Free Minecraft hosting,
without the catch.
No credit card required. Create a proper Minecraft server in under a minute, with one-click plugins, DDoS protection and automatic wake-up. Now on Minecraft 26.3.
- 2 GB RAM
- 10 GB NVMe
- 1.25 CPU
- people signed up
- servers created
- server starts in 24h
- running since
- January 2026
Why the free plan works.
Sleeping servers keep the free plan efficient. Optional upgrades are there when you need more.
Only active servers run
Free servers sleep after 5 minutes without players and wake automatically when someone joins.
Shared machines
Free and paid servers run on the same Hetzner hardware in Finland, so nobody gets a slower box.
Optional upgrades
Core, Pro and Ultra add memory, storage and 24/7 uptime for a monthly price. The free plan has no trial deadline.
How free compares.
What happens on popular free hosts when nobody is playing.
| Feature | SwiftServers | Aternos | Minehut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free RAM | 2 GB | About 2.4 GB on vanilla (varies) | 1 GB |
| When nobody is playing | Sleeps after 5 minutes | Stops after a countdown | Sleeps when empty |
| Starting it again | Starts by itself when a player joins | Press Start on the Aternos website, sometimes after a queue | /join in the Minehut lobby starts it |
| Ads on free | None | Yes, required; an adblocker stops the server from starting | Yes, site ads help fund free servers |
Checked on from each host's public pages.
See the full comparisonEverything you need to run a server.
Included on every server, free or paid.
Live in just a minute
Paper, Purpur, Leaf, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Vanilla, up to Minecraft 26.3. We handle the ports, flags and proxy routing.
Voice chat ready
Every server gets its own UDP port for Simple Voice Chat, set up automatically. Add the mod or plugin and it works.
Java and Bedrock, no setup
Same address for both. Geyser and Floodgate run on our proxy, not on your server.
Plugins and modpacks in one click
Search Modrinth from the panel and install plugins, mods and whole modpacks.
Crash help built in
When your server crashes, our built-in crash helper, Jev, reads the log, explains what went wrong and walks you through the fix.
Manage it from in-game
Type /sp anywhere on the network to start, stop and moderate your servers without leaving Minecraft.
Players find you.
Most free hosts hand you an empty box and an IP. Every public SwiftServers world also shows up in a shared lobby, with Java and Bedrock on the same address.
- Busy servers rise on the in-game board, and you set the vote rewards.
- A sleeping server stays listed, and wakes when someone joins. The lobby shows their place in the start queue while they wait.
- The lobby is worth a visit on its own: fishing, a glowing grotto, a parkour climb and music by the campfire.
25 servers up right now
49 players online
Join the lobby to browse active public servers.
In the lobby, Java players can also type
/join your-serverA panel you can actually use.
Your server, from the first click to the last config file.
From the people running them.
“Swift has made managing my server easier than ever. The panel is clean, and the servers are fast enough that I never hear complaints.”
“Excellent service. Performance is solid, and support actually responds quickly and knows what they’re talking about.”
“Might be the best free server hosting website. No ads all over the place, and the free plan costs like $15 a month elsewhere.”
Hosted in Finland.
Backups, resource limits and network protection are included.
- Location
- Minecraft servers run on Hetzner hardware in Finland.
- Protection
- Minecraft traffic runs on Hetzner's DDoS-protected network, and our proxy limits connections and packets per player. Cloudflare protects the websites.
- CPU
- The free plan gets 1.25 CPU cores for your server. Paid plans go up to 2 cores.
- Backups
- Create backups in the panel. Copies are stored on encrypted Hetzner storage.
Questions we get a lot.
Do I need a credit card?
No. There’s no trial that runs out either.
What happens when nobody is playing?
Free servers shut down after 5 minutes empty and paid ones after 10. They start again on their own when someone joins from the hub or your address. With 24/7, your server never sleeps.
What happens if I stop using my free server?
A free server that stays offline for 7 days is hibernated: its files are archived and come back when you start it again. A free server that isn't started for 30 days is deleted, with reminders in the panel 7, 3 and 1 days before. Keep your own backups.
My free server has 4 GB. Is that changing?
Yes. The free plan is now 2 GB. Free servers made before the change keep 4 GB until 18 October 2026, then switch to 2 GB the next time they're offline. Your files and worlds aren't touched.
What do the paid plans add?
Core (4 GB), Pro (6 GB) and Ultra (8 GB) add memory, CPU, storage and databases, go to the front of the start queue when it's busy, and can run 24/7. Prices start at €4.99 a month.
Is my server public or private?
Public by default, so it appears in the hub lobby. Private mode hides it; players then need your direct address.
Join today.
Takes just a minute. No card required. Completely free.