How to Make a Minecraft Server (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
There are two ways to run a Minecraft server: host it yourself at home, or use a hosted server. This guide covers both, explains the trade-offs, and shows the fastest path to a stable, always-online world your friends can join.
Option 1: Host at home (free, but with caveats)
You can download the official server jar from Minecraft.net, run it with Java, and open a port on your router so friends can connect. It costs nothing but your electricity.
The catch: your PC has to stay on 24/7, your home IP is exposed (a DDoS risk), port forwarding is fiddly, and performance competes with everything else on your machine. It is fine for a quick session with a couple of friends, less so for a community.
Option 2: Use a hosted Minecraft server (always online)
A hosted server runs in a data center, stays online 24/7, includes DDoS protection, and gives you a control panel instead of a terminal. You pick a plan, choose your version and loader, and it is provisioned automatically, usually in under a minute.
On KingsNode you can start any Minecraft plan for $1 for the first week, so you can get a real server online and test it before committing to a monthly plan.
Choosing your version and loader
Vanilla is the official experience. Paper and Purpur are drop-in replacements that run far faster and support plugins. Fabric, Forge and NeoForge are mod loaders; pick the one your mods or modpack require.
If you want plugins (economy, protection, mini-games) choose Paper. If you want mods or a CurseForge modpack, choose Fabric, Forge or NeoForge to match the pack. You can change loader later without starting over.
How much RAM do you need?
For a small vanilla or Paper server of up to about 10 players, 2GB is plenty. For 20 to 30 players or light modpacks, 4GB is the sweet spot. Large modpacks or 50+ players want 8GB or more.
More RAM is not always faster. A single-threaded vanilla server benefits more from a high-clock CPU than from extra memory. Match RAM to your player count and mod load, not the biggest number.
Getting your friends connected
Once your server is running you get an IP and port (and an optional free subdomain). Friends enter that address in Multiplayer, Add Server, and join. No software to install.
With a hosted server there is no port forwarding and no need to share your home IP, which keeps you safer and avoids the classic it-works-for-me-but-not-for-them headache.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to make a Minecraft server?
Hosting at home is free but requires your PC on 24/7 and port forwarding. A hosted server removes that hassle; KingsNode plans start at $1 for the first week.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. A hosted server gives you a web control panel, one-click version and loader selection, and one-click modpack installs, with no config files or command line required.
Can I change the version later?
Yes. You can switch Minecraft version or loader (Paper, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge) from the panel without recreating the server.
Ready to play?
Deploy a DDoS-protected Minecraft server in seconds. Try it for $1 the first week.