Torchlite vs Aternos: a free Aternos alternative

In short: Aternos is the best-known free Minecraft host, with the largest community and a huge library of plugins, mods and modpacks, and it never asks you to renew. Its servers stop when everyone leaves, storage is capped at 4 GB and there is no FTP or SFTP. Torchlite, hosted in Bucharest, gives 1.5 to 4.2 GB of RAM on two Intel Xeon Gold 6134 CPUs, 15 to 35 GB of disk, SFTP and a full Pterodactyl panel, and asks you to press Renew every 30 to 50 minutes while the server runs. Pick Aternos for a server that starts when friends join; pick Torchlite for more resources and full file access.

The figures below come from each host's own website and help pages, checked in October 2026. Hosts change their plans, so check Aternos's site for anything you are about to rely on.

Side by side

Where Aternos is better

• No renewing. An Aternos server keeps running while players are online without anyone clicking anything. On Torchlite someone has to press Renew in the panel every 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the plan.
• Community and library. Aternos is the best-known name, with the largest community and a large library of plugins, mods and modpacks you install in one click.
• No paid tier at all. Like Torchlite, Aternos is completely free.

If your group plays for an hour in the evening and nobody wants to watch a timer, Aternos is the simpler choice.

Where Torchlite is better

• More RAM and a known CPU. Turbo gives 3 GB and Max 4.2 GB, on two Xeon Gold 6134 CPUs with ECC memory. Aternos does not publish its CPU.
• Storage. 15 GB on Lite, 20 GB on Turbo and 35 GB on Max, against a 4 GB cap. Big worlds and modpacks fit.
• SFTP and a full panel. Torchlite runs the Pterodactyl panel: a live console, a file manager, SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP, subusers, a MySQL database and a backup slot. On Aternos you cannot connect with FTP or SFTP.
• Any plugin or mod. Upload whatever jar you want; you are not limited to a library.
• More than Minecraft. The same account hosts Terraria, Hytale, Factorio, Unturned, MTA, SA-MP, Counter-Strike 1.6, TeamSpeak 6 and Discord bots.
• Close to Eastern Europe. The servers are in Bucharest, which keeps ping low for players in Romania and nearby countries.

How each stays free

Both are paid for by ads. On Aternos you see ads on the website while you manage the server. On Torchlite each start and each renew shows a short ad break in the panel: 2 ads on Lite, 3 on Turbo and Max. The renew timer is also how Torchlite keeps slots for people who are actually playing: a server nobody renews stops, and its slot goes to the next person.

Moving from Aternos to Torchlite

Stop the Aternos server, download the world as a zip from the Aternos panel, create a server on Torchlite with the same server software and Minecraft version, and upload the world folder over SFTP or the file manager. The move from Aternos guide walks through every step, including plugins and settings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Torchlite a good Aternos alternative?

Yes, if you want more RAM, more storage and SFTP access and do not mind renewing in the panel while you play. If you want a server that starts by itself when friends join and never asks for anything, Aternos suits you better.

Does Torchlite have a queue like Aternos?

Only when a node is full. Pressing Start then puts your server in a start queue that moves as other servers stop. Your place lasts 60 minutes.

Can I use Aternos plugins and mods on Torchlite?

Yes. Torchlite runs Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Fabric, Folia, NeoForge and Forge, and you can upload any plugin or mod jar or install them from Modrinth in the panel.

Which one is faster?

Torchlite publishes its hardware, Aternos does not, so a direct benchmark is not possible from public data. Torchlite gives more RAM on Turbo and Max than Aternos's roughly 2.4 GB.