What happens to a free Minecraft server when nobody's playing?
Every free host stops idle servers somehow. Here's how five of them do it, from their own public pages.
| Feature | SwiftServers | Aternos | Minehut | Minefort | MineKeep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free RAM | 2 GB (servers made earlier keep 4 GB until 18 October 2026) | About 2.4 GB on vanilla (varies) | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| When nobody is playing | Sleeps after 5 minutes | Stops after a countdown | Sleeps when empty | Not listed | Hibernates after 5 minutes |
| 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 | Not listed | Starts by itself when a player joins |
| Unused servers | May be hibernated or deleted after long inactivity | Not listed | Not listed | Locked after 3 days without use | Not listed |
| Ads on free | None | Yes, required; an adblocker stops the server from starting | Yes, site ads help fund free servers | Not listed | None listed; optional paid promotion in their hub |
| Java and Bedrock | Same address (Bedrock uses port 19132) | Not listed | Separate lobby addresses for Java and Bedrock | Same address (Bedrock on port 19132, switched on per server) | Separate addresses for Java and Bedrock |
| Cheapest upgrade | Core: €4.99 a month for 4 GB | No paid plans | 600 credits a month for 2 GB | $5.99 a month for 2 GB | €4.99 a month for 2 GB |
The words hosts use
- Sleeps or hibernates
- The server shuts down after a while with nobody online. Your world is kept.
- Starts by itself
- Joining the server's address wakes it up. Nobody has to open a website first.
- Locked
- The server can't be started until it's unlocked, usually after a period without use.
How SwiftServers handles it
A free SwiftServers server sleeps after 5 minutes with nobody online. When anyone joins its address, or picks it in the lobby, it starts on its own and the player is sent in once it's ready. Java and Bedrock players use the same address. There are no ads on the free plan.
Need it online all the time? Paid plans can run 24/7. See plans and prices.
Sources (15)
- Aternos24/7 Hosting
- AternosStop countdown
- AternosQueue
- AternosServer RAM
- AternosYou are using an adblocker
- MinehutServer plans
- MinehutHow to join (Java)
- MinehutHow to join (Bedrock)
- MinehutRanks and credits
- MinefortPricing
- MinefortWhy is my server locked?
- MinefortCracked / Bedrock support
- MinefortMinehut vs Minefort (free plan RAM)
- MineKeepHome page and plans
- MineKeepHibernation
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