FreeGameHost vs
Aternos
Aternos is the most recognised free Minecraft host — but that recognition comes with queues, ads before every start, and around half the RAM. Here's how the two actually compare.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Every major feature, compared honestly.
| Feature | FreeGameHost.xyz | Aternos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free forever |
| RAM (Minecraft) | 4 GB guaranteed 2× more | ~2 GB dynamic |
| CPU Allocation | 200% (2 cores) | Shared, dynamic |
| Storage | 6 GB NVMe SSD | 10 GB (HDD/mixed) |
| Queue to start server | No queue — instant start | Yes — often 5–15+ min wait Major issue |
| Sleep mode (shuts off when empty) | No sleep — always on 24/7 | Yes — server sleeps when idle Major issue |
| Ads before server start | No — ads only on this website | Yes — multiple ads every start Frustrating |
| Player limit | Unlimited | Unlimited (RAM-gated in practice) |
| Mod & plugin support | Full — Forge, Fabric, Paper, Spigot, Purpur | Yes — wide but curated list |
| FTP / SFTP access | Yes — full SFTP | Yes — FTP |
| Control panel | Pterodactyl (industry standard) | Custom (Aternos panel) |
| Daily automated backups | Yes + manual snapshots | Yes |
| DDoS protection | Cloudflare network | Yes |
| Java & Bedrock support | Both — separate servers | Both |
| Discord bot hosting | Yes — Python & Node.js | No |
| Support | Active Discord community | Community forum |
| Credit card required | Never | Never |
The Most Common Aternos Complaints
What players say after using Aternos for a while.
Queue system kills momentum
During peak hours you can wait 10–20 minutes in queue just to start your server. If your friends are waiting to play, that's a session-killer.
Ads every single start
Aternos serves multiple ad breaks each time you start your server — an unavoidable friction point that makes even routine restarts feel like a chore.
Server sleeps when idle
The server shuts off when players leave. Anyone connecting later has to wait through the queue and startup time. No one can just pop in spontaneously.
~2 GB RAM causes lag on modpacks
Aternos dynamically allocates around 2 GB RAM. Even light modpacks can cause lag spikes with a handful of players. Popular modpacks become unplayable.
Why Players Switch to FreeGameHost
Three things that make the difference day to day.
4 GB RAM, Not 2
Double the RAM means heavier modpacks run comfortably, more simultaneous players, and far fewer lag spikes. This is the single biggest practical difference between the two services.
No Queue, Ever
Your server starts the moment you click Start — no ads, no waiting. Friends can connect any time without needing you to be online first to queue up and start it.
Always Online — No Sleep Mode
Your world stays running around the clock. Players can join at 3am without triggering a restart. No cold-start delays, no boot time, no frustration.
Moving from Aternos?
Your world, plugins, and configuration all come with you. The migration takes about five minutes with SFTP and no world data is lost.
Download your Aternos world
In the Aternos panel, go to Backups and download your world backup as a zip file. If you have no backup, use the Files manager to download the world folder directly.
Create your FreeGameHost server
Sign up at panel.freegamehost.xyz in under 60 seconds. Pick Minecraft Java or Bedrock, choose your version and software (Paper, Spigot, Forge, Fabric…).
Upload via SFTP
Use FileZilla or WinSCP with the SFTP credentials from your panel. Drop your world folder into the server directory, replacing the default world.
Start and share your new address
Hit Start in the panel. Your world loads on your new 4 GB server instantly. Share the new server address with your friends — that's it.
You also get these extras
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about switching from Aternos.
Done Waiting in Queues?
Switch in 60 Seconds.
No credit card. No expiry. 4 GB RAM, no queue, always online.