SLASHPLAY
vs EXAROTON
These two are genuinely alike: both are pay-as-you-go game servers that bill only for the hours you run them, with no subscription, RAM you pick, a Discord bot and no start queue. The real differences are at the edges — games, Minecraft modding, and how the price is broken down. Here's an honest side-by-side, no spin.
| Exaroton | SLASHPLAY | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Pay-as-you-go — billed only while the server runs. No subscription. | Pay-as-you-go — billed only while the server runs. No subscription. |
| Price | 1 credit (€0.01) per GB of RAM per hour — e.g. 2 GB = €0.02/hour. | From $0.03/hour for 2 GB + 1 CPU; scales with size. |
| Games | Minecraft only (Java & Bedrock). | Minecraft and Counter-Strike 2 — more on the way. |
| Minecraft software | The full Aternos ecosystem: Vanilla, Paper, Forge, Fabric and one-click modpacks, with custom uploads. | Vanilla & Paper today; heavier modded setups take more hands-on work. |
| RAM | Pick 2–16 GB; priced purely per GB of RAM. | Pick 2–16 GB, with a dedicated CPU bundled into each size. |
| Starting a server | Starts on demand — no queue. | Starts on demand in seconds — no queue. |
| Storage | Up to 10 GB per server; the storage fee is offset by what you spend running it. | Saved data is stored for about $0.01 per GB per month. |
| Free trial | 5 free credits (€0.05) to test. | Pay-as-you-go from the start — no free credits. |
| Discord bot | Yes. | Yes — built to work with the companion SLASHPLAY Discord bot. |
| Operated by | Aternos GmbH (the same team as Aternos). | SLASHPLAY ApS. |
Exaroton is a pay-as-you-go Minecraft server host operated by Aternos GmbH — the paid sibling of the free Aternos service. It costs 1 credit (€0.01) per GB of RAM per hour, you pick 2–16 GB, servers start on demand with no queue, and new users get 5 free credits to test. Storage is up to 10 GB per server and is offset by what you spend running it. Crucially, it inherits Aternos's mature Minecraft ecosystem — Vanilla, Paper, Forge, Fabric and one-click modpacks — which makes it excellent for Minecraft, including heavily modded setups. It hosts Minecraft only.
SLASHPLAY runs the same on-demand idea: each server is its own dedicated container, starts in seconds with no queue, and is billed by the hour — from $0.03/hour for 2 GB plus a dedicated CPU core — with no subscription. Where it differs is breadth: it hosts Minecraft and Counter-Strike 2, with more games on the way, so once you're in the SLASHPLAY ecosystem you can use it for anything else you need hosted too, and it's built to work hand-in-hand with the companion SLASHPLAY Discord bot. For Minecraft it runs Vanilla and Paper today; for heavier modded setups you'll currently do a bit more yourself than on Exaroton.
Very. Both bill only for the hours your server runs, both let you pick 2–16 GB, both start with no queue, both have a Discord bot, and both offset storage against runtime. The differences are at the edges: Exaroton prices purely per GB of RAM (€0.01/GB/hour) and is Minecraft-only with the full Aternos modding ecosystem behind it; SLASHPLAY bundles a dedicated CPU into each size (from $0.03/hour for 2 GB + 1 CPU), runs Minecraft and CS2 with more games coming, and keeps Minecraft to Vanilla & Paper today.
Choose Exaroton if…
- You only host Minecraft — especially modded or modpacks.
- You want the most mature Minecraft tooling (the Aternos ecosystem).
- You want the lowest per-GB-of-RAM price.
Choose SLASHPLAY if…
- You want more than Minecraft — CS2 today, more coming — from one host.
- Vanilla or Paper covers your Minecraft (or you don't mind a bit more setup for mods).
- You want a dedicated CPU bundled in, RCON, scheduling, or team controls.
Are SLASHPLAY and Exaroton the same?
No, but the models are strikingly similar. Both bill only for the hours your server runs, both let you pick 2–16 GB of RAM, both start with no queue, and both have a Discord bot. Exaroton is operated by Aternos GmbH (the team behind Aternos); SLASHPLAY is operated by SLASHPLAY ApS.
Which is cheaper?
They're very close. Exaroton is 1 credit (€0.01) per GB of RAM per hour and is Minecraft-only. SLASHPLAY starts at $0.03/hour for 2 GB plus a dedicated CPU core, and also hosts Counter-Strike 2. For heavily modded Minecraft, Exaroton's ready-made ecosystem can save you setup time.
Can I run modded Minecraft / modpacks?
Exaroton inherits Aternos's mature Minecraft ecosystem, including one-click modpacks. On SLASHPLAY you run Vanilla or Paper out of the box; heavier modded setups currently take more hands-on work.
Can I host other games?
On SLASHPLAY, yes — Counter-Strike 2 today, with more games on the way, so one account covers more than Minecraft. Exaroton is Minecraft only.
Is there a free trial?
Exaroton gives new users 5 free credits (about €0.05) to test. SLASHPLAY is pay-as-you-go from the start.
TRY SLASHPLAY.
Honest comparison — pick whichever fits you.
Comparison based on each service's publicly available information and may change over time. Exaroton is a trademark of its respective owner; SLASHPLAY is not affiliated with Exaroton.