Yes—you can start a Minecraft server without paying, but the free options are different. A free game trial is not an online-server trial: Minecraft’s official FAQ says trial players cannot join online multiplayer servers, although they can play over LAN. For an internet server, choose a free host such as Minehut or Aternos, or run Mojang’s free Java or Bedrock server software on your own computer. Realms is a 30-day trial for eligible first-time subscribers, not permanent free hosting.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Minecraft Java servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
This guide explains which route fits your edition, how to launch it, what “free” does and does not include, and how to let Java and Bedrock players share a world.
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What “free trial” means for Minecraft servers
Three products are often confused when people search for a Minecraft server hosting free trial:
- The Minecraft game trial: an approximately 100-minute (about five in-game days) trial of Java or Bedrock. The official trial FAQ says online multiplayer servers are disabled; LAN multiplayer is allowed.
- A free hosting tier: a provider runs the server for you at no charge. Minehut and Aternos are examples in this guide. You normally start the server from a web panel, and the provider’s current rules determine sleep, queues, resources and upgrades.
- Realms’ introductory trial: Mojang offers 30 days to first-time users who sign up for a 10-player subscription. It converts to a subscription under the plan’s terms, so it is not a permanent free tier.
If friends need to connect over the internet, skip the game trial and use a hosting tier or self-host Mojang’s dedicated-server software.
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Choose the route that matches your group
| Route | Edition and crossplay | What you do | Network requirement | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minehut free hosting | Java and Bedrock are advertised as supported | Create and activate the server in a browser dashboard | No port forwarding is advertised | Free-tier policies and available controls can change; check the current provider rules |
| Aternos free hosting | Java or Bedrock; Geyser guidance is available for Java–Bedrock play | Create an account, configure the server and start it from the panel | Hosted by Aternos, so players do not need your home network exposed | The owner may need to start the server, and always-on availability is not guaranteed |
| Self-host Mojang software | Run the Java or Bedrock package that matches your players; crossplay needs an appropriate bridge | Download the official package, install prerequisites, configure and launch it | Outside players may require firewall and port-forwarding changes | No hosting bill, but you supply hardware, electricity, bandwidth and support |
| Realms trial | Use the edition covered by the selected subscription | Start the 30-day first-time-user trial for the 10-player plan | Managed by Mojang | Trial eligibility and subscription terms apply; it is not free indefinitely |
Option 1: Start a Minehut server in a browser
Minehut advertises free Java and Bedrock hosting with no credit card, no downloads and no port forwarding. Its homepage also says a single address can serve players on PC, mobile or tablet and that its plans have no playtime limits. Treat those statements as provider claims and read the current service page for resource, sleep, queue and upgrade rules before you build a long-term world.
Set up the server
- Create a Minehut account and choose the free-server flow.
- In the web dashboard, create your server and choose the edition or configuration your group needs.
- Click “Activate Server”. Minehut’s support instructions, updated July 22, 2024, identify this button as the step that starts a free server.
- Wait for the panel to show that the server is running, then copy the connection information shown there. Do not rely on an old address from a video or forum post; provider endpoints can change.
Connect Java players
Java players add mc.minehut.com as a server in the Multiplayer screen, connect, and then select the server from Minehut’s network. Minehut’s Java joining guide documents this network flow. If the dashboard gives your server a separate address, use the current value displayed in the panel.
Connect Bedrock players
Minehut documents a Bedrock endpoint for its cross-platform service. Bedrock players should use the address and port currently shown in Minehut’s Bedrock instructions rather than guessing a port from a third-party guide. The exact endpoint is a provider setting, not a universal Minecraft address.
What to check before inviting everyone
- Confirm that the server is active; a free server may stop when nobody is using it even when a homepage says there are no playtime limits.
- Check the current player, storage, software-version, queue and inactivity rules. The available evidence does not establish fixed numbers for those limits.
- Verify whether your intended plugins, datapacks or mods are supported by the selected server software.
