Carl S.
Aternos vs Minehut, a question many Minecraft server hosts ask when choosing a free (or low-cost) hosting solution. Both are popular among players wanting to start up servers quickly without paying monthly. But which one delivers more value, stability, and ease of use?
Let’s break it down.
What Is Aternos?
Aternos is a free Minecraft server hosting service that allows players to host Java and Bedrock servers without upfront cost. It’s built specifically to cater to the community of Minecraft players who want a reliable server without paying for dedicated hosting.
Users can choose server versions, install mods/plugins, and invite friends. Because it’s free, Aternos relies on queued slot allocation, when many users are requesting servers, there may be a wait time before the server starts.
What Is Minehut?
Minehut is another Minecraft server hosting platform offering free and paid plans. It gives users tools to easily create and manage servers.
Minehut is known for giving new users a “server up and running” fast, with fewer delays than some competitors, plus options to upgrade for better performance.
Aternos vs Minehut: Comparing Core Features
Both platforms side-by-side across essential features.
| Feature | Aternos | Minehut |
|---|---|---|
| Ads & forced interruptions | Very ad-heavy / cluttered interface; you often have to watch or interact with ads to start or keep the server going | Less forced ads (chats/popups), though some microtransaction / hub integrations are present |
| UI / user interface | More cluttered, less polished, lower usability | Cleaner, more intuitive interface, smoother navigation |
| Time / usage limits & queues | No fixed per-day time limit, but server startup often has a ~15 minute “wait in queue” period | Free servers often have a 4-hour daily time limit (though boosts can extend that) |
| Backups & data access | Backups exist, often integrated with external storage (Google Drive) | Backup access is more straightforward; you can download or save more directly |
| Hardware / resource limits | Very minimal RAM, CPU, and storage: e.g. 2 GB RAM, ~10 GB storage, older Intel CPUs | Slightly more generous: 2 GB RAM, 20 GB storage, AMD CPUs |
| Mod / plugin / templates / blueprints | Supports plugin / mod ecosystems; has “blueprints” (server templates) for quick setup | Supports plugins but not mods. Manual installations required. |
| Community & support | More users, active community | Active forum / community presence |
| Performance & reliability | Prone to lag, crashes, server stalls — limited hardware & shared infrastructure | Similar problems under load; sometimes smoother chunk loading, but free tier still has big limitations |
Performance and Reliability
Performance is where both services show their limitations. Aternos servers often experience lag, random shutdowns, and long loading times due to limited resources and shared infrastructure. Players frequently report 15-minute wait times before servers even start.
Minehut, while smoother in startup and interface, still struggles with lag and crashes when running multiple players or plugins. Reviews mention frequent disconnects and world corruption in both services, common symptoms of overloaded free hardware.
Ads, Queues, and Time Limits
The biggest difference between the two is how they manage “free access.”
- Aternos: You’ll wait in a queue to start your server, often up to 15 minutes during busy hours. Once running, there’s no hard time limit, but idle servers will auto-shut down after a short period.
- Minehut: No queue, but your server will only stay active for up to 4 hours per day on the free plan. That’s a serious limitation if you want to play frequently.
Minehut wins in speed of access, while Aternos wins in total uptime. But both enforce restrictions that make them impractical for longer-term or community servers.
User Experience & Interface
When it comes to usability, Minehut clearly takes the lead. Its control panel is clean, responsive, and beginner-friendly. You can easily change settings, manage backups, or install plugins in seconds.
Aternos, on the other hand, feels cluttered. The interface is filled with ads and pop-ups, which can make navigation frustrating. Tasks like mod installation or server restarts take longer and require more steps.
If you value a streamlined, ad-free experience, Minehut is far more enjoyable to use.
Mod Support, Blueprints & Backups
Both hosts allow basic customization, but Aternos is slightly more flexible for modded setups.
- Aternos supports plugins and modpacks across multiple server types like Spigot, Paper, and Forge. It even offers Blueprints, pre-configured templates that make setup easier.
- Minehut supports plugins only on the free plan; modded servers require paid upgrades or external solutions.
For backups, both are functional but limited. Aternos connects to Google Drive for backup storage, while Minehut lets you download or save backups directly through its panel. Neither offers automated or versioned backups like premium hosts do.
Community and Support
Aternos maintains forums, FAQs, and a ticket system. Because many users rely on it being free, support is not always instantaneous.
Minehut invests more in user education, integrated guides, and prioritized support in paid plans.
Support for both services is mostly community-driven, with few official responses for free users.
