Oracle Cloud hands out one of the most generous free tiers around. The always-free A1 instance gives you up to 4 ARM cores and 24 GB RAM, permanently. That is genuinely enough to run a decent Minecraft server, which is why so many people try it. Most of them hit the same few walls, so here is the setup that works and the mistakes to skip.
Oracle Cloud Free Tier Specs
What the always-free A1 instance includes:
| Resource | Amount |
|---|---|
| CPU | 4 ARM Ampere A1 cores |
| RAM | 24 GB total |
| Storage | 200 GB block volume |
| Network | 10 TB egress/month free |
| Pricing | $0 forever (not a trial) |
Read that last row again. This is not a trial that expires after 30 days. The free tier stays free for as long as your account exists, which puts it ahead of almost every other free hosting option for Minecraft.
Getting Started
Step 1: Create an Oracle Cloud Account
Sign up at oracle.com/cloud. They ask for a credit card to verify identity, but nothing gets charged while you stay inside free tier limits.
Step 2: Launch an A1 Instance
When you create the instance:
- Pick the A1.Compute.Standard shape
- Choose ARM (Ampere) architecture
- Put it in whatever compartment you prefer
- Go with Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 as the image
One heads-up: free tier ARM capacity is not always available in every region. If creation fails with an out-of-capacity error, try another region or try again later. This is the most common frustration with Oracle's free tier and it has nothing to do with your config.
Step 3: Configure Networking
Open these ports in the security list:
- TCP 22 (SSH)
- TCP 25565 (Minecraft)
- UDP 25565 (optional, for UDP-based setups)
Make sure the VCN's CIDR block allows player connections.
Setting Up Minecraft
Install Java
ARM means you need the ARM build of Java:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless -y
java -version
Install the Server
For vanilla Minecraft:
mkdir ~/minecraft && cd ~/minecraft
wget https://piston-data.mojang.com/v1/objects/server.jar
java -Xmx4G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui
Accept the EULA and start again:
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
java -Xmx4G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui
Recommended JVM Arguments
Tuned for Oracle's ARM chips:
java -Xmx6G -Xms2G \
-XX:+UseG1GC \
-XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled \
-XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 \
-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions \
-XX:+DisableExplicitGC \
-XX:+AlwaysPreTouch \
-jar server.jar nogui
-XX:+AlwaysPreTouch matters more than usual here. On ARM it stops page fault spikes that show up as random stutters during gameplay.
Resource Management
RAM Allocation
You have 24 GB total, but the OS needs its share. Do not hand more than 8 GB to the server:
| Allocation | Max Players | Modded? |
|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | 5-10 | No |
| 4 GB | 10-20 | Light mods |
| 6 GB | 15-25 | Moderate mods |
| 8 GB | 20-30 | Heavy mods |
CPU Considerations
The Ampere A1 cores are fine for vanilla but weaker per-core than x86. Modded servers should expect lower player counts than the same RAM would suggest on an x86 box.
Storage
200 GB goes a long way:
- Vanilla server: ~2 GB
- Modded server: 10-30 GB
- World data grows with playtime, so leave headroom
Common Issues
Instance Suspension
Oracle suspends free tier instances that exceed resource limits. Watch your usage in the Oracle Cloud console. A suspended instance can usually be reactivated, but your players will notice the downtime first.
No Static IP
Free tier instances do not get a reserved IP. The public address can change on reboot, so either use a dynamic DNS service or get used to checking the IP after restarts.
ARM Compatibility
Not every mod or plugin ships an ARM build. The popular ones do. Niche ones sometimes do not, and you find out at the worst moment. Test your full mod list before inviting players.
Network Latency
Pick a free tier region near your players. Options include:
- United States (Ashburn, Phoenix)
- Europe (Frankfurt, London)
- Asia (Tokyo, Melbourne)
Alternatives to Oracle Cloud
If the ARM quirks or capacity lottery wear you down:
| Host | Free? | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Space-Node | No | €0.90/GB |
| Aternos | Yes | Free |
| Minehut | Yes | Free |
| Shockbyte | No | $2.25/GB |
| Apex Hosting | No | $2.50/GB |
Free tiers always involve some compromise. Paid hosts like Space-Node's Minecraft plans start at €0.90/GB and skip the capacity roulette entirely.
FAQ
Is Oracle Cloud really free forever? Yes. The always-free A1 instance has no expiry. It is not a trial.
Can I run a modded server on Oracle Cloud free tier? Yes. 24 GB RAM handles a moderately modded server. Heavy modpacks will feel the weaker ARM cores before they feel the RAM limit.
What happens if I exceed the free tier limits? Oracle suspends the instance. Upgrade to paid or trim resource usage to get back online.
Can I change the instance shape later? Yes. You can move to a paid shape or spin up more free tier instances within your quota.
Does Oracle Cloud support Minecraft Bedrock? Yes. Install the Bedrock server software and open port 19132 UDP. ARM handles Bedrock fine.