Minecraft server hosting for Java and Bedrock
Run a Minecraft world that stays online for your friends or your community. Choose Java or Bedrock, vanilla or the server software you like, and size the server for the way you play.
- Java Edition and Bedrock Edition servers
- Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Fabric, Quilt, Forge and NeoForge
- Velocity and BungeeCord proxies, GeyserMC for Bedrock players
- Size advice for vanilla, plugins and modpacks
- Editions
- Java and Bedrock (separate servers)
- PlayersThe max-players value in server.properties. You can raise it; memory and CPU set the real limit.
- 20 (Java) · 10 (Bedrock) by default
- Ports25565/TCP is the Java default, 19132/UDP the Bedrock default (19133/UDP for IPv6).
- 25565 TCP · 19132 UDP
- Plugins
- Paper · Purpur · Spigot
- Mod loaders
- Fabric · Quilt · Forge · NeoForge
- Crossplay
- Bedrock players via GeyserMC
Server types
- Vanilla
- Paper
- Purpur
- Spigot
- Fabric
- Forge
- NeoForge
- Quilt
- Velocity
- GeyserMC
Game facts from minecraft.wiki and the PaperMC, Fabric and NeoForge documentation, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Minecraft plans are being prepared
Tell us your edition, player count and modpack, and our team will reply with the options for your server. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
Pick the column that matches your players and mods. These are starting points: view distance, farms, plugins and modpacks change the load.
Find your size
| Feature |
Starter
Up to 5 players
|
Recommended Community
Up to 15 players
|
Large
Up to 40 players
|
Network
40+ players or several servers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 2–3 GB | 4–6 GB | 8–10 GB | 12 GB+ |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 4+ |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 10 GB | 20 GB | 30 GB | 50 GB+ |
| View distanceHow many chunks around each player the server keeps loaded. Lower values save CPU and memory. | 10 (default) | 8–10 | 6–8 | Set per server |
| Typical use | Vanilla or Paper with a few plugins | Paper with plugins or a light modpack | Large modpack or a busy survival world | Velocity proxy with several servers |
-
Starter
Up to 5 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 2–3 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 10 GB
- View distanceHow many chunks around each player the server keeps loaded. Lower values save CPU and memory.
- 10 (default)
- Typical use
- Vanilla or Paper with a few plugins
-
Recommended
Community
Up to 15 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 4–6 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB
- View distanceHow many chunks around each player the server keeps loaded. Lower values save CPU and memory.
- 8–10
- Typical use
- Paper with plugins or a light modpack
-
Large
Up to 40 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8–10 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3–4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 30 GB
- View distanceHow many chunks around each player the server keeps loaded. Lower values save CPU and memory.
- 6–8
- Typical use
- Large modpack or a busy survival world
-
Network
40+ players or several servers
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 12 GB+
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 4+
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 50 GB+
- View distanceHow many chunks around each player the server keeps loaded. Lower values save CPU and memory.
- Set per server
- Typical use
- Velocity proxy with several servers
Starting points from the Minecraft Wiki server requirements and PaperMC’s memory guidance. Redstone machines, mob farms and big modpacks can double the need.
Every way to run Minecraft
Pick the server software that matches how you play. Plugins run only on the server; mods that add blocks or items must be installed by every player too.
Paper, Purpur and Spigot
Plugin servers for survival worlds, minigames and communities. Paper focuses on performance; Purpur adds more settings on top of Paper.
Fabric and Quilt
Lightweight mod loaders that follow new Minecraft versions quickly. Quilt also loads most Fabric mods.
Forge and NeoForge
The loaders behind most large modpacks. Use the same pack version on the server and in every player’s game; Forge and Fabric mods cannot be mixed.
Velocity and BungeeCord
Put several servers behind one address, such as a lobby, survival and minigames. Velocity is the maintained choice; Waterfall reached end of life in 2024.
Bedrock and GeyserMC
Run a Bedrock Dedicated Server for phones, tablets and Windows, or add GeyserMC to a Java server so Bedrock players can join as well.
Vanilla and snapshots
Play Minecraft exactly as Mojang ships it, or try the next update on a snapshot server before it is released.
Set up your Minecraft server in four steps
From the first choice to the first player online.
-
Choose edition and size
Java or Bedrock; vanilla, plugins or a modpack. Use the table above to pick the memory for your players.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to most of your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Set your rules
Edit server.properties for difficulty, game mode and view distance, add players to the whitelist and bring your world folder if you have one.
-
Invite your players
Java: Multiplayer, Add Server, then the address. Bedrock: Servers, Add Server, the address and port 19132.
Other game servers you might like
Frequently asked questions
Java or Bedrock: which server do I need?
Java Edition runs on Windows, macOS and Linux PCs and has the largest choice of plugins and mods. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, tablets, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch. The two editions cannot join each other’s servers directly; GeyserMC on a Java server lets Bedrock players join as well.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
For a vanilla or Paper server, 2–3 GB covers a few friends and 4–6 GB a community of around 15 players. Modpacks need more: plan 6–10 GB for most packs and more for the largest ones. View distance, farms and plugins change the load, so start with the table above and adjust.
Can I use plugins and mods?
Yes, as the server software allows. Paper, Purpur and Spigot load .jar plugins from the plugins folder; plugins run only on the server. Fabric, Quilt, Forge and NeoForge load mods from the mods folder; mods that add blocks or items must be installed by every player, and Forge and Fabric mods cannot be mixed.
Can I bring my existing world?
Yes. A world is a folder: copy it to the server and set level-name in server.properties to its name. Java single-player worlds are in the saves folder of your .minecraft directory. Bedrock worlds are in the minecraftWorlds folder and go into the server’s worlds folder.
Why does the server say I am not whitelisted?
Since Java Edition 26.3, new servers start with the whitelist turned on (white-list=true). Add players with /whitelist add followed by their name, or set white-list=false in server.properties if anyone may join.
Which Java version does the server need?
Minecraft Java 26.1 and later need Java 25. Versions from 1.20.5 need Java 21, and 1.18 to 1.20.4 need Java 17. Start every Minecraft version with the Java version it expects.
How do Bedrock players join a Java server?
Install GeyserMC on the Java server as a plugin, a mod or on the proxy. Bedrock players then join with the server address and Geyser’s UDP port, 19132 by default. Add Floodgate if Bedrock players should join without a Java account.
What is a proxy and do I need one?
A proxy such as Velocity puts several Minecraft servers behind one address, so players can move between a lobby, survival and minigames. You only need one for a network of servers. Velocity is actively maintained; Waterfall reached end of life in March 2024.
Can console players join?
Players on phones, tablets and Windows can add a Bedrock server directly. Bedrock on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch only lists featured servers, so console players can join other servers only through workarounds such as LAN or a custom DNS.
How do I make someone an operator?
Run /op followed by the player’s name in the server console or as an existing operator; Java stores operators in ops.json. On Bedrock, use op in the console or set the level in permissions.json.
How do I back up my world safely?
On Java, run save-off and save-all flush, copy the world folder, then run save-on. On Bedrock, run save hold, wait until save query reports the files, copy them, then run save resume.
Why does a new Java server stop right after starting?
At the first start, the server stops until eula.txt contains eula=true. Setting it means you accept Mojang’s End User License Agreement; the server then starts normally.
Ready to build your Minecraft world?
Tell us your edition, player count and modpack, and we will help you pick the right server.