Lavalink plan includes
- Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia
- Online 24/7, with an automatic restart
- 72-hour money-back guarantee
- Lavalink 4.2.2, the release we test and support, with plugins
- A private password and its own address
- Console, file manager and SFTP
- 3 backup slots included
- Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Link; BLIK in zloty
- Prices include VAT
- 24/7 website chat and tickets
Questions
Is PlayNHost cheaper than Expanse for Lavalink?
For the same RAM, yes: 1 GB is $3.49 a month at PlayNHost and $5.00 at Expanse, 2 GB $5.99 and $9.00 (Expanse's page, checked 3 November 2026). Expanse's smallest plan, 512 MB at $3.00, is smaller than any PlayNHost Lavalink plan.
Will YouTube play on my node?
Expanse lists YouTube among its sources. PlayNHost makes no promise for any one site. Sites such as YouTube change often and can block music bots, so a source that works today may need an update. We keep your server running; we cannot change what a source allows.
Which Lavalink version do I get?
PlayNHost runs Lavalink 4.2.2, the release we test and support, and you add plugins through application.yml and the plugins folder. Expanse's page says Lavalink v4.
Can PlayNHost host my bot as well?
Yes. Discord bots are a plan of their own, for your code in Node.js, Python, Java, C#, Bun, Deno, Go or Rust, or a ready-made bot such as JMusicBot or Red.
How do I move my node from Expanse to PlayNHost?
Add the plugins and source settings you used at Expanse to your PlayNHost node's application.yml, keeping the port and password it started with, then put the node's address and password in your bot's Lavalink client.
How fast is a PlayNHost Lavalink node ready?
Setup starts as soon as payment clears. You then run the node from the PlayNHost panel: console, files and backups.
Can I change my plan later?
Yes. You can move to a bigger or smaller plan from the panel, and your node's files stay where they are.
What if PlayNHost is not right for me?
Ask within 72 hours of your first payment and you get your money back.
Other comparisons
Prices and features of Expanse come from its own website on 3 November 2026 and may have changed since; check its site before you decide. PlayNHost is not affiliated with Expanse. Product names are the trademarks of their owners.