Quick Overview
| Company | Aternos GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Game Server Hosting |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Free personal Minecraft server, no paid tier, mods and plugins, multilingual site |
| Pricing | Free. The homepage states that the service is free and always will be, and that there is no possibility to pay for anything. |
| Best For | Friends who want a casual Minecraft server and accept ads and a free-tier model |
| Replaces | Apex Hosting |
Detailed Review
Aternos is a free Minecraft hosting service whose imprint names Aternos GmbH, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 28, 53225 Bonn, registered in the Handelsregister at Amtsgericht Bonn under HRB 22735, represented by Matthias Neid.
The homepage headline reads Minecraft servers, free, forever. The privacy policy names Publisher Collective Ltd as the provider of the ads shown on the site. We read these pages on 5 November 2026.
How can it be free?
The privacy policy lists an ad provider, Publisher Collective Ltd, which indicates that advertising pays for the service. The homepage says there is no possibility to pay, so there is no premium plan to upgrade to.
Apex Hosting charges from $14.99 a month for 4 GB RAM on its homepage.
Who is responsible for your data?
The privacy policy names Aternos GmbH in Bonn as the legally responsible party. It also lists third-party tools such as Google Analytics, Cloudflare and Zendesk, some of them operated by US companies.
What about backups?
The terms state that failures in storing or transmitting data can lead to partial or full data loss, that Aternos accepts no liability for lost data, and that users must create backups with the tools provided.
Limitations to Consider
There is no paid tier, so users who outgrow the free server cannot buy more resources there. The terms exclude liability for lost data. The privacy policy lists several US-based third-party services, and the hosting location of servers is not stated on the pages we read.
Who Should Use Aternos
Friend groups and hobby players who want a no-cost Minecraft server in a German operator's hands.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free with no payment details needed
- German GmbH with Handelsregister entry
- Site in dozens of languages
- No upsell because there is no paid tier
- Ad provider disclosed in the privacy policy
Cons
- No way to buy more resources
- Liability for lost data excluded in the terms
- Server hosting location not stated
- Uses several US-based third-party services on the site
Alternatives to Aternos
Other European game server hosting worth comparing before you decide:
See all European game server hosting or compare them directly against Apex Hosting on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aternos GmbH in Bonn, Germany, registered at Amtsgericht Bonn under HRB 22735 and represented by Matthias Neid.
The homepage says it is free forever and that there is no possibility to pay for anything. The privacy policy lists an advertising provider.
Yes, as a free option: Aternos GmbH is German. It offers no paid plans, so it suits casual play, not a public server with guaranteed resources.