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Compare providers for your own group
Both free services have limits. Your devices, desired server software, backups and actual start experience matter. A general claim such as “no waiting” does not replace a test under comparable conditions.
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Check that both providers support your desired Minecraft version and server software. Crossplay is a particular configuration, not a feature of every modpack.
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Aternos offers Geyser through its panel installation and automatically sets up Floodgate alongside it. On mcfreehost, check that you selected supported Paper.
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Compare backups, recovery and inactivity rules against the current product documentation. A free server is not automatically always online.
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Measure first setup and waking separately, using the same version and a comparable world. One successful start does not establish a general speed guarantee.
Starting free: resources, breaks and backups
The free tier includes 2 GB RAM and requires no payment details. Suitable player counts and mods depend on the world, view distance, plugins and load. Test your actual gameplay; a RAM figure alone is not a performance guarantee.
Free servers sleep after 15 minutes without players. Load and queueing can delay waking. First setup and waking are different operations: the product facts report separate measurements, sample sizes and limitations. Allow another connection attempt after startup if your first attempt arrived while the server was still waking.
Before a longer break, read the current inactivity and retention rules. A sleeping server is not an indefinitely retained backup. Manual backups and daily schedules are included within the free tier limits. Enable the schedule you want and check the latest successful backup before relying on it.
More RAM or continuous runtime are reasons to consider a paid option. Check the actual selected configuration and final price in the configurator. Also compare runtime, renewal and included features; a price for a different RAM amount is not the price of your selection.
Current mcfreehost plan limits, retention rules and measured start times
Sources for the comparison
Primary sources to check, reviewed on September 12, 2026:
Start with the configuration your group needs
First choose your Minecraft edition and required server software. Then test joining and your world before adding more plugins or mods. This makes it easier to identify which change caused a problem.
Choose a Minecraft edition and configure it for free