- Make a local copy of the world when the dashboard permits downloads. A free account is not a substitute for an independent backup.
Option 2: Use Aternos for free hosted play
Aternos provides a free-server “Get started” path and keeps the technical work in a browser panel. It is useful when nobody wants to install Java, open a router port or leave a home computer running.
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Create and configure the server
- Create an Aternos account and open the Get started flow.
- Select Java or Bedrock according to the edition your main world uses.
- Choose the server software and version available in the panel, then complete the installation and basic settings.
- Start the server from the dashboard. The owner may need to repeat this whenever the server is stopped.
- Copy the current address displayed by Aternos and send it to players. Use the panel’s address rather than an address copied from an older tutorial.
Enable Java–Bedrock play with Geyser
Java and Bedrock are separate editions. A Java server does not automatically accept Bedrock connections. Aternos documents a Geyser setup for allowing Bedrock players onto a Java server:
- Open the Aternos software or plugin area and follow its current Geyser instructions for your Java server version.
- Install and configure the Geyser components exactly as the help center describes.
- Restart the server after the panel requests it.
- Give Java players the Java address and Bedrock players the Bedrock connection details supplied by the configured Geyser service.
- Test with one player from each edition before scheduling a large session. A version mismatch or incomplete Geyser configuration can prevent one edition from joining.
Geyser is a compatibility bridge, not a conversion of the two editions into one identical client. Features that depend on edition-specific mechanics can behave differently, so test the maps, commands and add-ons your group actually uses.
Understand availability on a free host
Free hosted servers commonly require the owner to start them and may stop when empty. Aternos’ public setup guidance does not establish a universal always-on promise or a fixed idle timer. Plan sessions around the dashboard’s current behavior, and tell friends who is responsible for starting the world.
Option 3: Self-host Mojang’s official server software
Mojang states that the official dedicated-server software for both Java and Bedrock is free to download. Self-hosting removes a hosting bill and gives you direct access to the machine and world files, but you become the administrator.
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Java Edition server
- Download the official Java server package from Minecraft.net.
- Install a Java runtime compatible with the server version you selected. The runtime is a separate prerequisite from the free server JAR.
- Place the JAR in a dedicated folder, launch it using the command shown in Mojang’s instructions, and complete the first-run setup.
- Accept the required terms in the generated configuration, then stop and relaunch the server so the normal world files are created.
- Set the world, difficulty, access list and other settings in the server configuration files. Change one setting at a time and keep a backup before major changes.
Bedrock Edition server
- Download the official Bedrock dedicated-server package for a supported operating system.
- Extract it to a dedicated folder and run the supplied executable.
- Review the generated configuration and set the world and access controls before inviting anyone.
- Keep the server process running while friends play, and shut it down cleanly before moving or backing up the world.
Let people outside your home network connect
Players on the same local network may be able to connect without exposing the server to the internet. Friends elsewhere may require two changes:
- Firewall: allow the server application through the operating system firewall on the network profile you actually use.
- Port forwarding: forward the server’s documented network port from the router to the computer running the server. The correct port depends on the edition and software version; use Mojang’s current server documentation rather than copying a random rule.
Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot, instead of assuming that a successful local connection proves internet access. If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT or blocks inbound connections, forwarding may not work; a hosted service avoids that particular limitation.
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The download costs nothing, but the operator supplies a suitable computer, electricity, storage, upload bandwidth and time for updates and troubleshooting. A spare desktop can handle a small private world, yet performance depends on the world, view distance, add-ons and number of players. The official material does not establish a universal hardware requirement, so judge the machine by its actual load and keep enough free storage for world growth and backups.
Can Java and Bedrock friends play together for free?
Not automatically. Java and Bedrock use different server software and connection protocols.
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- Hosted crossplay: Minehut advertises Java and Bedrock support, so follow its current edition-specific connection instructions.
- Java server with a bridge: Aternos documents Geyser for allowing Bedrock players onto a Java server. Install and test it through the Aternos panel.
