The Aternos Alternative for Players in Iran
Aternos is the world's most popular free Minecraft host, but its servers are in Europe — for players in Iran that means high ping, start-up queues, and sometimes a VPN. Mobland offers the same simple, in-browser server setup with hosting inside Iran, a Persian dashboard, and a free plan.
- Hosted in Iran
- No VPN
- Java & Bedrock
- Persian dashboard & support
Why Are Players in Iran Looking for an Aternos Alternative?
For years, Aternos has been the first stop for anyone who wants a free Minecraft server: sign up, hit Start, and your server boots. That simplicity appeals to players in Iran too — the trouble starts when the server and its players are thousands of kilometers apart.
Aternos servers are located in Europe, so every action you take in-game has to travel from Iran to Europe and back. The result is high ping, delayed hits, and lag at busy times. Add start-up queues, no way to upload your own plugins or mods, paid upgrades that require foreign-currency payment, and access that depends on the state of your internet connection.
That's why we built Mobland: an Iranian Minecraft host whose servers are inside Iran, whose dashboard is in Persian, and which — like Aternos — has a free plan. On this page we compare the two services honestly, including where Aternos is the better choice.
Common Aternos Pain Points for Players in Iran
If you've played on Aternos, you've probably run into at least one of these.
High ping and lag
The distance from Iran to European data centers drives ping up — in Minecraft that means delayed hits, block breaking, and movement.
Queues to start your server
At peak hours, starting a free Aternos server can land you in a queue for several minutes — right when your friends are waiting.
Unstable access from Iran
The site and servers are outside Iran; depending on your ISP and network conditions, connections may drop or you may need a VPN.
No custom plugin or mod uploads
On Aternos you can only install plugins and mods from the site's own list; uploading your own jar files isn't possible.
Upgrades require foreign payment
For more resources, Aternos points you to its paid sister service (exaroton), which bills in foreign currency — effectively out of reach for most users in Iran.
No Persian support
Aternos support and forums are mostly in English, so finding answers in Persian is hard.
Mobland vs Aternos
Compared on each service's free plan, from the perspective of players connecting from inside Iran.
| Feature | Mobland | Aternos |
|---|---|---|
| Server location | Inside Iran | Europe |
| Ping from Iran | Low | Usually high |
| VPN needed | No | Depends on network conditions |
| Free plan cost | Free, no bank card | Free |
| Ads | None | Yes (how the service is funded) |
| Start-up queue | No queue; free capacity may briefly fill at peak times | Queues at busy times |
| Java & Bedrock | Both | Both |
| Concurrent players (free plan) | Up to 4 | More |
| Plugins & mods | Curated catalog + your own uploads on paid plans | Site's list only, no uploads |
| Forge mods | Supported on paid plans (Minecraft 1.20.1 and newer) | Supported |
| Backups & world download | Automatic archives, downloadable | Yes |
| Persian support | Yes (tickets & Discord) | Mostly English |
| Upgrading for more resources | Paid plans billed in Toman | Separate service, foreign-currency billing |
Aternos details are based on that service's public documentation at the time of writing and may change.
Mobland: The Iranian Aternos Alternative
The same simple in-browser server setup, with the features that matter to players in Iran.
Hosted in Iran, low ping
Mobland servers are hosted inside Iran — connect without a VPN and keep in-game latency to a minimum.
Persian dashboard & support
The dashboard is fully available in Persian, and you get answers in your own language through tickets or Discord.
Java & Bedrock
Java servers running Vanilla, Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Fabric, or Forge — or the official Bedrock server for friends who play on mobile.
Datapacks, plugins & ready-made modpacks
One-click VanillaTweaks datapacks, curated plugins, and ready-made modpacks even on the free plan — plus your own plugin, mod, and world uploads on paid plans.
Your server's name and icon
Rename your server anytime and give it a custom icon on Java — both show in your friends' multiplayer list, even on the free plan.
Automatic backups
Every time your server stops, your world is archived and can be downloaded from the dashboard.
Works with TLauncher
Java servers don't require a premium account, so you can join with launchers like TLauncher and SKLauncher.
Full control from your phone
Create, start, stop, and configure your server from your phone's browser — no app to install.
Share control with friends
Let a friend's account start and stop your server so they can play even when you're offline.
Your own domain
On paid plans, connect through your own domain on a static port, so your server's address stays the same for as long as your plan is active.
Pay in Toman
If you need more resources, paid plans are billed in Toman with an Iranian bank card — start with a single day for a tenth of the monthly price, then renew early or upgrade anytime; your remaining days aren't lost.
Aternos or Mobland: Which Is Right for You?
No service is best for everyone. These two lists will help you choose.
