10 Free Minecraft Server Hosting You Can Try Today

Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world, with over 140 million monthly active players as of 2022. The sandbox style gameplay allows players to build and create their own worlds and environments, either alone or with friends.

One of the best parts of Minecraft is being able to play with others on multiplayer servers. However, hosting your own server requires purchasing a plan from a hosting provider, which can get expensive. Thankfully, there are some free options available.

In this guide, we’ll cover 10 of the best free Minecraft server hosting providers in 2022. These services allow you to create a server and play with friends at no cost. While they have limitations compared to paid plans, they’re great for trying out hosting or playing casually with a small group.

How Free Minecraft Server Hosting Works

Free Minecraft server hosting provides the server infrastructure without charging a monthly fee. This allows you to create a server and invite friends to play together online.

The free plans have limitations on things like:

Number of player slots (often 10 or less)
Available RAM (typically 1-2GB)
Number of servers you can create (usually 1)
Lack of modpack support
Limited file storage space

However, the core server hosting is still provided for free. As long as you stay within the constraints, you can play Minecraft with your friends without paying.

Free hosting is enabled by displaying ads or placing limits that encourage upgrading. But the free tiers are still very usable for small groups or trying out hosting.

Top 10 Free Minecraft Server Hosting Services

Here are the top 10 best free Minecraft server hosting providers available in 2022:

1. Aternos

Aternos is the most popular free Minecraft server host, used by over 5 million players worldwide. Some key features include:

Unlimited player slots
Easy automated setup & installation
Modpack support with simple uploading
Customizable world seed generation
DDoS protection
Option for FTP file access (premium only)

Aternos runs on donations rather than ads. You can easily create a server for free and be playing with friends in minutes. It‘s a great pick for large groups or public servers.

2. Minehut

Minehut has been providing free Minecraft hosting for over 5 years. Their free plan includes:

Server support for both Java and Bedrock editions
Easy installation of modpacks and plugins
Active community forums for help
Unlimited server restarts
Unlimited free servers
Server chat with Discord integration

The main limitation is 10 maximum player slots per server for free users. But Minehut is otherwise feature-rich and great for trying modpacks.

3. ScalaCube

ScalaCube offers high performance Minecraft servers starting with a free 1GB plan. Key features:

Free subdomains provided
Unlimited daily server restarts
Scheduled automatic backups
1-click modpack installs
Unlimited storage with premium upgrades
24/7 live chat support

The free tier allows up to 10 players online simultaneously. ScalaCube is known for great performance and uptime for Minecraft.

4. Server.pro

Server.pro has been around since 2012 and offers a customizable free Minecraft hosting plan that includes:

10 player slots
5GB storage
1GB RAM
DDoS protection
Daily backups
Easy file manager
Mods/plugins supported

It‘s one of the most full-featured free options for Minecraft. Server.pro also offers extensive configuration guides to help get your server going.

5. FreeMcServer

As the name suggests, FreeMcServer offers free Minecraft server hosting with no hidden paid tiers. You get access to:

1.5GB RAM
Unlimited bandwidth
DDoS protection
Easy web panel
Modpack/plugin support
Mobile server control from Android app
Option for custom domains

It‘s a straightforward free host focused just on Minecraft. FreeMcServer has all the essentials with no gimmicks.

6. Minenode

Minenode offers unlimited free Minecraft servers with 1GB RAM each. Features include:

Unlimited server restarts
FTP file access
Configurable allocation of RAM
DDoS protection
Easy web-based control panel
Additional locations in Europe, Australia, and Singapore

You can easily create multiple free servers for different modpacks or friend groups. It‘s a good pick if you want to experiment with free hosting.

7. FTX Hosting

FTX Hosting is a smaller provider that offers a 512MB free Minecraft server. Perks include:

Easy one-click installs for modpacks/plugins
Unlimited daily restarts
Automated regular backups
Additional locations in Canada, France, and Australia
24/7 support via Discord

It has the lowest memory of any option on our list, but is solid for trying basic free hosting.

8. Nodecraft

Nodecraft offers a unique free Minecraft hosting plan with "snapshots". This allows you to get free hosting in 2-hour snapshots. Each snapshot includes:

1GB RAM
Up to 20 players
1 free snapshot per day
Option to pay hourly for additional snapshots
Modpack and plugin support
Easy one-click installs

It‘s a good way to try Minecraft hosting for short gaming sessions rather than running a permanent server.

