uqc / Make a server / Minecraft hosting
Best Minecraft server hosting
Your own Minecraft server stays online when you log off, and you choose the version, mods and plugins. No spare PC, no port forwarding.
Why get a dedicated Minecraft server?
Realms and LAN worlds are fine for a quick session, but they stop the moment the host leaves or hit limits fast. A hosted server runs 24/7, supports plugins and modpacks, and anyone you invite can join from anywhere with one address.
What to look for in a Minecraft server host
Size it for your mods, not just your players
A vanilla world for a few friends needs very little. Modpacks need a lot more memory, so check the plan before you install one.
Java and Bedrock are different servers
Pick the edition your friends play. Want both? Run a Java server with the Geyser plugin so Bedrock players can join too.
One-click installs and backups
Look for one-click Paper, Fabric, Forge and modpack installs, plus automatic backups so a bad plugin never costs you the world.
A location near your players
Ping comes down to distance. Pick the server region closest to most of your group.
How to set up a Minecraft server
Pick a plan and your edition
Java or Bedrock, and the game version your friends play on.
Choose the server software
Vanilla for pure Minecraft, Paper for plugins, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge for mods. It’s one click on most hosts.
Set your options
Difficulty, gamemode, PvP and the world seed live in server.properties, which you can edit in the host’s panel.
Lock it to your friends
Run /whitelist on, then /whitelist add <name> for each friend, and /op yourself.
Share the address
Friends add the IP under Multiplayer, Add Server (Java) or Servers, Add Server (Bedrock).
Minecraft server settings worth changing
- view-distance and simulation-distance
- Lowering these is the quickest fix for lag on a small plan.
- white-list
- Keeps randoms out. Turn it on before you share the IP anywhere.
- difficulty and pvp
- Set how hard the world is and whether players can hurt each other.
- spawn-protection
- Stops non-ops breaking blocks around spawn. Set it to 0 on a friends-only server.
More Minecraft server guides
Questions
Can Java and Bedrock players join the same server?
Yes, with a plugin like Geyser on a Java server. Without it, each edition needs its own server.
Do I need to port forward?
Not with a hosted server. You get an address to share and the host handles the networking.
What’s the difference between Paper, Fabric and Forge?
Paper runs plugins and improves performance. Fabric and Forge (or NeoForge) run mods. A server normally runs one or the other.
How do I make my server private?
Turn on the whitelist with /whitelist on and add each friend with /whitelist add <name>. Anyone not on the list can’t join.
Is free Minecraft hosting worth it?
It’s fine for trying things out, but free hosts usually have queues, little memory and servers that shut down when nobody is on. I’ve tested them, and a small paid plan is far less hassle.
Start your Minecraft server
The same host I use in my guides. Your world is online in a few minutes.