Install the “Aternos for Discord” bot or mobile app. Friends can !start the server via Discord command, no one needs to open a browser.

As of mid-2026, the landscape of free hosting has matured. While popular options like Aternos still rule for casual play, true 24/7 hosting without server sleep is available through specialized, smaller providers.

Hosts may require you to log into a dashboard once a week to click a "Renew" button.

The free tier provides 2GB of DDR4 RAM (upgradable to 3GB by watching a short ad), 5GB of NVMe storage, and 4 vCores. It also includes modern features like Google Drive backup support and a custom control panel.

Before committing, understand these three realities:

Small creative or minigame servers where uptime matters more than mods.

It is truly 24/7 and never turns off automatically. However, setting it up requires knowledge of Linux command lines and networking. Comparing Free Hosting Features True 24/7? Setup Difficulty Aternos Beginners & Casual Play No (Idles Out) FalixNodes Small Modpacks Yes (With Manual Renewal) MagmaNode Basic Vanilla Worlds Yes (With Idle Limits) Oracle Cloud Large Communities & Heavy Mods Yes (Permanently Online) The Reality of "24/7" Free Hosting

if you have 45 minutes to set it up correctly. It is the only "professional" solution on this list.

: MineKeep allows Bedrock and Java players to join the same server using Geyser/Floodgate. It promises no playtime limits, though servers stay online only as long as at least one player is active.

24/7 on paid plans; free plan hibernates after 1 hour of inactivity | Slots: 10 | Mods: No (only plugins)

If your main goal is a truly server for friends, OuiHeberg is currently the best choice due to its high RAM allocation and no-sleep policy. For simpler, lighter setups that need 24/7 access, FreeMcServer.net offers excellent reliability.