Gaming & Minecraft
Best Minecraft Server Software in 2026
Cuberite leads this list of 25 (8.9/10, free plan). Allay is next (8.8/10, free plan), and Fabric is the next highest-placed option with a free plan (8.8/10). This list covers software for running Minecraft servers. It helps you compare available server implementations before choosing one for your setup.
- 01
Cuberite Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android8.9 Visit Specs - 02 Allay Free plan Windows · Linux · Self-hosted8.8 Visit Specs
- 03
Fabric Fabric suits Minecraft players who want to use mods and developers who need tools for creating them.
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API8.8 Visit Specs - 04
SpigotMC Resources Free plan Open source Web · Windows · macOS · Linux8.3 Visit Specs - 05 Leaves Free plan API · Self-hosted8.2 Visit Specs
- 06 PocketMine-MP Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API8.2 Visit Specs
- 07 Gale Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted8.1 Visit Specs
- 08 Endstone Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted8.0 Visit Specs
- 09 Arclight Windows · Linux · Self-hosted7.8 Visit Specs
- 10 Dragonfly Free plan API · Self-hosted7.8 Visit Specs
- 11 Leaf Windows · macOS · Linux · API7.8 Visit Specs
- 12 Glowstone Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted7.7 Visit Specs
- 13
Minecraft Forge Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux7.7 Visit Specs - 14
Mohist Free plan Windows · Linux · Self-hosted7.5 Visit Specs - 15
NeoForge Windows · macOS · Linux · API7.5 Visit Specs - 16 Pufferfish From $32/mo Self-hosted7.5 Visit Specs
- 17 Minestom API · Self-hosted7.2 Visit Specs
- 18 Purpur Free plan API · Self-hosted7.2 Visit Specs
- 19
Sponge Windows · macOS · Linux · API7.2 Visit Specs - 20
Pumpkin Windows · macOS · Linux · Android7.1 Visit Specs - 21 SteelMC Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted7.1 Visit Specs
- 22 Ketting Self-hosted7.0 Visit Specs
- 23 Folia 5.7 Visit Specs
- 24 Minecraft: Java Edition Server Windows · macOS · Linux5.7 Visit Specs
- 25 Paper Windows · Linux5.5 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices
are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank).
Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).
Check the free-plan and paid-from details, supported editions, extension and mod options, Java–Bedrock cross-play, plugin and RCON support, and the platforms the software runs on.