Java or Bedrock: which server do you need?
Minecraft comes in two editions that look alike but cannot join each other's servers without help. A Java server only lets Java players in, and a Bedrock server only lets Bedrock players in.
So the question is not which edition is better. It is which edition your players have. Answer that first and the server choice follows.
Which device runs which edition
| Device | Edition |
|---|---|
| Windows, Mac or Linux with the Minecraft Launcher | Java |
| Windows, Minecraft from the Microsoft Store or Xbox app | Bedrock |
| iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets | Bedrock |
| Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch | Bedrock |
Most people on Windows own both editions today: buying Minecraft for PC gives you Java and Bedrock together. Ask your friends which one they actually open.
What a Java server can do
Java Edition is where the server world grew up, and it shows.
- Plugins on Paper, Purpur or Spigot: land claims, economies, minigames, permissions, anti cheat. Thousands of them.
- Mods and modpacks on Fabric, Forge or NeoForge, from small performance mods to packs with hundreds of mods.
- Older versions: you can run 1.8.9 for classic PvP or 1.12.2 for an old modpack, next to the newest release.
- Networks of several servers behind one address, such as a lobby with a survival world behind it.
The catch: only computers can join. Phones and consoles are left out unless you add crossplay.
What a Bedrock server can do
A Bedrock server runs the official server software from Mojang. It is lighter than Java and it lets in the devices Java cannot.
- Phones, tablets, Windows Bedrock and consoles can all play together.
- Add-ons and behaviour changes are possible, but there is no plugin world like on Java and no Forge or Fabric.
- The server always follows the current Bedrock version, because the game on phones and consoles updates on its own.
Xbox, PlayStation and Switch have no button to add your own server. Console players need a workaround, such as changing the DNS on the console so the featured server list opens a menu where any address can be typed. Phones, tablets and Windows can add a server directly.
Crossplay: one world for both
If your group is mixed, a crossplay server is the answer. It is a Java server with two plugins, Geyser and Floodgate. Geyser translates between the editions, and Floodgate lets Bedrock players in without a Java account.
What you keep: Java plugins work, the world is a normal Java world. What you give up: mods, because Fabric and Forge cannot be translated for Bedrock players, and a few Java only features such as some redstone quirks.
Java and Bedrock crossplay goes through the setup and the mistakes that break it.
Quick decision
| Your group | Pick |
|---|---|
| Only PC players, and you want mods | Java with Fabric, Forge or NeoForge |
| Only PC players, plugins are enough | Java with Paper |
| Only phones, tablets or consoles | Bedrock |
| A mix of PC and phone or console | Crossplay |
You can change your mind later, within limits. A Java world can move between Paper and Purpur freely. Going from Java to Bedrock means a new world, because the two save their worlds differently.
Questions
Can Bedrock players join a Java server?
Not on their own. With Geyser and Floodgate installed, which is what a crossplay server is, they can join the Java server from their phone, tablet, console or Windows.
Can I use mods on a crossplay server?
No. Crossplay runs on Paper, which uses plugins. Mods need Fabric, Forge or NeoForge, and Bedrock players cannot load them, so the two do not combine.
Is Bedrock or Java lighter on a server?
Bedrock. The official Bedrock server uses less memory and processor for the same number of players. Java makes up for it with plugins and mods.
Can I turn my Bedrock world into a Java world?
Not directly; the two editions store worlds in different formats. Converter tools exist, but expect to check builds afterwards. For a new group it is easier to choose once.
Checked against Minecraft Java 26.2 and current Bedrock, September 2026. Written by the Cheapest Minecraft Hosting team, updated .