Client area
This article is written by the OuiHeberg team, a paid Minecraft server hosting provider. All information about FalixNodes is sourced from their official documentation and public knowledge base (falixnodes.net, client.falixnodes.net, kb.falixnodes.net). We present documented facts only - no opinions, no unverified claims.
Written by Arthur G. - OuiHeberg team
FalixNodes is one of the most popular free Minecraft server hosting platforms. Before you set one up - or before you recommend it to friends - it's worth understanding exactly what the free plan includes and where its hard limits are. This article documents those limits from FalixNodes' own official pages, so you can make an informed decision.
What FalixNodes free plan actually includes
FalixNodes offers a genuinely functional free Minecraft server. Here is what is included, sourced from their official feature page (falixnodes.net/free-minecraft-server-hosting):
- Unlimited player slots
- One server per account
- Server software: Vanilla, Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Forge, Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge and more
- Plugin and mod support
- Modpack installation (20,000+ from CurseForge, Modrinth, FTB, Technic) - note: modpack page locked on newer free accounts (see below)
- Built-in file manager
- World upload
- Real-time console
- Automatic backups to your own Google Drive
- Sub-user access
- DDoS protection
The hard limits of the free plan
These constraints are documented in FalixNodes' official free vs. premium comparison (client.falixnodes.net/guides/start/free-vs-premium).
| Feature | Free plan | Premium plan |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2.5 GB shared | Your plan's allocated resources |
| Session timer | Yes - server must be manually extended via Timer page (captcha required) | No timer - 24/7 uptime |
| Ads | Required - ad-blocker must be whitelisted or account suspended (source: kb.falixnodes.net/falix/dashboard/setup/ad-blocker) | No ads |
| Idle-kick (Minecraft) | Forced at 10 minutes - cannot be disabled | Can be disabled |
| Server stops when | Last player leaves | Never (runs 24/7) |
| Modpack page | Locked on newer free accounts | Included |
| Startup command | Read-only (variables editable only) | Fully editable |
| Crash detection / auto-restart | Not available | Included |
| Databases | 5 per server | 20 per server |
| Subdomains | 3 | 10 |
| Backups | Stored on your Google Drive | Stored on node (plan limit) |
Session timer duration is not specified in FalixNodes' public documentation. The timer can be extended manually on their Timer page.
What the session timer means in practice
The server does not run 24/7 on the free plan. It runs during active sessions and must be manually restarted via a Timer page that requires solving a captcha - and viewing a short ad on non-ad-free accounts. This is not a sleep-on-idle system: the Timer page is the only mechanism available to extend uptime.
Game servers stop automatically when the last player leaves. According to their documentation, uptime-pinger services (keep-alive bots) do not bypass this timer: the Timer page is the only mechanism to extend uptime. This is a deliberate design choice to fund the free tier through ad revenue, not a bug.
Practical consequence: the free plan is fine for occasional play with friends where everyone is online at the same time. It is not suitable for a community server that needs to be reachable at any time, or for a server that must recover automatically from a crash.
When free hosting is enough - and when it isn't
| Use case | FalixNodes free | Paid hosting (from €1.99/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo testing / learning Minecraft server admin | ✅ Works well | Overkill |
| Playing with 2-5 friends occasionally | ✅ Acceptable | Recommended for convenience |
| Community server, always online | ❌ Session timer prevents 24/7 | ✅ Required |
| Heavy modpacks (ATM9, Create, etc.) | ❌ 2.5 GB RAM insufficient | ✅ From 4 GB RAM |
| Server always reachable (no manual restart) | ❌ Not possible on free plan | ✅ 99.99% uptime |
When your server needs to be reachable without manual intervention - or when your modpack requires more than 2.5 GB RAM - the free plan becomes a constraint rather than a solution. At that point, the question is what paid hosting costs. See our Minecraft hosting comparison for a side-by-side of six providers on RAM, datacenter location, and support language.
OuiHeberg Start: what €1.99/month gets you
For context, here is what OuiHeberg Minecraft hosting's entry-level plan includes.
| Feature | OuiHeberg Start (€1.99/month incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Price | €1.99/month, French VAT included (final amount may vary by billing country) |
| Renewal price | Same as advertised price - no promotional first-month pricing |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR4 ECC |
| vCPU | 2 vCPU (Ryzen infrastructure) |
| Storage | 20 GB NVMe |
| Player slots | Unlimited (no contractual limit) |
| Backups | 2 backup slots, automatic daily backups |
| Database | 1 included |
| SFTP | Full access |
| Session timer | None - server runs 24/7 |
| Ads | None |
| Idle-kick | Not forced |
| Server software | Vanilla, Paper, Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, Spigot, Purpur - mods and modpacks via OuiPanel (1-click) |
| Anti-DDoS | Game-grade, 3 Tbit/s+ |
| Support | French-language technical support, 24/7 by ticket |
| Datacenter locations | Marseille (France), Frankfurt, New York, Beauharnois, Sydney |
OuiHeberg is the author of this article. We have an obvious interest in presenting our offer - which is why we document FalixNodes' limits from their own official sources rather than our characterisation of them.
Frequently asked questions
Does FalixNodes free plan run 24/7?
No. The free plan uses a session timer. The server must be manually restarted via FalixNodes' Timer page, which requires solving a captcha. Game servers also stop automatically when the last player disconnects. FalixNodes explicitly states that uptime-pinger services do not bypass this timer. Source: client.falixnodes.net/guides/start/free-vs-premium.
Can I run mods and modpacks on FalixNodes free?
Partially. FalixNodes supports Forge, Fabric, NeoForge and other mod-capable server software on the free plan. However, the modpack installation page is locked on newer free accounts, according to their official comparison page. Manual installation via the file manager remains possible. RAM is capped at 2.5 GB shared, which limits heavier modpacks. Source: client.falixnodes.net/guides/start/free-vs-premium.
What happens if I use an ad-blocker on FalixNodes?
Your account can be suspended. FalixNodes states that ad revenue funds the free tier, and their knowledge base explicitly requires users to whitelist the Falix domain - including DNS-level and VPN-based ad blockers. Source: kb.falixnodes.net/falix/dashboard/setup/ad-blocker.
How many players can join a FalixNodes free server?
Player slots are unlimited on the free plan - FalixNodes does not cap the number of players contractually. In practice, the 2.5 GB shared RAM will limit how many players can connect without performance issues. Source: falixnodes.net/free-minecraft-server-hosting.
What is the cheapest paid Minecraft hosting alternative?
Paid Minecraft hosting starts at different price points depending on the provider. OuiHeberg's Start plan is €1.99/month (VAT included) with 4 GB RAM, no session timer, and no ads. See our Minecraft hosting comparison for a side-by-side of six providers on RAM, datacenter location, and support language.
Another free Minecraft server worth comparing: what MineStrator actually includes, with its renewal and backup limitations.
Another model worth knowing before you choose: the one-off payment. We analysed what ZAP-Hosting's Lifetime offer is really worth, inactivity clause included.