Free vs paid Minecraft server hosting: is Aternos enough?
Free hosts like Aternos are good for a quick test, but they stop when everyone leaves and limit what you can install. A paid server stays online, gives you more RAM and full control.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner
- Time:
- 5 minutes
On this page
Free Minecraft hosting, such as Aternos, is a great way to try running a server. The trade-offs: the server turns off when everyone leaves, you may wait in a queue to start it, and you get limited RAM and control. A paid server stays online all the time and lets you install whatever you want. Here's an honest comparison.
How free hosting works
Free hosts run thousands of servers on shared machines and pay for them with ads. To make that work, they usually:
Stop your server when it's empty, so a friend can't hop on later unless someone starts it again.
Put you in a queue at busy times before your server can start.
Limit RAM and CPU, which causes lag with more players, big builds or mods.
Limit plugins and mods to a list they allow, and restrict file access.
Run their servers outside India in many cases, which means higher ping.
Side by side
Free hosting | Endercloud (paid) | |
|---|---|---|
Cost | ₹0 | From ₹49/week or ₹199/month |
Online when nobody is playing | No | Yes, always on |
Start-up queue | Often, at busy times | Never, start any time |
RAM | Shared and limited | Your own 2–24 GB |
Server in India | Usually not | Yes (AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or equivalent) |
Plugins, mods, modpacks | From an approved list | Anything: one-click installers plus your own files |
Full file access (SFTP) | Limited | Yes |
Backups and schedules | Basic | Backup slots, scheduled backups and restarts |
Databases and extra ports | No | Free MySQL databases and extra ports included |
Support | Community forum | Our team, online every day, English and Hindi |
When free hosting is enough
You want to try running a server before spending money.
Two or three friends play together at the same time, for a short session.
You don't need special plugins, mods or your own files.
When to switch to a paid server
Friends want to join whenever they like, not only when you're online.
You're running an SMP, a community or a public server.
You want modpacks, custom plugins or your own world upload.
You're tired of queues and lag, or your players are in India and need low ping.
Try paid hosting cheaply: the 2 GB Grass plan on weekly billing costs ₹49. Use the code ENDERSAVE at checkout, and upgrade later if you need more RAM.
Moving your world from Aternos
Our team will help you move for free. Just open a ticket after ordering. If you'd rather do it yourself, it takes a few minutes. Full guide: How to move your server to Endercloud.
Download your world from your free host. Most offer a world download or backup download.
Order your Endercloud server: How to make a Minecraft server in 5 steps.
Choose the same Minecraft version and software in the Versions tab.
Upload the world: How to upload your own world. Files up to 1 GB upload in the browser; use SFTP for bigger worlds.
Start the server, whitelist your friends and share the new address.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Aternos server keep turning off?
Free hosts stop servers when no players are online to save resources. A paid server stays on all the time, even when nobody is playing.
Is there a free trial at Endercloud?
There's no free plan, but weekly billing lets you try a real server from ₹49. Ordering is instant, so you can be playing in minutes.
Can I keep my Aternos world and plugins?
Your world, yes: download it and upload it to your new server. Plugins can be reinstalled in one click from the Plugins tab on Endercloud.
Is a paid server faster than Aternos?
Usually, yes. You get your own RAM on a fast CPU instead of sharing limited resources, and an India location for low ping. See Minecraft hosting in India compared.
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