Aternos Alternative: When to Stay, When to Pay and How to Take Your World
Aternos is free and fine to get started. If you're tired of waiting in the queue, of it shutting down on its own or of running short with mods, this is what changes when you move to a paid server and how to take your world with you.
The signs you've outgrown it
You wait in a queue to start the server right when you want to play. It shuts down when nobody's on and the others can't join unless you start it. The modpack or plugins need more memory than you have. Or you want your own address and a server that's always on.
If none of this happens to you, stay: it's free and it works. Paying is worth it when one of these things already bothers you every week.
Rather not set it up yourself? Minecraft servers from €6 a month, no contract and a full refund within 72 hours. Or create a free Minecraft server, no card needed.
What changes on a paid server
No queue and no shutting down just because it's empty. The RAM is yours: on NapNodes it's reserved and not oversold between customers, and you can check the nodes' status on the status page before paying. Mods, plugins and modpacks are installed from the panel, and you can switch between Paper, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge without opening a ticket.
You also get backups (two you create and restore yourself, plus an automatic daily one) and you can download your world whenever you want, so you're not locked in.
What it costs
On NapNodes you pay for RAM, per GB per month, with no commitment and a 72-hour refund the first time; the price of each plan is on the pricing page. For a group of friends with plugins, 4 GB (Stone plan) is usually plenty, and split four ways it works out cheap per head. How much you need, in the RAM guide.
How to take your world with you
Note the version and type
Check which Minecraft version and which server type (Paper, Fabric, Forge…) you're playing on now. The new server has to be on the same version or a later one: a newer world won't open on an older version.
Download the world
In the Aternos panel, download the world (or the whole folder if you have mods or plugins) as a .zip. Keep it as a separate backup too before touching anything.
Upload it to a link
Upload the .zip to Dropbox or Google Drive and copy the share link.
Paste it into “Bring my server”
In the NapNodes panel, “Mods & plugins” → “Bring my server”. The server downloads the file by itself and puts the world in place (or the whole server, if it includes server.properties). Whatever was there is set aside in a folder, not deleted. In more detail, in moving your world to a server.
Check the server type and start
If you had plugins or mods, check in “Server type” that it's the same. Restart and join to see your world.
Try it risk-free
When there's room, NapNodes gives you a free Minecraft server, with no card and no end date, so you can see whether the move is worth it; if you upgrade to a plan, it stays the same server. And if you buy a plan and aren't convinced, you have 72 hours to get a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best alternative to Aternos?
It depends on what bothers you: if it's the queue or it shutting down on its own, a paid host. Check that the RAM is reserved, that there are backups and that you can download your world.
Can I move my Aternos world to another server?
Yes: you download the world as a .zip from their panel and upload it to the new server. On NapNodes you do it by pasting the download link into “Bring my server”.
How much does it cost to leave Aternos?
On NapNodes you pay for RAM, per GB per month, with no commitment (the price of each plan, on the pricing page), and there's a free Minecraft server when there's room.
Shall we set it up for you?
Minecraft servers from €6 a month, never oversold: your RAM is yours alone. And if you'd rather start without paying, there's a free Minecraft server, no card needed.
Your server doesn't show up in the game? Check it in a second with “Is my Minecraft server online?”: players, version and MOTD, free. Need a player's UUID for the whitelist or permissions? Look it up here. Handing out enchanted items? Build the command with the /give generator.
Free tool: What does it cost in electricity?. What it costs in electricity to keep the server running on your PC at home, side by side with a plan and the free server.
Keep reading
- How to Choose Minecraft Server Hosting: What to Check Before You Pay
What to check when renting a Minecraft server: dedicated or shared RAM, CPU, location, backups, mods and refunds. For comparing any host.
- How Much Does a Minecraft Server Cost? Free, at Home or Rented
What a Minecraft server costs per month: free, on your PC (with the electricity), Realms or rented; what to pay for your players and mods and how to pay less.
- Minecraft Realms vs a Rented Server: Which Is Better?
Realms is the easiest option for a few friends; a rented server lets you add mods and plugins and have more players. What changes and how to choose well.