What is the cheapest way to make a mc server?

I've been looking into options and can't find anything good. Anyone got anything that's cheap and reliable?

Build your own machine
But this depends on your player count

you can home host it for free and to make your own machine can be costy if you want alot of players
hosts can be from 80 cents to 70+ usd

i always played with friends only so i always hosted on my own computer. its very simple to get started all you need is the server software. i would recommend spigot since it allows you to add addons like worldedit but it depends on what youw ant to do so maybe tell us what you want to do. there are also a lot websites offering servers.

i recommend the free hosters: aternos, your own pc and "scam an mc server from kids"

The cheapest way is completely free;
host your server off of your pc.
I personally only recommend this method if you want your server temporarily online and only to play with friends etc...

If you want an actual server then you're gunna have to get a host. Hosting companies like mcprohosting are overpriced so also not really a +1 for this method.
This method is good for regular faction servers or towny servers, nothing big, no hub,...

If you want to have a proper server, nvm, not server, a network then you should consider getting yourself a dedicated server, from ovh as an example.
These are pricey but they are worth the money. I think the cheapest one is 60 euros from ovh. You can host anything on here; mc servers, teamspeaks, websites,...
But either you will have to learn how to access the data (putty, winscp,...) or you're gunna have to get yourself a System-Admin that is experienced.
This method is good for networks such as: hcf servers (hub, and possibly multiple hcf servers,...)

You can run it from your own computer as long as you have decent Wi--Fi and a lot of RAM, I ran one from mine for a few weeks but my Wi-Fi is absolutely terrible

as a server owner the cheapest way is to learn how to code and code your own stuff

7 years my friend provides me his dedicated server for hosting Minecraft. It's most cheap variant

There are some free minecraft hosts out there, but maybe you can just host your own off of your computer.