Free vs paid Minecraft servers
Overview
| Feature | Free (Aternos etc.) | Paid (game-serverhosting.de) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 0 EUR | from 2.99 EUR/month |
| RAM | 1-2 GB (shared) | 2-16 GB (dedicated) |
| 24/7 online | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Waiting time | 1-5 minutes | Immediate |
| Own domain | ❌ | ✅ |
| FTP/SFTP | Restricted | ✅ Full |
| Mods/plugins | Limited | ✅ Unlimited |
| Backups | ❌ or manual | ✅ Automatic |
| Support | Community | ✅ Personal |
| Advertising | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Performance | Fluctuating | Consistent |
When is free enough?
- You only play occasionally with 1-2 friends
- You do not need the server 24/7
- You do not mind waiting
- You do not need any mods
When is paid worthwhile?
- The server should be online 24/7 (for communities)
- You want mods/plugins without restrictions
- Performance is important to you (no lag)
- You need backups and SFTP access
- The server should start immediately without waiting times
The hidden costs of "free"
- Time: Waiting for the server to start, struggling with restrictions
- Player loss: Players do not come back if the server is often offline
- Data loss: Without automatic backups, your progress can be lost
- Frustration: Lag, crashes and missing features
Our tip
Free servers are okay for getting started with friends. As soon as you want to build a community or use mods, a paid server from 2.99 EUR/month is worthwhile.
At game-serverhosting.de you get:
- Instant setup in under 60 seconds
- Geyser + Floodgate automatically (Java + Bedrock cross-play)
- 1-click mod installation via the dashboard
- Automatic backups and SFTP access