Aternos is the better choice if…
- Most of your server's players are outside Iran
- You have more than 4 concurrent players and don't want to pay anything
- You want to run a large Forge modpack, or Forge on Minecraft versions older than 1.20.1
- You need Aternos's large built-in list of plugins and mods
Mobland is the better choice if…
- You and your friends play from inside Iran and low ping matters to you
- You don't want to turn on a VPN to create or join your server
- You want a Persian dashboard and Persian support
- You want to upload your own plugins, Fabric or Forge mods, or world and pay in Toman
Know Mobland's free plan limits too
The free plan includes 1 server with up to 4 concurrent players. Free servers stop automatically a few minutes after the last player leaves, and are deleted if unused for 30 days. Paid plans are available for more players and fuller features.
Get Started with Mobland in Minutes
If you've used Aternos, this will feel familiar.
Sign up for free
Continue with your Google, GitHub, or GitLab account — no bank card required.
Create a server
Pick Java or Bedrock, a server type, and a Minecraft version, then start your server.
Invite your friends
Send your friends the server address and port, and play without a VPN.
Moving Your World from Aternos to Mobland
Built a world on Aternos and don't want to lose it? On Mobland's paid plans you can bring that same world with you.
- 1
Download your world from Aternos
In the Aternos panel, go to Worlds and download the world you want as a zip file.
- 2
Prepare the archive
Make sure the zip has a folder named world at its root; if the folder has a different name, rename it to world and re-zip it.
- 3
Upload to your world library
On Mobland's Starter plan or higher, upload the file from the Worlds section of the dashboard.
- 4
Create a server from that world
Create a new server with the same server type and Minecraft version as before, and pick the uploaded world as its starting world.
World migration is currently available for Java servers. A 1-day Starter subscription is enough to upload your world and create the server from it; the server keeps its own copy afterwards, as long as the world fits the free plan's 2 GB limit. You can re-select your plugins from the curated catalog or upload their files. On the free plan, you can start fresh with a new world and upgrade whenever you like.
Aternos Alternative FAQ
Quick answers to what Aternos players ask before trying Mobland.
What's the best Aternos alternative for players in Iran?
If you and your friends are in Iran, a service with servers inside Iran gives you lower ping and more stable access. Mobland is an Iranian Minecraft host that, like Aternos, has a free plan, supports Java and Bedrock, and doesn't require a VPN.
Is Mobland free like Aternos?
Yes. The free plan lets you create one Java or Bedrock server for up to 4 concurrent players, with no payment and no bank card. For more players, more RAM, and uploading your own plugins, mods, and worlds, paid plans billed in Toman are available.
Why does Aternos have high ping from Iran?
Because Aternos servers are in Europe, so game data has to make the long round trip between Iran and Europe. The closer the server is to the player, the lower the ping — which is why servers inside Iran have less latency for players in Iran.
Do I need a VPN to use Mobland?
No. Mobland servers are inside Iran, so you don't need a VPN to create a server or connect to it.
Can I move my server's world from Aternos to Mobland?
Yes, for Java servers. Download your world from the Worlds section on Aternos, upload it to your Mobland world library on the Starter plan or higher (a 1-day subscription is enough), and pick it as the starting world when you create a new server.
Does Mobland have a queue too?
Mobland has no queue — when you press Start, your server begins booting right away. At peak times the free-server capacity may briefly fill up; if that happens, try again in a few minutes. Paid plans aren't subject to this limit.
Can I install the plugins and mods I had on Aternos?
On Paper, Spigot, and Purpur servers you can pick from Mobland's curated plugin catalog, and on paid plans you can upload any plugin jar yourself. Mods can be uploaded to Fabric and Forge servers on paid plans, and ready-made modpacks are available on the free plan too.
Can I join a Mobland server with TLauncher?
Yes. Mobland's Java servers don't require a premium Minecraft account, so you can join with launchers like TLauncher and SKLauncher. Turn on the server whitelist to keep strangers out.
Do Mobland servers shut down automatically like Aternos?
Yes. Free servers stop automatically a few minutes after the last player leaves, and you can start them again from the dashboard anytime — your world is kept. Paid plans wait longer before stopping. A free server that goes unused for 30 days is deleted.
Is Mobland affiliated with Aternos?
No. Mobland is an independent Iranian service with no affiliation to Aternos (Aternos GmbH). The Aternos name belongs to its owner and is mentioned on this page for comparison only.
Related Guides
Pages that will come in handy before or after you create your server.
Free Minecraft Server
What Mobland's free plan includes — and its limits — for Java and Bedrock servers.
How to Make a Minecraft Server
A step-by-step guide to creating, configuring, and joining your server, plus fixes for common issues.
Best Minecraft Launchers
Which launcher is best for joining a Java server? TLauncher, SKLauncher, and Phoenix compared.
Try the Iranian Aternos Alternative
Sign-up is free and creating a server takes just a few minutes — hosted in Iran, low ping, no VPN.
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