Minecraft server guide
Free Minecraft server hosting: a practical guide
A free server is a good way to start a small Minecraft world with friends. The important question is not whether it is free, but whether its memory, storage, uptime model, and controls fit the way you plan to play.
Free Vanilla and Paper servers available.
Free plan versus paid sizes
| Feature | Free | Paid sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Starting memory | 1 GB | 2 GB and up |
| Server software | Vanilla or Paper | Vanilla, Paper, loaders, and supported modpacks |
| Availability | Pauses after 6 idle hours | Always on |
| Backups | Manual file access | Daily backups included |
| Management | Limited panel | Full panel and SFTP |
| Starting price | Free, no card | $1.00/month for 2 GB |
What the free plan is for
Crafty Servers' free plan includes 1 GB of RAM and 5 GB of disk for a Vanilla or Paper Minecraft server. It is intended for a small world with friends, a new survival save, or trying out the panel before committing to a larger server.
Paper is the sensible default if you may want server-side plugins later. It works with the normal Java Edition client, so your friends do not need to install anything extra just to join.
The limits to plan around
Free servers pause after 6 idle hours. They are not the right fit for a world that needs to stay online continuously for players in different time zones.
The free tier is for Vanilla and Paper rather than large modpacks. Modpacks add mods, world-generation data, and background work, so they need more memory than a small unmodded world.
When to move to a paid size
Move up when your server needs to stay online, when a modpack requires more memory, or when players notice slow chunk loading and lag during busy play. More RAM is not a universal performance fix, but it gives the server room for a larger modpack and more active players.
Paid hosting starts at $1.00/month for 2 GB. Pricing scales at $0.50 per GB per month. Paid sizes include always-on hosting, full modpacks, daily backups, and the full panel with SFTP.
Use the Minecraft server RAM guideSee current plans and prices
Choose the free plan when all of these are true
- You want Vanilla or Paper rather than a modpack.
- The world is for a small group and can pause while nobody is playing.
- You are comfortable starting with 1 GB of RAM and 5 GB of disk.
- You do not need the full panel, SFTP, or included daily backups yet.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free Minecraft server really free?
Yes. The free plan does not require a card. It has defined limits: 1 GB of RAM, 5 GB of disk, Vanilla or Paper server software, and a pause after 6 idle hours.
Can I run a modpack on the free plan?
No. The free plan is for Vanilla and Paper. Choose a paid size for modpacks, using the individual modpack hosting page to see the minimum supported size.
Will my friends need mods for a Paper server?
No. Paper is a server-side Minecraft implementation. Players connect with the regular Minecraft: Java Edition client.