An Aternos alternative that wakes when your friends join
Aternos made free Minecraft servers normal, and its trade-offs are known: a queue when the free machines are busy, ads on the site, and a server that stops when empty until someone logs in to press start. The free FadeHost server has none of the three.
The differences that matter
| Aternos | FadeHost free | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, ad-supported | Free, no ads, no card |
| Starting the server | Someone opens the website and presses start, sometimes after a queue | A player joins; the server wakes and moves them in |
| When empty | Stops | Sleeps after a minute, keeps its place in the server list |
| Panel | Aternos panel | The same panel paid servers use: console, files, plugins, backups on paid tiers |
| Growing | No paid tier | Lite $2/mo, always-on from $2.50/mo, same world |
Next to the other free hosts
| Host | Queue to start | Ads | Starting it again | First paid step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FadeHost free | None | None | Wakes when a player joins | $2 Lite, same world |
| Aternos | Yes, when it is full | Yes, the site runs on ads | Start button on the website, or their own launcher | None, there is no paid plan |
| FalixNodes | A short wait when busy | Not stated | Wakes on join, a start page after a long sleep | €12 a month for 4 GB |
| Minehut | Not stated | On the website | Wakes on join | 600 credits a month for 2 GB, about $4.50 |
| Play Hosting | Yes | Not stated | Start button | Not stated |
| Minefort | A priority queue is a paid extra | In the dashboard | Wakes on join | $5.99 a month for 2 GB |
Other hosts' free plans as their own sites describe them, checked November 2026. "Not stated" means their site does not say. They change; check their site before you choose.
Moving from Aternos
Download the world from the Aternos panel (Worlds, download), note the software and version and the plugins or mods you used, then create the free server here and upload the world: the step-by-step guide. Plugins reinstall from the Resources tab in a click each.
Modpacks
The free server has 2 GB, which runs Paper with plugins and light Fabric setups. For a modpack, start the 7-day free trial: 8 GB with any of the 1,300+ one-click packs and no card. After the week a 6 GB modded server is $7.50 a month, and the world carries over.
Frequently asked questions
Is FadeHost free like Aternos?
The free server is free with no card, no ads and no trial clock. It sleeps after a minute without players and wakes when someone joins. Free capacity is limited, and when every slot is taken you create the account and claim one when a slot frees up.
Is there a queue?
No. A slot is yours until you stop using it for a couple of weeks.
Can I move my Aternos world?
Yes: download it from Aternos, upload it here through the file manager or SFTP. The move guide has the steps.
Can I run a modpack for free?
Not on the free server (2 GB). The trial gives 8 GB with any pack for a week, no card; after that a 6 GB server is $7.50 a month.