Best Minecraft Bedrock Server Software (2026 Comparison)

For most people the best Minecraft Bedrock server software is Mojang's own Bedrock Dedicated Server. It is free, plays like the real game and loads add-ons. PocketMine-MP and Nukkit add plugins, but PocketMine-MP's owners archived it in July 2026. Check that any community server supports the newest Bedrock version first.

The options at a glance

Status below is as of November 2026, taken from each project's own pages and from the Bedrock Wiki's server software list.

Software	Made by	Customising	Status	Best for
Bedrock Dedicated Server	Mojang	Add-ons and the Scripting API	Official and updated with the game	Vanilla survival and add-on worlds
PocketMine-MP	PMMP team, written in PHP	Plugins	Repository archived on July 9, 2026	Existing communities with their own plugins
Nukkit	CloudburstMC, written in Java	Plugins	Public repository; listed as discontinued by the Bedrock Wiki	Existing Nukkit plugin setups
PowerNukkitX	Community, written in Java	Plugins	Listed as active by the Bedrock Wiki	Custom game modes on a Java base
Endstone, LeviLamina	Community, run on top of the official server	Plugins and mods	Listed as active; not supported by Mojang	Vanilla feel plus plugins

Bedrock Dedicated Server: the default choice

The Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) is Mojang's own software. You can download it free for Windows and Ubuntu. Worldgen, redstone and mobs match the game, so it is the closest thing to playing the real thing on a server.

Strengths: official, free, follows the game's updates and loads behavior and resource packs. Its Scripting API (@minecraft/server) lets add-ons run scripts.
Limits: the Minecraft Wiki says it has poor support for community mods and plugins, unlike Java Edition. It runs one world at a time, named by level-name.
Pick it when you want survival with friends, a family world or a school server. How to make a Minecraft Bedrock server takes you through it, and how to install add-ons covers customising.

PocketMine-MP: plugins, but archived

PocketMine-MP is a Bedrock server written in PHP, with a long-running plugin ecosystem. It is not a copy of vanilla gameplay, so it suits hubs and minigames better than plain survival. It also has a status problem. Its GitHub repository shows it was archived by the owner on July 9, 2026, and pmmp.io says that no further updates will be provided by the PMMP team. The README adds that nobody on the team is left to update it for new Minecraft versions.

That matters because Bedrock changes often. If you run PocketMine-MP, you depend on a project that no longer follows new versions. Choose it for a new server only after checking whether a maintained fork supports the Bedrock version your players use.

Nukkit and PowerNukkitX: plugins on a Java base

Nukkit and PowerNukkitX are Bedrock servers written in Java, built around plugins. CloudburstMC's Nukkit README says the project is "under improvement yet" and welcomes contributions. The Bedrock Wiki lists the original Nukkit as discontinued and PowerNukkitX as active, using the rule that software moves to the discontinued list once its repository is archived or has had no commits or releases for 6 months.

Both have fewer plugins than PocketMine-MP and implement vanilla mechanics only in part. Their project pages do not mention the NetherNet connection type, so confirm support with the maintainers before you rely on them for players on the newest game version.

Plugin loaders for the official server

Endstone and LeviLamina take a different route. They load plugins or mods on top of the official Bedrock Dedicated Server instead of replacing it. The Minecraft Wiki calls LeviLamina an unofficial mod loader and Endstone a plugin loader written for Python and C++, and says neither is supported by Mojang or the wiki. Older tools such as LiteLoaderBDS and BDSX are defunct as of 2024.

Why version support matters in 2026

Bedrock moved its network layer from RakNet to NetherNet. NetherNet became the default for the official server in 26.50, and RakNet was deprecated in 26.60. A client on 26.60 or newer cannot join a server that only speaks RakNet. So before you choose any community server, check three things:

Which Bedrock version it supports today.
Whether it supports NetherNet.
When its last release was published.

How to choose

You want a normal Bedrock world: the Bedrock Dedicated Server.
You want add-ons and scripts without leaving the official server: the Bedrock Dedicated Server again.
You need plugins from a specific ecosystem: check PowerNukkitX, a maintained PocketMine-MP fork or Endstone, in that order of current activity.
You want mods and plugins on a huge scale: consider Java and read Bedrock vs Java server.

Run any of them on TheGameHosting

You do not have to commit up front. The Game Changer in our panel lists Minecraft Bedrock Vanilla, PocketMine-MP and Nukkit, each with a 1 GB RAM minimum, and a plan from the plans page runs any of them.

Choose a plan on Minecraft Bedrock server hosting.
Open Game Changer in the panel and pick the software. Back up first, because switching replaces the server files.
Upload worlds and packs in Files, and use the two free databases if a PocketMine-MP or Nukkit plugin stores data in MySQL.
If your first pick does not fit, switch to another one from the same screen.

We suggest the official Bedrock Vanilla server for new servers, and checking the status of PocketMine-MP and Nukkit before you build on them. Want to compare editions first? Read can Java and Bedrock play together.

FAQ

What is the best software for a Minecraft Bedrock server?

For most servers it is the official Bedrock Dedicated Server. It is free, it follows the game's updates, and it loads add-ons. Choose a community server only when you need plugins that the official server cannot run.

Is PocketMine-MP still maintained?

No. Its repository was archived by the owner on July 9, 2026, and the PMMP team says no further updates will be provided. Check for a maintained fork before you start a new server on it.

Can I use plugins on the official Bedrock server?

Not in the Java sense. The Minecraft Wiki says the official server has poor support for community mods and plugins and offers the Scripting API as the alternative. Endstone and LeviLamina load plugins on top of it, but Mojang does not support them.

Is the Bedrock Dedicated Server free?

Yes. Mojang offers it as a free download for Windows and Ubuntu. On a hosting plan it is included in the Game Changer as Minecraft Bedrock Vanilla.

Does my Bedrock server software need NetherNet?

Yes, for current clients. NetherNet became the default in Bedrock 26.50 and RakNet was deprecated in 26.60. The official server uses NetherNet by default. For a community server, check that it supports it.

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