Guide · Minecraft
Aternos alternative: free Aternos vs a paid Minecraft server
By the Flarelax team · Updated
Short answer
Aternos gives you a Minecraft server for free, but it is not online all the time: it stops when the last player leaves, and when Aternos is busy you wait in a queue to start it. A paid server stays online 24/7 and starts at once, so farms keep running and friends can join whenever they like. On Flarelax, Minecraft server hosting in India starts at ₹100 a month for 2 GB of RAM.
Aternos and a paid server, side by side
| Aternos (free) | Flarelax (paid) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, with no way to pay for more | From ₹100 a month for 2 GB of RAM |
| Online when nobody is playing | Stops when the last player leaves | Online 24/7 |
| Start queue | A queue when Aternos is at full capacity | Your server starts straight away |
| Java and Bedrock | Both | Java on every plan, Bedrock on Performance |
| Mods and plugins | Yes | Paper, Vanilla, Forge or Fabric |
| DDoS protection | Yes | Cloudflare Magic Transit |
Flarelax sells Minecraft server hosting and wrote this guide. The Aternos details come from aternos.org and the Aternos help centre, checked on 22 October 2026.
When Aternos is enough
Aternos is a good start when a few friends play together at the same times, for a short survival world or to try out a modpack. It costs nothing, supports Java and Bedrock, and lets you add mods and plugins.
When a paid server is worth it
- Friends play at different times. On Aternos the first player has to start the server and may wait in the queue. A paid server is already running when anyone joins.
- Things should keep running while you are away. Farms, redstone, scheduled plugins and Discord bots linked to your server only work while it is online.
- You are building a community. A public SMP or minigame server needs to be online whenever new players find it.
- Your players are in India. A server in Noida, India is close to them, which keeps the ping low.
How to move your world from Aternos
- On Aternos, download your world (Aternos explains how in its help centre under "Download your world").
- Order a server with the same edition and the same Minecraft version, and pick the RAM with our RAM calculator.
- Stop the new server, upload the world folder with the game panel's file manager, and start it again.
Moving from another host? Migration to Flarelax is free on request: contact our support team with the details of your current server.
Questions
Is Aternos really free?
Yes. Aternos says it is free for everyone and that there is no way to pay for anything.
Why does my Aternos server keep stopping?
Aternos does not offer 24/7 hosting. Your server stops automatically when the last player leaves, to free up the resources for other people.
What is the best Aternos alternative in India?
For players in India, a paid server in India keeps the ping low and stays online 24/7. Compare prices and features in our guide to Minecraft server hosting in India.
Can I keep my Aternos world?
Yes. Download it from Aternos and upload it to your new server with the same Minecraft edition and version.