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Compared 17 October 2026

Aternos alternative: a Minecraft server that stays online, with no queue

Aternos is free, but its own help pages say it does not offer 24/7 hosting: the server stops when the last player leaves, and when its servers are full you wait in a queue to start. PlayNHost is a paid host: your Minecraft server stays online until you stop it and starts with no queue, from €2.49 a month for 1 GB.

See Minecraft plansTry the panel
  • 72-hour money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 website chat and tickets
  • Prices include VAT
  • 24/7Online on every plan, with no queue to start
  • 72 hMoney-back guarantee on your first payment
  • 20,000+Modpacks you install with one click
  • 5Regions: Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia

Aternos and PlayNHost side by side

AternosPlayNHost
PriceFreeFrom €2.49 a month (1 GB)
Online 24/7No: "we don't provide 24/7 hosting"; it stops when the last player leavesSourceYes, it stays online 24/7 until you stop it
Queue to startYes, when its servers are at full capacitySourceNo queue: it starts when you press Start

What you get with PlayNHost

  • Always online

    Your server keeps running when everyone logs off, so friends in other time zones can join whenever they like.

  • No queue, no waking it up

    Press Start and it boots. Nobody has to wait in line or stay online to keep it awake.

  • A panel you can try first

    Click around a real server dashboard before you pay: console, files, backups and modpacks.

  • 20,000+ modpacks in one click

    Pick a pack and press install. The panel sets the right Minecraft version and loader for you.

  • Backups included

    3 backup slots on every plan, and you can download your world whenever you want.

  • The price you see is the price you pay

    VAT included, billed monthly. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or Link.

Try the panel

This is our real control panel, not a video. Click around your sample server: nothing is saved and nothing is charged.

Switch from Aternos in three steps

  1. 1

    Pick a plan

    Choose the RAM you need. Your server is ready about 2 to 5 minutes after payment.

  2. 2

    Bring your world

    Download your world from Aternos as a zip, upload it in the file manager or over SFTP, and unzip it in one click.

  3. 3

    Invite your friends

    Share the address and play. Not for you? Ask within 72 hours and you get your money back.

Choose PlayNHost if

  • Friends join at different times and expect the server to be up when they do.
  • You do not want to wait in a queue, or to keep someone online so the server stays up.
  • You want a server near your players: Europe, North America, South America, Asia or Australia.
See Minecraft plans

Choose Aternos if

  • You play a few evenings a week, everyone joins together, and a wait to start does not bother you: Aternos costs nothing.
  • You are trying Minecraft servers for the first time and do not want to pay yet.

Every PlayNHost Minecraft server includes

  • Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia
  • Yes, it stays online 24/7 until you stop it
  • No queue: it starts when you press Start
  • 72-hour money-back guarantee
  • 3 backup slots included
  • 20,000+ modpacks and a plugin installer, one click each
  • Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Link; BLIK in zloty
  • Prices include VAT
  • 24/7 website chat and tickets
  • Ready in about 2 to 5 minutes after payment

Questions

Can I move my Aternos world to PlayNHost?

Download your world folder as a zip from your current host, then upload it in the PlayNHost panel's file manager or over SFTP and set it as the level name in server.properties.

Is there a free plan at PlayNHost?

No. Every PlayNHost server is paid, which is what keeps it online with no queue. The smallest Minecraft plan is €2.49 a month, and new servers have a 72-hour money-back guarantee.

Why does Aternos stop my server?

Aternos's help centre explains that it keeps servers free by running them only while someone is playing, so a server stops when the last player leaves. A paid host such as PlayNHost keeps it running.

How fast is a PlayNHost Minecraft server ready?

About 2 to 5 minutes after payment. You then run everything from the PlayNHost panel: console, files, backups and modpacks.

Can I change my plan later?

Yes. You can move to a bigger or smaller plan from the panel, and your world and files stay where they are.

What if PlayNHost is not right for me?

Ask within 72 hours of your first payment and you get your money back.

Other comparisons

Prices and features of Aternos come from its own website on 17 October 2026 and may have changed since; check its site before you decide. PlayNHost is not affiliated with Aternos. Product names are the trademarks of their owners.

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