Aternos vs Minehut User Reviews
Both platforms have communities that generally speak positively about the free access to Minecraft hosting, with caveats around performance and queue times.
One user summarized free hosting well:
"It's free! why are people complaining? If you want the features then use a paid host."
Aternos Reviews
⭐ Trustpilot rating: 2.4/5
- Users appreciate that it’s completely free and easy to set up.
- Common complaints include long queues, lag, crashes, and even world loss.
“It’s fine for small casual use, but not for serious hosting”
Minehut Reviews
⭐ Trustpilot rating: 2.2/5
- Players like its fast setup, modern interface, and credit-based upgrades.
- Many report crashes, lag, and poor reliability.
“Minehut might work for casual, short sessions, but I wouldn’t recommend it for serious players or long-term use.”
Aternos vs Minehut on Reddit
On Reddit, the sentiment is similar. Threads comparing Aternos vs Minehut consistently conclude that while Minehut looks cleaner, both suffer from performance issues that make them unsuitable for anything beyond short-term worlds.
Pricing and Upgrades
A key distinction is Minehut’s credit system. Free servers are limited, but users can purchase credits (800 credits = $6) to upgrade RAM, uptime, and storage.
Aternos, in contrast, has no paid upgrade option, what you see is what you get. While this keeps it truly free, it also means you can’t scale your server as it grows.
If you want to start free but keep the option to expand later, Minehut offers a more flexible path.
WiseHosting – The Best Alternative to Aternos and Minehut for Minecraft Server Hosting
Compare WiseHosting vs. Aternos head-to-head
Aternos vs. Minehut may continue to be debated, and that’s fair. Both are among the most well-known free Minecraft hosting platforms in the world. But if you haven’t picked it up yet, there’s another option you have to try.
WiseHosting is the ultimate alternative to Aternos and Minehut. It’s one of the highest-rated premium Minecraft hosting providers out there, built by YouTuber, Shulkercraft (2.4m subscribers). And unlike generic hosts that split resources across dozens of titles, WiseHosting focuses entirely on Minecraft.
Whether you’re hosting a small survival world for friends or managing a massive modded community, WiseHosting delivers ultra-fast performance, instant setup, and 24/7 uptime, without the queues, ads, or daily shutdown limits that come with free hosts.
WiseHosting Heavily Outperforms Free Hosts
WiseHosting takes everything players struggle with on Aternos or Minehut: lag, crashes, time limits, and confusing dashboards, and eliminates them completely.
With NVMe SSDs, Ryzen-powered CPUs, and global low-latency locations, your world loads faster, redstone ticks smoother, and player movement stays consistent even under heavy load.
Unlike Aternos and Minehut, which cut corners on hardware and uptime, WiseHosting gives you:
- 24/7 online servers — no time limits, no queues
- One-click modpack & plugin installs
- Automatic backups with full data access
- Crossplay-ready (Java + Bedrock via GeyserMC)
- Minecraft-specific support team available 24/7
WiseHosting Pricing
Alright, we know that Aternos and Minehut are free so that begs the question: how much it costs to run my server on WiseHosting?
| Plan | RAM | Price | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 4 GB | $12.99/mo | Small friend groups |
| Standard | 6 GB | $18.99/mo | Small modded servers |
| Pro | 8 GB | $24.99/mo | Medium-sized servers |
| Elite | 12 GB+ | +$35.99/mo | Large-scale projects |
WiseHosting customer reviews
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
WiseHosting is not the highest rated by accident, it's by design. Here are a few real customer review pulled from the Minecraft community:
"What really sets WiseHosting apart from Minehut and other server hosts, is their fantastic support team. Every issue we’ve run into (usually due to mistakes on our end) has been resolved within the hour, with clear communication and professional help."
– Nicholas
"I’ve been using WiseHosting for my Minecraft server for a long time now, and I honestly can’t recommend them enough. From the moment I signed up, the setup process was incredibly smooth and user-friendly."
– Youjo
"Shortly after Youtube identity Shulkercraft launched their service, Wisehosting, I have been a client. Without a doubt, using their service has been the easiest thing about becoming a Minecraft server administrator. Absolutely a customer for life."
– Marcus C.
The Question Isn’t Aternos Vs. Minehut, It’s Why Not WiseHosting?
If you just want to play casually with a few friends, both Aternos and Minehut get the job done. But the truth is that neither is reliable for long-term or modded servers.
If you ever decide to create a serious world, upgrading to a premium host like WiseHosting will make an immediate difference: smoother performance, 24/7 uptime, and zero queues plus ton of more you don't get from free hosting.
