Minecraft Bedrock Server Hosting: The Complete Guide
By Alex Rivera · Published July 15, 2026 · Updated July 15, 2026
Minecraft Bedrock server hosting is a managed hosting service that runs an always-available Bedrock Dedicated Server in the cloud, so friends on phones, tablets, consoles, and Windows 10/11 Edition can join one shared world anytime. Unlike hosting a world from someone's device, a Bedrock server stays online even when the person who created it logs off.
Quick answer: To host a Bedrock server, pick a managed host, choose Bedrock as your server type, and share your server address with friends along with UDP port 19132. On NovaCraftHost, a Bedrock server is live in minutes and costs $14.99/mo for 2 GB of RAM (fine for a small friend group), with automatic daily backups and a web control panel included. Billing is monthly through PayPal and you can cancel anytime.
What is a Bedrock server and why would you want one?
Bedrock is the edition of Minecraft that runs on phones, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and Windows 10/11. A Bedrock server is a dedicated copy of the game world that runs 24/7 in the cloud, and everyone in your group connects to it instead of one person's device.
The alternative is having one friend open their world to others. That works until the host goes to bed, loses Wi-Fi, or gets a phone call. A hosted server means the world is always there, whoever is online.
If your whole group plays on PC with the Java edition instead, you want Java server hosting, which supports plugins and mods. This guide covers Bedrock.
What is the difference between Bedrock and Java servers?
They are two separate games with separate multiplayer ecosystems. A Bedrock server only accepts Bedrock players, and a Java server only accepts Java players. The biggest practical differences are which devices can join and how much you can customize the server.
| Feature | Bedrock server | Java server |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Phones, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Windows 10/11 Edition | PC and Mac (Java Edition only) |
| Port | UDP 19132 | TCP 25565 |
| Plugins | No plugin support on managed hosts | Yes (Paper plugins: economy, land claims, minigames) |
| Mods | Add-ons and behavior packs only | Full mod ecosystem (Forge, Fabric) |
| Console commands from web panel | Limited (no console on NovaCraftHost) | Full console, plus AI Commands on NovaCraftHost |
| Best for | Mixed-device friend groups, console and mobile players | PC groups that want plugins, mods, and deep customization |
To be direct about the tradeoff: on NovaCraftHost, plugins and web-panel console commands (including AI Commands, where you type plain English and get real commands) are Java/Paper features. Bedrock servers do not get them. What Bedrock gets instead is the widest device support in Minecraft.
Can console and phone players join a Bedrock server?
Yes. That is the main reason to run Bedrock. iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and Windows 10/11 Edition can all join the same Bedrock server.
On phones and Windows, joining is simple: go to the Servers or Friends tab, add a server, and enter the address and port. On consoles, Minecraft does not expose an "add external server" field by default, so console players typically use a workaround such as setting the console's DNS to a BedrockConnect-style service, or joining through a friend's session on another device. It takes a few minutes to set up once, then it just works.
How much RAM does a Bedrock server need?
Bedrock Dedicated Server is lighter than Java, so you need less RAM for the same group size. Rough guide:
- 2 GB: 2 to 10 players on a normal survival world. This is the NovaCraftHost Starter plan at $14.99/mo and it covers most friend groups.
- 4 GB: 10 to 25 players, big builds, lots of loaded chunks, heavy redstone. Standard plan, $24.99/mo.
- 8 GB: large communities, huge explored worlds, many players spread across the map. Premium plan, $44.99/mo.
If you are unsure, start on 2 GB. You can watch memory usage in the web panel's metrics and upgrade if you are consistently near the ceiling. For a full breakdown of plan sizing, see the NovaCraftHost plans.
How do you set up a Bedrock server?
On a managed host the whole process takes a few minutes. Here is the flow on NovaCraftHost:
- Pick a plan. Starter (2 GB) works for most groups. Billing is monthly via PayPal, cancel anytime, and your world is kept for 14 days after cancellation.
- Pick BEDROCK as the server type. This matters. Bedrock and Java are separate server software, and your friends on phones and consoles can only join a Bedrock server.
