Free Minecraft Server Hosting - Is It Worth It?

If you're looking for free Minecraft server hosting, you've probably already seen Aternos and Minehut show up everywhere. They work - kind of. But there's always a catch, and the catch is usually "your server turns off every 5 minutes and you wait in a queue to start it again."

Here's an honest look at every free option and when it makes sense to just pay the $20/month instead.

Free Option 1: Aternos

Aternos is the one everyone tries first. It's genuinely free - no credit card, no trial period. You sign up, click a button, and you have a server. The problems start when you actually try to use it.

How it works

1. Create an account on the Aternos website
2. Click "Create Server" and pick your Minecraft version
3. Start the server when you want to play
4. Share the address with friends

The catch

• Queue times. When you start your server, you're placed in a queue. During busy hours, you can wait 20–30 minutes before your server actually starts.
• Server shuts down when empty. If nobody is online for a few minutes, the server turns off. Someone has to go to the Aternos website to start it again every time.
• Ads. The website is covered in ads. That's how they pay for the servers- your experience pays the bill.
• Performance. Free servers share hardware with thousands of other servers. Expect lag, especially with more than a few players.
• Limited RAM. You get very little RAM, which means smaller worlds and fewer players before things slow down.

Free Option 2: Minehut

Minehut is the other big free option. It works a bit differently from Aternos - your friends connect through Minehut's main server and then join yours from there, instead of connecting directly.

How it works

1. Create a Minehut account
2. Create a server through their dashboard
3. Your friends connect through the Minehut network address, then join your specific server

The catch

• Player limit. Free servers are limited to 10 players.
• Shuts down after inactivity. Like Aternos, the server stops when nobody is playing. You have to manually start it each session.
• Shared network address. Players connect to Minehut's main server first, then join yours through a command. It's not a direct connection.
• Limited storage and plugins. Free tier has restricted storage and a cap on how many plugins you can install.
• Ads and upsells. Free tier is designed to push you toward their paid plans.

Free Option 3: Self-Hosting on Your Own Computer

The DIY route. You run the server on your own computer. No queues, no ads, no player limits - but you're the one setting everything up and keeping it running.

What's involved

• Download and install the Minecraft server software
• Configure Java and server settings
• Set up port forwarding on your router
• Share your public IP address with friends

We have a detailed walkthrough in our how to make a Minecraft server guide.

The catch

• Technical knowledge required. Port forwarding, Java configuration, firewall rules- you need to figure this out yourself.
• Exposes your home IP. Everyone who connects can see your real IP address. That's a genuine privacy and security concern.
• Only online when your PC is on. Friends can't play if your computer is off or your internet is down.
• Your PC slows down. Running a server while playing the game on the same machine hits performance hard.

Comparison: Free Hosting Options

When Free Hosting Makes Sense

It's fine if:

• There's only 2–3 of you and you play casually
• You don't play that often and don't care about the server being on 24/7
• You just want to try multiplayer before spending any money
• Nobody in your group is going to lose their mind over a 20-minute queue

For a quick session with a couple friends, Aternos and Minehut get the job done. Just don't expect it to feel smooth.

When It's Worth Paying

Free hosting stops being worth it pretty fast once:

• Your group is bigger than 4–5 people
• You're sick of queueing or restarting the server every single session
• The lag is bad enough that PvP is unplayable and blocks take a second to break
• Someone wants to play at 11 PM but nobody's around to start the server
• You want your own server address instead of going through Minehut's lobby

At that point, $20/month to make all of those problems go away is a pretty easy call.

LuckyChunk: the simple paid option

LuckyChunk is $20/month. Here's what that gets you over Aternos/Minehut:

• No queues - server is ready in under a minute
• No ads anywhere
• Up to 20 players without lag
• Server is always on - your friends can play even when you're not around
• Your own direct server address
• Pick the version you want - 1.8, 1.12, 1.21, whatever
• Zero technical knowledge needed

If you've been using Aternos and you're tired of the queues, this is probably the easiest upgrade. Pick a version, pay, done.

The Bottom Line

Free Minecraft server hosting works. It's just not great. If you're testing the waters or only play once in a while, Aternos or Minehut will do. But once your group starts playing regularly, the queues and shutdowns get old fast.

Try a free host first if you want. If you hit the point where it's more frustrating than fun, $20/month fixes all of it.

Want to see all the ways to play together? Check our how to play Minecraft with friends guide. Or if you want to try the full DIY route, here's how to make a Minecraft server from scratch.