Playing Minecraft with friends over LAN works, but it requires everyone to be on the same network and one person's PC to stay on the whole time. A dedicated server solves both problems. The good news is that you do not need to pay for one. This guide covers your options, what actually matters when choosing a free host, and how to get a slot on NetSkyway specifically.
Why use a dedicated server at all?
A dedicated server runs independently of any player's machine. Nobody needs to be the "host" whose internet connection determines everyone else's experience. The server stays online at all times, handles multiple players without lag spikes, and keeps the world alive even when no one is logged in. For any group larger than two people, or for any world you want to keep progressing on over weeks or months, a dedicated server is the right setup.
Minecraft Realms is the official paid option. It costs around $8 per month and is easy to set up, but you get almost no control: limited world size, no custom plugins, no modpacks beyond a small curated list. For most players who want a proper server, Realms is too limited.
Your three options for free hosting
Self-hosting (running the server yourself)
You download the Minecraft server JAR, run it on your own hardware, and port-forward so others can join. It costs nothing if you already have a machine that can stay on 24/7. The downsides are real though: your home internet upload speed affects everyone's connection, your electricity bill goes up, and any time your machine is off or your internet drops, the server goes down. For a small group of friends this is fine. For anything more permanent, free hosting is a better fit.
Free hosting services
Several services give you a Minecraft server at no cost. The quality varies enormously. Some run dozens of servers on a single cheap VPS with shared CPU and RAM. Others use dedicated hardware with real performance. Some shut your server down when it is empty and put it in a queue to restart (which can take several minutes). Others hibernate the container and wake it in under a second when a player connects. We cover the main options in the best free Minecraft hosting comparison.
Paid hosting
Paid hosts like Bisect, Apex, and Shockbyte start around $3 to $5 per month. You get guaranteed resources, more control, and typically faster support. If you are running a public server with 20+ players or a heavy modpack, paid hosting is worth considering. For a small community or hobby server, free hosting handles it well.
What separates a good free host from a bad one
These are the things that actually matter:
- Hardware quality. Shared VPS hardware with a dozen other servers on the same box means unpredictable performance. Dedicated hardware means your server gets consistent CPU time and RAM.
- Always-on vs queued. Queue systems make players wait minutes for your server to start up. A hibernation system pauses the container while empty and unpauses it the moment someone connects, with no wait time visible to the player.
- Player limits. Some free tiers cap you at 10 or 20 players. If your community grows, you hit that wall fast.
- Plugin and mod support. A whitelist of approved plugins is restrictive. Full control over what you run matters if you want custom gameplay.
- Transparency. A host that tells you straight when slots are full is more trustworthy than one that hides limitations in fine print.
How to get a free server on NetSkyway
NetSkyway runs servers on real dedicated hardware: Intel i9-13900K (up to 5.8 GHz) and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (up to 5.7 GHz), DDR5 RAM, and NVMe storage. Slots are free and handed out manually through Discord.
Here is how the process works:
- Join the Discord at discord.gg/QXKNwaWVJ2.
- Go to #request-server and fill out the short request form.
- Answer a few questions: what game you want to run, estimated player count, any mods or plugins you plan to use.
- Wait for approval. Requests are reviewed manually. If a slot is available you will hear back quickly.
- Get your panel credentials. You log in at panel.netskyway.net and have full access to your server: console, file manager, startup config, scheduled tasks, and backups.
There is no credit card step, no trial period, and no automatic billing if you forget to cancel. If there are no slots available, you will be told directly.
Tips for running your server well
Once you have your slot, a few things make a noticeable difference:
- Use Paper or Purpur instead of vanilla. Paper is a high-performance drop-in replacement for the official Minecraft server JAR. It runs faster, handles more players, and supports the full Bukkit/Spigot plugin ecosystem. Purpur is a Paper fork with additional configuration options. Both are free.
- Set up automatic restarts. The panel supports cron-style scheduled tasks. A daily restart at low-activity hours clears memory leaks and keeps the server fresh. Set it up from the Schedules tab.
- Back up regularly. The panel has a one-click backup feature. Set up an automated backup schedule. Losing a world because of a corrupted chunk or a bad plugin update is avoidable.
- Keep the server active. NetSkyway's hibernation system keeps slots technically alive even with zero players, but an entirely unused slot over a very long period can be reclaimed. Build something, invite friends, make it active.
Ready to get your free server?
Join the Discord, head to #request-server, and fill out the form. Real hardware, no credit card, no catch.