Aternos is a free, ad-funded Minecraft server host run since 2013 by Aternos GmbH in Bonn, Germany, whose servers start on demand, may wait in a queue and stop when no player is online.
Java
Bedrock
Modded
DDoS
CPU
Not disclosed
RAM range
Not disclosed
Locations
Not disclosed
Refund
Not disclosed
Support
Not disclosed
Minecraft Hosts score
2.7/10
Overall score
Price and valueNot rated
No comparable monthly no-commitment price: not rated.
Performance0/10
CPU model not published
Community reviews4.4/10
Trustpilot: 2.2/5 from 797 reviews (checked on October 9, 2026)
Minecraft features10/10
Confirmed: Java Edition, Bedrock Edition, Paper, mods (Forge, Fabric or NeoForge), modpacks, included backups
Support and guarantees3/10
support hours not published · 3 contact channel(s) · no refund announced · free trial or plan
Network and locations2/10
locations not disclosed · anti-DDoS
Review penalty: overall score reduced by 26% (Trustpilot 2.2/5 from 797 reviews, below the 3.5/5 threshold).
Score calculated automatically from the data on this page and the public Trustpilot rating, using a published method. Undisclosed information earns no points. How the score works
Our review
Analysis written by Valentin for Minecraft Hosts from the plans and information published by Aternos, checked on October 9, 2026. This is not a hands-on test.
Verdict
Aternos is the free Minecraft host run by Aternos GmbH in Bonn, Germany, since 2013, and it is funded only by advertising. You get Java or Bedrock servers with mainstream server software and one-click modpacks, but the server only runs while someone is playing, may wait in a queue before it starts and has no 24/7 option. RAM is assigned by Aternos and storage is capped at 4 GB. It suits casual play with friends, not a public server that must always be reachable.
Pros
Completely free, no payment method, no playtime limit while players are online
Java and Bedrock servers, with Paper, Purpur, Forge, NeoForge, Fabric and Quilt
One-click modpacks from CurseForge, Modrinth, ATLauncher and the FTB App
Backups to your own Google Drive, custom domain support
Limitations
Not online 24/7: the server stops when the last player leaves
Queue at start when capacity is full, with a confirmation click required
RAM set by Aternos per software and version (2,400 MB for Vanilla 1.20.1 in its example), storage capped at 4 GB
No FTP and no upload of custom mods, plugins or modpacks
Funded by ads, adblockers are detected; inactive servers deleted after about 3 months
Best for
Friends who want to play together without paying anything
Trying a modpack: CurseForge, Modrinth, ATLauncher and FTB packs install in one click
Bedrock players on console or mobile: Bedrock Edition servers are offered
Less suited if
Public servers that must stay online when nobody is connected
Custom mods, plugins or modpacks: uploads of these files are blocked
Large modded worlds: storage is limited to 4 GB
Pricing and billing
Aternos costs nothing and needs no payment method; the company says the service is financed exclusively through advertising and asks users to disable adblockers. There is no paid upgrade on Aternos itself: the support articles point users who want more RAM, file uploads or no queue to exaroton, the paid service of the same company. A free RAM boost of 500 MB for 7 days, stackable up to 5 times (2.5 GB extra), is available by recording a clip with the Medal.tv app, which runs only on Windows.
Performance
Aternos does not publish its CPU model, core count or storage type. RAM is not chosen by the user: it depends on the server software and version, and the support centre gives 2,400 MB for a Vanilla 1.20.1 server as an example. Storage is limited to 4 GB per server. Servers are hosted in data centres in Europe, with no city published, so players far from Europe can expect higher ping. When capacity is full, a queue applies before the server starts.
Minecraft features
Java and Bedrock Edition servers are offered, with unlimited player slots and free DDoS protection according to the home page. Support articles cover Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Forge, NeoForge, Fabric and Quilt, as well as PocketMine for Bedrock, and modpacks from CurseForge, Modrinth, ATLauncher and the FTB App install from the software page. Mods and plugins come from Aternos' own library: custom mod, plugin and modpack uploads are blocked and there is no FTP, although datapacks, resource packs, Bedrock add-ons and config files can be uploaded. Backups go to your Google Drive, and custom domains, shared access and Geyser for Bedrock players are documented.
Support and guarantees
Help comes from a support centre, the Discord community, tickets, email, Telegram and Facebook; no response time is published, and the terms say that support for third-party mods and plugins is limited. There is no service guarantee and the terms exclude liability for lost data. Servers that are not started for about 3 months are deleted, with an email warning if an address is linked, and deleted servers cannot be restored by support. Keeping a server online with bots or fake players is forbidden and can lead to suspension.
Plans
Prices as published by the host, checked on October 9, 2026.
Data recorded on 2026-10-09 and 2026-10-10 from official Aternos sources: the aternos.org home page (read manually, as the site blocks automated access with Cloudflare), the support centre support.aternos.org, and the company site aternos.gmbh (imprint and terms of service).
RAM: not chosen by the user and not a fixed value; it depends on the server software and version (example given: 2,400 MB for Vanilla 1.20.1). ramGb is therefore recorded as null. The Medal.tv RAM boost (500 MB for 7 days, up to 5 active boosts, Windows only) is not included.
Storage: 4 GB per server (support article "Maximum allowed server size"). CPU, core count and storage type are not published. The home page states free DDoS protection, unlimited slots and automatic backups to the user's Google Drive.
Locations: the support article "Lags" says servers are hosted in "different data centers in Europe"; no city or country is given, so no datacenter is recorded.
Player slots: "Unlimited slots" according to the home page.
Software listed on the home page: Vanilla and snapshots, Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Glowstone, Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, Quilt, Arclight and preconfigured modpacks (Java), plus Bedrock. The support centre also mentions PocketMine and modpacks from CurseForge, Modrinth, ATLauncher and the FTB App. Aternos states it is free forever with "no possibility to pay for anything".
Currency: the service is free; EUR is recorded because the operator is a German company, no price is shown.
Company: Aternos GmbH, Bonn (HRB 22735). Timeline on aternos.gmbh: first version released on 1 May 2013; the company states 125 million+ registered users.
