CHUNKYHOST
Deploy server

Keep the free-tier perks, lose the shared-performance ceiling

Minehut is one of the most popular free Minecraft hosts and a natural second stop after Aternos, with a credit/plan model and a plugin-focused server network. It is genuinely good for getting started — until the shared performance, the idle sleep, and the upsell to paid plans start to bite. If you have decided the free tier is holding you back, here is the honest comparison.

Last updated 15 June 2026 · prices re-checked 15 June 2026

▎ THE VERDICT ▎

Stay on Minehut if your budget is strictly $0 or you want their specific plugin ecosystem and network community, and you are fine with shared performance. Switch to ChunkyHost when shared lag, idle sleep, or paywalled limits start to matter — you get a dedicated server with full control, and like a free host you pay nothing while nobody is online.

When Minehut is the better choice

  • Your budget is exactly $0 — Minehut has a genuinely usable free tier.
  • You want Minehut’s specific plugin ecosystem and server-network community, and that is where your players already are.
  • You are comfortable with shared-pool performance and the free-tier model of sleep-when-idle and paid upgrades for more.
  • You are casual enough that the free credits/plan limits never become a wall.

Minehut vs ChunkyHost

Minehut ChunkyHost
Price Free tier; paid plans for more From $4/mo · yearly −30%
Billing model Credit/plan based; server sleeps when idle Hibernation — billed only for active play; $0 while idle
Performance Shared infrastructure (free-tier ceiling) Dedicated vCPU on GOLD+; Ryzen 9 7950X3D, DDR5 ECC, Gen-4 NVMe RAID-1
Idle behaviour Server sleeps when idle; wakes on demand Hibernates when empty; warm wake-on-connect
Plugins & modpacks Plugin-focused server network 12,000+ plugins, 2,400+ pre-tuned modpacks, any loader
Visibility Standard panel Live TPS/MSPT graphs (Spark + Pufferfish)
Trial / refund N/A (free tier) 7-day trial, no card; prorated refunds; 100% back if first server not online in 60s

Where Minehut falls short

  • The free tier runs on shared infrastructure, so heavy plugins or a busy server hit a performance ceiling you cannot raise without paying.
  • Your server sleeps when idle and must wake again — convenient for casual play, friction when you want it always reachable.
  • Getting more resources or lifting free-tier limits means upgrading to a paid plan, so "free" has a practical cap.

How switching works

Switching is straightforward: ChunkyHost auto-imports worlds from Apex, BisectHosting, Shockbyte and Aternos, and you can upload a world export from Minehut through the in-browser file manager. Bring your plugins and configs and we run them on dedicated hardware.

FAQ

Is ChunkyHost free like Minehut?
No — ChunkyHost starts at $4/mo. But like a free host you pay nothing while nobody is playing, because the server hibernates when idle. The difference is no shared-performance ceiling, full control, and dedicated hardware. You can try it 7 days with no credit card.
Can I run the same plugins I used on Minehut?
Yes. ChunkyHost supports 12,000+ plugins and any loader, with full console and file-manager access — so you can bring your plugin setup and configs over and tune them freely.
Do I really pay nothing when no one is online?
Correct. The server hibernates when empty and wakes the instant a friend connects — you are billed only for active play, and your panel shows billable time live.
Will my server still be shared with others like on the free tier?
No. On GOLD and above you get dedicated vCPU rather than a shared pool, so a heavy modpack or a busy night will not fight other tenants for CPU. Live TPS and MSPT graphs let you see exactly how it performs.
Can Bedrock or phone friends join?
Yes. ChunkyHost runs Geyser, so Bedrock and mobile players can connect to your Java server without extra setup.

Try it free for 7 days

No credit card. Spin up a server in 60 seconds and only pay while you actually play.

Start free trial