- Wait a minute or two. The server comes online and you get a friendly address like yourname.play.novacrafthost.com instead of a raw IP.
- Share the address and port 19132. Friends add the server in Minecraft with your address and UDP port 19132 (the Bedrock default), then join.
- Manage it from the browser. The web panel gives you a file manager, live metrics, and daily backups with one-click restore. No FTP, no config files.
One thing worth knowing: NovaCraftHost servers auto-sleep when nobody is online and wake from the dashboard in about a minute. That is how the pricing stays fair, and in practice it just means the first person to play each day clicks Wake and waits about sixty seconds.
For the group-organizing side (whitelisting friends, picking game rules, keeping the peace), read make a Minecraft server with friends.
Can Bedrock and Java players play together?
Not on the same server out of the box. On NovaCraftHost you pick one edition per server, and each edition's players join their own kind of server.
Crossplay does exist in the wild: proxies like GeyserMC let Bedrock players join a Java server. But that is a Java server plus plugin setup with its own quirks (Bedrock players see Java mechanics, some items behave differently), and it requires plugin support, which is a Java/Paper feature. If most of your group is on consoles and phones, a plain Bedrock server is the simpler, more reliable choice. If most are on PC and one or two are on mobile, weigh a Java server and accept that the mobile players may be left out unless you run a crossplay proxy elsewhere.
Should you use a free Bedrock host?
Free hosts exist, and for a weekend experiment they are fine. The tradeoffs are real, though: queue times to start your server, aggressive shutdowns, weak hardware that lags with a few players, ads, and no reliable backups. Worlds on free hosts get wiped, and a lost world is usually what ends a friend group's server.
A paid plan buys you consistent performance, automatic daily backups with one-click restore, and a support path when something breaks. For a wider look at how to evaluate hosts on performance, backups, and panel quality, see our guide to the best Minecraft server hosting.
What does Bedrock server hosting cost?
On NovaCraftHost, Bedrock and Java plans cost the same:
- Starter: $14.99/mo, 2 GB RAM
- Standard: $24.99/mo, 4 GB RAM
- Premium: $44.99/mo, 8 GB RAM
Every plan includes daily backups, the web control panel, and a friendly server address. Billing is monthly through PayPal with no contract, and if you cancel, your world files are kept for 14 days so you can come back or download them.
Bottom line: If your friend group plays on a mix of phones, consoles, and Windows, a Bedrock server is the right call, and hosting one is genuinely easy: pick a plan, choose Bedrock, share your address plus port 19132. Start with 2 GB for $14.99/mo and upgrade only if the metrics say you need to. Compare the NovaCraftHost plans and you can be playing together in about five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What port does a Minecraft Bedrock server use?
Bedrock servers use UDP port 19132 by default. When friends add your server in Minecraft, they enter your server address and 19132 as the port. Java servers use a different port (TCP 25565), which is one reason the two editions cannot share a server.
Can Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch players join my Bedrock server?
Yes, all three consoles run Bedrock and can join. Consoles do not have a built-in "add server" field for external servers, so console players use a one-time workaround such as a BedrockConnect-style DNS setting to reach your address. Phones, tablets, and Windows 10/11 Edition can add the server directly.
Is 2 GB of RAM enough for a Bedrock server?
For most friend groups, yes. Bedrock's dedicated server software is lighter than Java, and 2 GB comfortably handles around 2 to 10 players in a normal survival world. If you run big builds or your player count grows past that, check the memory graph in your control panel and move up to 4 GB.
Do Bedrock servers support plugins and mods?
No, plugins are a Java/Paper feature, so a Bedrock server cannot run them, and on NovaCraftHost the web-panel console and AI Commands are also Java-only. Bedrock supports add-ons and behavior packs instead, which cover custom mobs, items, and world tweaks. If plugins matter to your group, choose a Java server.
Ready to play?
Your server can be live in minutes. Backups, AI commands and one-click plugins included.
See NovaCraftHost plans