Free Server Weekends
Every so often we run a Free Server Weekend. For one weekend, a limited number of people can claim their own Minecraft server, completely free. No card required, nothing is charged, and the server is yours to play on until the event ends.
How it works
A Free Server Weekend runs on select weekends, typically from Friday afternoon until early Monday morning. All event times are shown in AEST.
During the event, the first people to claim get a real MCHosts server. It is not a cut-down trial. You get the same control panel, backups, and support as every paid server. The plan you receive is shown on the event page, along with how many free servers are left.
When the weekend ends, one of two things happens:
- You keep it. One click from your account page turns it into a normal paid server. Same address, same world, no interruption.
- You do nothing. The server and its world are deleted at the end time shown on the event page, and nothing is ever charged.
You can see whether an event is running, coming up, or finished at mchosts.com.au/free-weekend. When one is on the way, a countdown appears there and across the site.
How to claim your free server
- Go to the Free Server Weekend page while claims are open
- Sign up for an MCHosts account, or log in if you already have one
- Verify your email address. Claiming needs a verified email, and the page will let you resend the verification email if you need it
- Pick your Minecraft version. Vanilla, Paper, Forge, NeoForge, and Fabric are all available
- Click the claim button
Your server takes about a minute to set up. Once it is ready, your server address is emailed to you and your server appears in the control panel. From there it works like any other MCHosts server, so Connecting to Your Server and the Control Panel Overview both apply.
The rules
A few things keep the event fair:
- Spots are limited. Each event has a fixed number of free servers, first come, first served. The live counter on the event page shows how many are left
- One claim per account per event. You can claim again at future events
- A verified email address is required
- Free Server Weekends are for Australian customers, the same as the rest of MCHosts
- Already a customer? You are welcome to claim. Your free server is a brand new second server, and your existing server is not affected
- Modpacks are not available on event servers. You can pick any standard version and loader, and if you later keep the server you can install mods on it like any other server
Keeping your server
If the weekend goes well and you want to keep playing, keeping your server takes about a minute:
- Go to your account page
- Find your free server and click Keep My Server
- Add a payment method if you do not have one saved. See Payment Methods if you get stuck
- Confirm
Your first month gets the same discount every new server gets, applied automatically. You can also choose a bigger plan at the same time if you want more RAM, and the upgrade applies straight away.
Nothing changes on the server itself. Same address, same world, same everything. Billing simply starts from the end of the event, and you can manage or cancel the subscription any time after that. See Managing Your Subscription for how that works.
Taking your world with you
Not ready to keep the server but want to save what you built? Download your world before the event ends.
Your free server is a standard server, so the normal download tools work. Use Zip Server in the control panel to bundle everything up, then download the archive from the File Manager. If you grab a server with us later, you can upload it and pick up where you left off.
Once the event end time passes, the server and its files are deleted and cannot be recovered, so do this before the deadline shown on the event page.
Common questions
Do I need a credit card? No. Claiming needs no payment details at all. A card is only needed if you choose to keep the server.
Will I be charged automatically when the weekend ends? No. Even if you have a card saved with us from before, a free server never charges you. Keeping it is always a deliberate choice you make from your account page.
Can my friends join my free server? Yes. It is a normal server with a normal address. Send it to them and play, or see Sharing Your Server With Friends.
I missed out on a spot. Can I still get a server? The free servers are capped, but you can get a server any time, with a discount on your first month and a 7-day money back guarantee.
When is the next one? Free Server Weekends run on select weekends a few times a year. Keep an eye on the event page and our socials.
Claimed a server and ready to play? Start with Connecting to Your Server, then invite your friends over.
