Getting Started

1 Pick your server Jar

Download one of the server jars listed on our website.

If you are looking for just a simple Minecraft server we would recommend a Vanilla server but if you wish to add extra functionality with plugins we would recommend Spigot or Paper Spigot.

2 Decide where to host your server

You can either run the server on your own computer or use a server host.

If the server is for just you and a few friends, and you have the technical know-how, hosting yourself may be a reasonable option. However, if you intend on running this as a public server, you have a lot of players, you want the server to be available 24/7, and/or you just don't want to have to worry about hosting the server yourself, then you should use a server host.

3 Picking a server host

Picking the right server host for your Minecraft server can be a daunting task, especially if you're unfamiliar with hosting.

Doing a quick search for "Minecraft hosting" on the Internet is a great start, you can also check with friends to see if they have any recommendations. The bottom line is finding a host that will fulfill your specific needs. We highly recommend contacting the support teams for the hosts you're considering and ask any questions and also to gauge their response time and response quality.

If you're looking for a server host recommendation, we suggest either Shockbyte or Nodecraft depending on your budget and needs. Both provide Minecraft hosting services, so you get a purpose-built control panel to easily manage your server, and a support team that can help with Minecraft-specific issues, unlike if you were to rent a physical machine or VPS.

4 Pointers if you're hosting the server yourself

Hosting the server on your own computer is usually only recommended if you have the technical knowledge, and have determined professional hosting is not required for your situation.

Some (but certainly not all) of the issues with self-hosting are: You're allowing more public Internet traffic to enter your home network than usual, no (D)DoS protection, no uptime SLA, hardware not dedicated to running server 24/7, no battery/generator backup in case of power outage, residential Internet connections usually have poorer routes and networking equipment, no support team to assists you with server issues.

If you want to learn more about self-hosting, try starting with learning about the following: How traffic flows in/out of TCP/UDP ports, port forwarding, and firewalls.