13 Open-source Free Minecraft Servers And Server Manager Solutions

Minecraft is a well-known sandbox game that allows players to create and build their own worlds. It's referred to as "sandbox" because it creates a creative landscape for players without a set of goals or missions.

The player can create or explore and interact with the endless environment.

Minecraft relies on servers that are a company or player-owned server. The Minecraft server lets players connect with each others, play online or via a local area network.

Minecraft servers are available in a variety of forms, functions, licenses, and prices.

Public Minecraft servers are frequently shared on Minecraft official forums.

In this article, we have compiled the best open-source, free Minecraft server and server management software for anyone who would like to own his own server.

Open-source, free Minecraft server and server panels

Glowstone; Glowstone is a free, open-source, cross-platform lightweight Minecraft server written in Java programming language.

Glowstone supports all plugins that are written for the Bukkit Paper, Spigot and Bukkit APIs natively. Minestom; Minestom is a Minecraft server implementation that is totally free and open-source. Minestom is a developer-friendly program that is backed by a wealth of documentation and code fragments. It supports blocks, entities, inventory, instances, and commands.

Minestom's modular structure lets developers to design their own extensions.

Minestom uses Apache License V2.0 (Open-source license).


Cuberite; Cuberite, a simple, yet powerful, expandable Minecraft server is Cuberite. Contrary to many other projects on this list, it supports Windows, Linux, macOS as well as Android systems.

Cuberite offers a variety of demo servers that can be used for free, in addition to a well-documented get started guide.

PufferPanel: PufferPanel does not serve as an actual Minecraft server, but is a game sever management panel that supports full-time Minecraft and Spigot, Sponge and Forge.

PufferPanel was released under the Apache License 2.0

Fork Similar to PufferPanel Fork is a Minecraft server Manager GUI-based graphical user interface. It has a simple user interface that doesn't require any special learning plugins, multiserver/instance compatibility and multiplatform support.


Crafty Controller; Another Minecraft server control platform for gamers. Minecraft-servers.Biz can be used on Windows and macOS as well as Linux.

Paper MC Paper is a completely free Minecraft server software that is compatible with Spigot plugins. It comes with expanded API and community support and delivers seamless performance.

Bukkit; Bukkit allows developers to expand Minecraft multiplayer servers by using open-source software.

Bukkit comes with a large collection of third-party projects that include plugins, modules, and code snippets.

Pterodactyl Panel. Pterodactyl Panel allows you to manage your gaming server free of charge.

It is built using the latest trending web technologies as React, Go and PHP. Pterodactyl Panel, a user-friendly system, has Docker support and scalable architecture.

Gamocosm Gamocosm allows gamers to run their cloud Minecraft servers on hosting providers such as DigitalOcean.

MultiMC; MultiMC does not refer to a server, or a management panel. However it is worthy of mention because it gives gamers the possibility of running multiple instances of Minecraft. Each instance comes with its own mods and packs.

MultiMC is available on Windows, macOS and Linux (Debian Arch, Ubuntu, Linux Mint).

MSM; MSM is a free, open-source , popular Minecraft Server Manager for admins as well as DevOps and gamers. It allows users to create WorldEdit compatible snaps without having to think about it.

Schlagwetter; Schlagwetter is an open-source project that aims to create a server for Minecraft. It isn't updated as often as its rivals.


Wrapping up.

As our list comes to an end, we have listed the top open-source and cost-free Minecraft server and management panel projects. Let us know have any other ideas that fit our criteria.