9. FreeMCBoot

FreeMCBoot provides unlimited free Minecraft servers with up to 10 slots each. Features include:

1GB RAM per server
Unlimited bandwidth
Modpack support
Scheduled restarts
Basic DDoS protection
Option for custom domains

It‘s a no-frills option that gets the job done for individual servers. FreeMCBoot has been around since 2015.

10. NetCup

Netcup is a German provider offering a 512MB free Minecraft server. Benefits include:

Easy setup with integrated game installation
DDoS protection
Snapshot backups
FTP file access
Web-based control panel
Additional European locations

It‘s a lesser-known option but works well. Just be aware the control panel is not fully translated to English.

Finding the Best Free Minecraft Server Hosting

When choosing free Minecraft server hosting, here are some tips:

Compare player slots – See how many you can have online. At least 10 is best for free tiers.
Check setup process – Make sure it‘s quick and easy to create and start your server.
See if mods/plugins are supported – Using mods can enhance gameplay, so check for one-click installs.
Look for DDoS protection – Attacks can take down servers, so a free host should have DDoS mitigation.
Review available RAM – More RAM allows better performance for more players. 1-2GB is standard for free.
Check for backups – Automatic backups let you restore worlds in case files get corrupted.
See if custom domains are available – Using your own domain creates a more branded experience.

Start by checking the options in our list above. Evaluate their free plan limitations compared to your needs. Most importantly, actually test out creating a server and playing on it yourself before inviting all your friends. This will reveal any issues with that specific host.

Overall, Aternos is the best blend of features and unlimited slots for a free Minecraft server host. But explore all the options – the right one depends on your priorities.

Making the Most Out of Free Minecraft Server Hosting

While free Minecraft hosting has its limits, you can maximize the experience:

Stay under the player slot limits – Don‘t invite tons of friends and overload the free resources.
Use CPU-friendly mods & plugins – Avoid intensive mods that add excessive strain to the server.
Limit open portals – Having too many End/Nether portals causes lag. Keep them reasonable.
Restart periodically – Some glitches or memory leaks happen over time. Regular restarts keep things running smoothly.
Build together – Coordinate on projects rather than everyone going off on their own. This reduces runtime demands.
Try hosting locally first – You can host a server on your own PC to fully test and configure before going online.

While you need to work within the resource constraints, a bit of planning allows an enjoyable experience on a free Minecraft server.

Upgrading to Paid Minecraft Server Hosting

Eventually, you may outgrow the limitations of free hosting and want more performance and slots. Some top paid Minecraft server hosts include:

Beyond Hosting – Excellent performance with unlimited NVMe SSD storage. Low latency worldwide.

Hostinger – Feature-packed plans with modpack installs. As low as $8.99/month.

Bisect Hosting – High-performance servers with unlimited slots. Excellent support.

Paid Minecraft hosting unlocks more resources for handling lots of players, mods, bigger worlds, and extensive automation. But leveraging free options is a great way to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is free Minecraft server hosting safe?

Free Minecraft hosting providers offer the same security as paid plans. This includes DDoS protection, data encryption, firewalls, and other measures to keep your server and files safe. The only risk is potential data loss if backups are limited on the free tier.

Can you host a Minecraft server for free?

Yes, there are many legitimate services that provide free Minecraft server hosting. These are supported by in-game ads, cosmetic upgrades, or limits that encourage upgrading to paid tiers. But they allow anyone to create a Minecraft server at no cost.

How much RAM do I need for a Minecraft server?

For a small free Minecraft server, 1-2GB of RAM is sufficient. For 5-10 players, 2-4GB is good. Larger public servers with mods may need 6GB or more. The more players and intensive gameplay, the more RAM your host will need for optimal performance.

Is Hamachi safe for Minecraft servers?

Hamachi can be risky for Minecraft multiplayer since it reveals your actual IP address. This opens up potential attacks. Using a hosted server with DDoS protection is much safer, even with free providers.

Can you get a free Minecraft server 24/7?

Most free Minecraft hosting is available 24/7, with a few exceptions. Hosts like Nodecraft offer free hosting in "snapshots" rather than permanently. But providers such as Aternos have free plans that run 24/7 like paid tiers. Just watch for hourly usage restrictions.

Enjoy Your Free Minecraft Server Hosting

Playing Minecraft with friends is made easy thanks to these free server hosting providers. Despite some limitations, the free plans give you the core hosting features needed to play together.

Try out multiple options to see which free host works best for your needs. Then start building awesome worlds and having fun playing Minecraft multiplayer at no cost!