CS2, CS:GO Legacy, Source or 1.6: which Counter-Strike server to host
Four versions of Counter-Strike are still played on community servers, and a server only lets in players on the same version. So the right choice is simply the version your players already play. Here is how they differ once you host one.
Who can join each version
- Counter-Strike 2: anyone with CS2, which is free on Steam.
- CS:GO Legacy: players need the final 2023 build of CS:GO, either through CS2 (switched to its csgo_legacy version) or as the free standalone CS:GO app Valve released in 2026. Everyone on one server needs the same one. CS2 players can't join it, and CS:GO players can't join a CS2 server.
- Counter-Strike: Source: players need Counter-Strike: Source, sold on Steam.
- Counter-Strike 1.6: players need Counter-Strike (1.6) on Steam.
Storage decides which plan you need
RAM is rarely the limit for Counter-Strike: a 10-player match runs in about 4 GB. Disk space is. These are the sizes of the server files Steam downloads, plus room for logs, maps and updates:
- CS2: about 74 GB, so it needs a plan with at least 80 GB of storage.
- CS:GO Legacy: about 35 GB, so at least 40 GB of storage.
- Counter-Strike: Source: about 2.4 GB, fits any plan.
- Counter-Strike 1.6: under 1 GB, fits any plan.
Tick rate
CS:GO Legacy servers can run at 128 tick, the rate competitive players used for years. CS2 doesn't use a fixed tick rate the same way: Valve replaced it with its sub-tick system, which the server doesn't change.
Plugins and mods
- CS2: Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp. SourceMod doesn't work on CS2.
- CS:GO Legacy and Source: SourceMod with MetaMod:Source, which has the biggest collection of plugins.
- Counter-Strike 1.6: AMX Mod X. The ReHLDS server (the community-maintained 1.6 server with bug fixes) comes with AMX Mod X and Metamod already installed.
Steam server tokens
CS2 and CS:GO Legacy servers need a free Steam Game Server Login Token to be listed publicly, one per server. Counter-Strike: Source can use one but doesn't need it, and 1.6 doesn't use them at all. The guide below shows how to get one in a couple of minutes.
Counter-Strike on NGP Cloud
NGP Cloud's Counter-Strike plans run all four versions on servers in Mumbai with DDoS protection; you pick the version at checkout, and checkout won't let you pick one your plan has no room for. Prices per month:
- Counter-Strike: Source and 1.6: from ₹249.
- CS:GO Legacy at 128 tick: from ₹699 (Advanced, 40 GB).
- CS2: from ₹1,399 (Elite, 80 GB).
- Or build a custom server with exactly the RAM, cores and storage you want.
Frequently asked questions
Can CS2 players join a CS:GO Legacy server?
No. Each version only connects to servers running the same version, so host the one your players play.
Why does a CS2 server need a bigger plan?
The CS2 server files are about 74 GB, so CS2 needs at least 80 GB of storage. CS:GO Legacy needs 40 GB, and Source and 1.6 fit any plan.
Is CS:GO still playable in 2026?
Yes, as CS:GO Legacy on community servers. Valve's official matchmaking is CS2 only, which is why community servers are where CS:GO is played now.