Torchlite vs Minehut: a free Minehut alternative

In short: Minehut is a very beginner-friendly free Minecraft host with Java and Bedrock addresses, but its free plan has 1 GB of RAM, about 0.4 of a shared vCPU, sleeps when nobody is online, allows one free server online at a time and keeps SFTP for paid plans. Torchlite, hosted in Bucharest, gives 1.5, 3 or 4.2 GB of RAM on Intel Xeon Gold 6134 CPUs, SFTP on every free server, and asks you to press Renew every 30 to 50 minutes while it runs. For a quick server to try things, Minehut is easier; for more RAM, modpacks and file access without paying, Torchlite gives more.

Minehut's figures come from its own website and help pages, checked in October 2026. Check them there before you decide.

Side by side

Where Minehut is better

• Easiest start. Minehut's setup is built for people who have never run a server.
• Bedrock out of the box. Minehut gives Bedrock players an address without any setup. On Torchlite you install the Geyser and Floodgate plugins yourself; the Geyser guide shows how.
• No renewing while people play. A Minehut server sleeps when it is empty, but it does not ask you to click anything while players are on it.

Where Torchlite is better

• More RAM for free. Lite starts at 1.5 GB, Turbo has 3 GB and Max 4.2 GB, against 1 GB. That is the difference between a small vanilla world and a modded server.
• Mods and modpacks. Fabric, NeoForge and Forge run on Torchlite, and Modrinth modpacks install from the panel. Minehut's one-click installs cover plugins rather than modpacks.
• SFTP without paying. Upload worlds and backups with FileZilla or WinSCP on the free plan.
• A server and a bot. Keep a Minecraft server and a Discord bot for its community, both free.
• Published hardware. Two Xeon Gold 6134 CPUs with ECC memory, 1-10 Gbps and zero.ms DDoS protection, in Bucharest.

The trade-off: renewing

Torchlite's servers stay free because each start and renew shows a short ad break, and the renew timer frees slots nobody is using. Lite renews every 50 minutes, Turbo every 40 and Max every 30, and the button opens in the last 5 minutes. If you miss it, the server stops and nothing is lost. The renewal guide explains every rule.

Frequently asked questions

Is Torchlite a good Minehut alternative?

Yes, if 1 GB is too little or you need mods, SFTP or a second server. If you want the simplest possible start and Bedrock without setup, Minehut is easier.

Can Bedrock players join a Torchlite server?

Yes, through the Geyser and Floodgate plugins on Paper, Purpur or Spigot. They let phone, tablet and Windows players join your Java world without a Java account.

Does a Torchlite server sleep when it is empty?

No. It keeps running, empty or not, until the renew timer runs out.

How much does Torchlite cost?

Nothing. There is no paid plan. The ads in the panel pay for the servers.