How to make a free Minecraft server in 2026: options and limits

Table of contents#

• The three ways to create a free server
• Method 1: host the server on your own PC
• Method 2: use a free host
• The limits of free hosting nobody talks about
• When to switch to paid hosting
• Once the server is up: next steps
• FAQ

Introduction#

Making a free Minecraft server is possible, and in 2026 there are actually several ways to do it without pulling out a credit card. The problem is that most tutorials are written by hosting companies that steer you toward their own plans and forget to explain what "free" means in practice: a server that falls asleep, a queue, shared RAM. This guide compares the real options, limits included, and helps you work out when free stops being a good idea.

The three ways to create a free server#

Before downloading anything, you need to pick a method. They don't meet the same need at all.

For a server with friends, the first two options are more than enough. For a public server you want to see grow, the third one almost always ends up being the answer. More on that below.

Method 1: host the server on your own PC#

This is the method you learn the most from, and the only one that is truly free with no strings attached. You stay in control of everything: the files, the version, the plugins.

What you need:

• A PC with at least 4 GB of free RAM for a small vanilla server
• The Java version required by your Minecraft version
• A stable internet connection, ideally wired
• Access to your router's admin interface to open a port

The steps:

1. Download the server file, either the official server.jar from the Minecraft website or Paper, which performs better and supports plugins
2. Put it in a dedicated folder, then run it once to generate the files
3. Open eula.txt and set the value to true to accept Mojang's license agreement
4. Configure server.properties: server name (motd), game mode, maximum number of players
5. Restart the server and connect by typing localhost in the Multiplayer menu
6. For your friends, open port 25565 over TCP on your router and give them your public IP address

That last step is where most beginners get stuck. Every router has its own interface, and some internet providers assign an IP that changes regularly. If your friends can't connect, our guide to Minecraft server connection errors goes through the causes one by one.

The real weakness of this method lies elsewhere: the server only exists while your PC is running. You shut it down, everyone gets disconnected.

Method 2: use a free host#

Free hosts solve the port problem and the need to keep your PC on. You create an account, pick a version, click "Start", and the server is online within a few minutes.

Aternos is still the reference. It hosts around 10 million servers, all on shared machines, and that sharing is exactly what explains its constraints. Minehut stands out with faster startup, but its free plan is capped at 1 GB of RAM and 10 players.

For a group of four or five friends who meet up in the evening on Discord, these plans do the job perfectly well. The trouble starts when you aim bigger.

The limits of free hosting nobody talks about#

Hosts put the word "free" front and center. They are much less talkative about what comes with it.

Sleep mode. On Aternos, an empty server shuts down after about 5 minutes. The next player has to restart it and wait. For a server with friends, that's a detail. For a public server, it's a dealbreaker: a player who discovers your server and finds it offline won't come back.

The queue. At peak hours, startup can take anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes, and sometimes much longer.

Shared RAM. Between 1 and 2 GB is enough for vanilla. With mods, it's another story: most modpacks need between 6 and 12 GB.

The address. Your server gets a subdomain like yourserver.aternos.me. It works, but it looks amateurish. If you want to understand how a server address works and how to get your own, read our guide on Minecraft server addresses.

In practice, past 5 to 10 regular players, free hosting shows its limits: lag, disconnections, TPS drops.

When to switch to paid hosting#

The right time is when your server stops being a project among friends. Three signs don't lie:

• You want players you don't know
• You regularly go over 10 players online
• You're installing mods or around fifteen plugins

At that point, a small paid hosting plan usually costs between €3 and €10 per month, about the price of a fast-food meal, for a server that is up 24/7, dedicated RAM and a proper address.

If you're looking for a host, we recommend our partner Winheberg, a French host that offers ready-to-use game servers. You start with a machine dedicated to your server, with no sleep mode or queue, and you can scale the configuration as your community grows.

One piece of advice while we're at it: don't oversize from the start. Start small, watch how your server behaves with a tool like spark, and add RAM when the need is real.

Once the server is up: next steps#

Creating the server is only part of the job. The rest happens in three stages.

1. Equip it. Without plugins, there are no ranks, no grief protection, no moderation. Our selection of essential Minecraft server plugins covers the must-have foundation. And if you're going for a specific game mode, our guide to creating a Minecraft Factions server details the full setup.

2. Give it a website. A store, a voting system, a homepage: our comparison of the best CMS for Minecraft servers helps you choose.

3. Get it known. A server without players is just an empty world. The first thing to do is list it for free on ServeurListe, alongside the community's other Minecraft servers. After that, our guide to getting players on your Minecraft server takes over.

FAQ#

Can you make a free Minecraft server without downloading any software?#

Yes, with a free host like Aternos or Minehut. Everything happens in the browser: you create an account, pick the version and start the server. You don't have to install anything on your PC apart from the game itself.

Can a free Minecraft server stay online 24/7?#

Not on standard free plans: the server goes to sleep when nobody is left on it. On your own PC, it stays available as long as the machine is running. For true 24/7 uptime, you need paid hosting.

How many players can a free server handle?#

It depends on the host and the number of plugins. Minehut caps free servers at 10 players. On Aternos, there is no fixed limit, but past 5 to 10 active players, performance drops noticeably.

Can you play with friends on Bedrock from a free Java server?#

Yes, thanks to the Geyser plugin, which lets Bedrock players (consoles, mobile) join a Java server. Aternos also offers Bedrock servers directly. You'll find examples of compatible servers in our list of Minecraft Bedrock servers.

Is it legal to host a Minecraft server for free?#

Yes. Mojang allows private servers, provided you accept the EULA, the license agreement you confirm in the eula.txt file. This agreement mainly governs monetization: you can't sell advantages that unbalance the game.

Conclusion#

For playing with friends, a free Minecraft server does the job very well, whether on your PC or on Aternos. For a public server, free quickly becomes a drag: sleep mode, queues and limited RAM drive new players away before they've even seen your spawn. Start for free to learn, then move to dedicated hosting as soon as your project starts to grow.

And once your server is ready, list it on ServeurListe so it's visible to players looking for a survival server or a new world to explore.