Aternos is one of the best-known services for a free Minecraft server. For many groups, it is their very first server of their own.
We're not here to trash anyone. We just want to explain what changes when you move from a free model (funded by ads and shared resources) to one where you pay only for the time you play. Picoserver is not affiliated with Aternos.
The big difference: who pays for the machine
A Minecraft server needs a computer that is switched on and has enough memory. On a free service, someone pays for those machines for thousands of users. That's why it is normal to run into:
- Queues at peak hours.
- Ads.
- Resource limits.
That's not a flaw: it is what makes it free.
With Picoserver, your server runs in Querétaro, Mexico and you pay for it, but only while it is on. When nobody is playing, it shuts itself down and the hourly billing stops. So a group that plays on weekends pays little, and nobody else competes for your turn.
Free vs pay as you go, at a glance
Prices in Mexican pesos (MXN).
| Feature | Typical free host | Picoserver (pay as you go) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, often with ads | From $1.77 MXN/hour + $40.40 MXN/month for your world's disk |
| Starting the server | There may be a queue at peak hours | No queues: it starts when you start it |
| Resources | Shared or limited, depending on the service | A dedicated 4, 8 or 16 GB machine while it is on |
| Location | Depends on the service; often outside Mexico | Querétaro, Mexico, low ping for playing from Mexico |
| Auto shutdown | Common when there are no players | Yes: after 6 minutes with no players |
| Mods | Depends on the service | Pick version and loader (vanilla, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge) per world, with the Modrinth catalog and a .mrpack modpack for your players |
| Payment | Not applicable | Prepaid by card or OXXO, no monthly fees |
Heads up: free services' terms change over time and between providers. Always check each one's current terms.
No queues: play whenever you want
The number one complaint about free servers is the wait. You agree to play at nine… and the server is still in line.
With pay as you go you don't share a turn with anyone. Hit “Start”, your world loads and the panel lets you know when it's ready. That simple.
Your server, your world, your rules
- Your world lives on a disk that is yours alone, with automatic daily backups.
- You can download it as a .zip any time.
- You can have multiple worlds on the same server, each with its own mods.
- Invite your team with roles (owner, admin or player) so they can start it without your password.
How much does it cost to stop waiting?
At today's prices, storage included (prices in Mexican pesos, MXN):
- Small (4 GB) server, about 5 hours of play a week: around $78.75 MXN a month.
- Medium (8 GB) server, 10 hours a week: around $195.33 MXN a month.
It's prepaid: top up from $100 MXN. If your balance runs out, the server simply shuts down. No debt, no surprise charges. All the numbers are on the pricing page.
Which one is right for you?
Stick with a free host if…
- You're still finding out whether your group is into having its own server.
- You don't mind waiting now and then, and the budget is zero.
- You play vanilla and there are just a few of you.
Switch to pay as you go if…
- Queues eat into your play time or wreck your plans.
- You want a modpack that needs 8 or 16 GB of RAM.
- Good ping from Mexico matters to you.
- You want to share admin duties with roles, multiple worlds and daily backups.
Ready to make the switch? The guide to making your server walks you through it step by step, and the modded server guide shows you how to bring your mods along.
Frequently asked questions
Is Picoserver free like Aternos?
No. Picoserver is pay as you go: the account is free, and the server is paid per hour while it is on (from $1.77 MXN) plus your world's disk ($40.40 MXN a month). Prices in Mexican pesos (MXN). In return: no queues and no ads.
Can I bring my world from Aternos or another host?
Yes, as long as you can download your world. Upload it to the panel as a .zip (the folder that contains level.dat) and the server starts with it. Create the world with the same Minecraft version (or a newer one) and the same loader: vanilla, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge. Does it have mods? Add them from the panel's catalog, which only shows the ones compatible with your loader and version.
Why are there queues on free hosts?
A free service has to share a few machines among a huge number of users. When lots of people want to play at the same time, some of them have to wait. It is a reasonable model for something free.
Does my server shut down by itself like on free hosts?
Yes, and for the same reason: not paying for an empty server. Once it is ready you get a 1-minute grace period, and it shuts down after 6 minutes with no players. The difference: starting it again never depends on a queue.
Create your Minecraft server today
Create your free account and try it with a $100 MXN top-up. No queues and no monthly fee.
Keep exploring
- Minecraft server pricingPay only when you play. See what each size costs per hour and what your month would look like.
- How to make a Minecraft serverFrom zero to playing in minutes: account, balance, size, mods and inviting your friends.
- Minecraft server with mods (Fabric, Forge and NeoForge)Pick a loader and version, add mods from Modrinth and hand your friends the modpack in one file.
- Offline mode Minecraft serverWhat offline mode is, the real risks and how to turn it on without leaving the door open.
- Minecraft Bedrock server and crossplayPlay from phone, console or Windows: on your Java world or on a Bedrock server, through port 19132.