- Self-hosted crossplay: You need compatible bridge software and must maintain it when the server or either edition updates. The free Mojang packages alone do not promise crossplay.
Every player still needs a legitimate copy of the edition they are using. Keep all clients and server components on versions supported by the selected host or bridge.
How to choose between a free host and self-hosting
Choose a hosted option when
- You want a browser signup instead of Java installation and command-line administration.
- You cannot change router settings or do not want to expose a home network.
- Your group needs Bedrock access without maintaining a bridge yourself.
- You accept that a free server may sleep, require manual activation or offer fewer file and performance controls.
Choose self-hosting when
- You need direct access to the world folder, configuration and backups.
- You are comfortable installing the required runtime, editing settings and diagnosing firewall or router issues.
- You want to decide when the server runs instead of depending on a provider’s free-tier policy.
- Your computer and internet connection can handle the workload and upload traffic.
Choose the Realms trial only when
You are a first-time eligible subscriber who wants Mojang-managed hosting for a limited 30-day period and understands that the 10-player subscription follows the trial terms. It is convenient, but it does not answer the “free forever” requirement.
Common problems and fixes
“My trial account cannot join my friend’s online server.”
That is expected under the official game-trial rules. The trial permits LAN multiplayer but not joining online multiplayer servers. Use a purchased game account for online play, or test locally over LAN during the trial.
“Friends cannot find my self-hosted server.”
- Confirm the server process is running and accepts a local connection.
- Check that the operating system firewall allows the correct application or port.
- Verify that the router forwards the documented port to the computer’s current local address.
- Test from outside the home network.
- If outside connections still fail, ask the internet provider whether inbound connections or carrier-grade NAT are involved, or move the world to a hosted option.
“Java players can join, but Bedrock players cannot.”
Confirm that the host actually supports Bedrock or that Geyser is installed and configured for the Java server. Recheck the Bedrock endpoint, port and version compatibility in the provider’s current instructions. A Java address by itself is not a Bedrock connection method.
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“The free server is offline when we try to play.”
Open the provider dashboard and activate or start it before the session. Free hosts can stop empty servers, and the owner may need to start them manually. Do not promise friends a permanent address or always-on world unless the provider’s current plan explicitly guarantees it.
“The world disappeared after a reset or configuration change.”
Stop making changes, check the host’s world-management and backup tools, and restore the newest known-good copy if one exists. For self-hosting, shut the process down cleanly and copy the complete world folder before upgrading software. Keep periodic backups outside the hosting account.
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- Use a unique password for the hosting account and enable every available account-security feature.
- Share the server address only with people you trust, and use an allowlist or equivalent access control where the software provides it.
- Back up before installing plugins, bridges, mods, major version updates or experimental datapacks.
- Do not grant operator privileges casually. Operators can change the world and server configuration.
- Remove access for former players and rotate credentials if an account was shared.
- Read the provider’s current retention and deletion terms; a free account should never be the only copy of a valued world.
A practical first-session checklist
- Decide whether you need online hosting, LAN only or a temporary Realms trial.
- Identify every player’s edition: Java, Bedrock or both.
- Pick Minehut, Aternos or self-hosting based on your tolerance for setup and network administration.
- Create the server, activate or start it, and record the current connection details.
- Join with one test account before inviting the whole group.
- Test crossplay separately if Bedrock players are joining a Java world.
- Set access controls and make the first backup.
- Tell players who starts the server and what to do if it is asleep or offline.
- Review the provider’s current free-tier limits before building a permanent community world.
Bottom line
For the fastest no-card, no-download start, use a browser host such as Minehut or Aternos and follow its current activation and connection instructions. For maximum control, download Mojang’s free Java or Bedrock server software and accept the responsibility for hardware, networking, updates and backups. The official Minecraft game trial is suitable for learning the game or playing on a LAN, not for joining an online server, while Realms’ 30-day offer is a limited subscription trial rather than lasting free hosting.
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