Minecraft Java Server Hosting: RAM, Software and Setup
By Alex Rivera · Published July 15, 2026 · Updated July 15, 2026
Minecraft Java server hosting is a rented, always-available server that runs the Java Edition of Minecraft so your friends can join your world anytime, without anyone leaving a home PC running. Instead of one person hosting on their own machine, the world lives in the cloud with its own address, and everyone connects whenever they want.
Quick answer: To host a Java server for a friend group you need a host, a server type (Paper is the safe pick), and enough RAM for your player count: 2 GB covers a few friends on vanilla, 4 GB handles plugins and 5 to 10 players, 8 GB is for mods. On NovaCraftHost that runs $14.99 to $44.99 per month, billed monthly through PayPal, and your server is live in minutes with a friendly address like yourname.play.novacrafthost.com.
Why not just host from your own PC?
You can, and for a one-afternoon session it works. But self-hosting means your PC has to stay on whenever anyone wants to play, your world is only backed up if you remember to copy it, and friends connect through your home IP (usually with port forwarding, which is fiddly and exposes your network).
A hosted server fixes all three. It runs 24/7 on server hardware, backups happen automatically, and your friends get a normal address to type in instead of a string of numbers that changes when your router restarts. If you are comparing options, our guide to the best Minecraft server hosting breaks down what actually matters.
What server software should you pick?
Java servers come in several flavors. The short version: pick Paper unless you specifically want mods.
| Server type | Plugins? | Mods? | Performance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Yes | No | Excellent | Most friend groups. Fast, stable, huge plugin library. |
| Purpur | Yes | No | Excellent | Paper plus extra config options and gameplay toggles. |
| Vanilla | No | No | OK | Purists who want the exact game Mojang ships. |
| Fabric | No | Yes | Very good | Lightweight mods and performance mods like Lithium. |
| Forge | No | Yes | Fair | Big modpacks (Create, RLCraft, most classic packs). |
Paper is a drop-in replacement for vanilla. Your friends do not install anything, the game plays identically, and you get better performance plus plugin support. Purpur builds on Paper if you like tweaking. Fabric and Forge are for mods, which every player must also install on their own computer. If that is your plan, read our guide to modded server hosting first, because mods change the RAM math.
NovaCraftHost supports all five types on every plan, and you pick the type when you create the server.
How much RAM does a Java server need?
RAM is the main thing you are paying for, so size it to how you actually play:
- 2 GB: vanilla or Paper with 3 to 5 friends and a handful of light plugins. This is the NovaCraftHost Starter plan at $14.99/mo.
- 4 GB: 5 to 15 players, a proper plugin setup (claims, homes, economy), and room for people to spread out and generate new chunks. Standard plan, $24.99/mo. The right default for most groups.
- 8 GB: modded servers, large modpacks, or 20+ players. Premium plan, $44.99/mo.
More RAM does not make a small server faster. If four of you play vanilla survival, 2 GB is genuinely enough, and you can upgrade later if the group grows. Exploring quickly in different directions generates chunks and eats memory faster than player count alone, so long-running worlds with lots of terrain benefit from the step up to 4 GB.
How do plugins work?
Plugins are server-side add-ons that run on Paper and Purpur. Only the server installs them, so your friends join with a completely stock game and still get land claims, teleport commands, custom minigames, or an economy.
The usual starter set for a friend group: a claims plugin so nobody's base gets griefed, a homes-and-warps plugin so people can teleport around, and maybe a sit-anywhere or graves plugin for quality of life. On NovaCraftHost you install these from a one-click Modrinth plugin browser in the control panel, no file uploads or FTP.
Mods are different: they run on Fabric or Forge and every player has to install the same mods locally. Plugins are server-only. That is the single most common point of confusion, and it is why Paper plus plugins is the right answer for most groups.
What version should you run?
Run the latest stable release unless something you want has not caught up to it. Paper and Purpur usually support new Minecraft versions within days of release, so for a plugin server there is rarely a reason to stay behind.
Mods lag further. If your group wants a specific modpack, the pack decides your version, and that is normal. Two rules keep you out of trouble:
- Players on an older client cannot join a newer server, so tell your friends which version to select in the launcher.
- You can upgrade a world to a newer version, but you cannot downgrade it. Take a backup before any version change.
One more version note: Java and Bedrock are separate editions and do not connect to the same server by default. If half your group plays on phones, consoles, or the Microsoft Store version, look at Bedrock server hosting instead. NovaCraftHost hosts both editions.
How do you keep your world safe?
A months-old survival world is the thing your group actually cares about, so treat backups as non-negotiable. Every NovaCraftHost plan takes automatic daily backups with one-click restore. If a creeper levels the storage room or someone burns down the base "as a joke," you roll back from the panel and move on.
Beyond backups: keep a whitelist on so only invited players can join, give op only to people you trust, and add a claims plugin so accidents stay contained. If you ever cancel, your world is kept for 14 days, and you can download it anytime from the file manager before that.
What does day-to-day running the server look like?
Less than you would think. You manage everything from a web control panel: live console, file manager, player list, and live metrics, so you can see TPS and memory at a glance instead of guessing why the server feels laggy.
NovaCraftHost also includes AI Commands. Type plain English like "give everyone a diamond sword and make it day" and it produces the real commands, which you review before running. Ops can do the same in game with /ai. It is the fastest way to run the commands you would otherwise be searching the wiki for.
Servers auto-sleep when nobody is online, and waking one from the dashboard takes about a minute. Your world and settings are untouched; the server just is not burning resources while everyone is at school or work.
What does it cost to get started?
For a typical friend group: $14.99/mo for a small vanilla or lightly-plugged server, $24.99/mo for the plugin server most groups end up wanting, $44.99/mo if you are going modded. Billing is monthly through PayPal and you can cancel anytime, so split it with the group and try a month. Compare the NovaCraftHost plans and pick the RAM tier that matches how you play. Setup takes minutes: pick a plan, pick Paper (or your modloader), share your yourname.play.novacrafthost.com address, and play.
Bottom line: Hosting a Java server for your friends comes down to three choices: Paper unless you want mods, 2 GB for a small vanilla group or 4 GB once plugins and more players show up, and a host with automatic backups so the world survives mistakes. Everything else (versions, plugins, invites) you can change later from the panel.
Frequently asked questions
Can my friends join my Java server for free?
Yes. Only the server costs money; joining is free for anyone who owns Minecraft Java Edition. Your friends just add your server address (like yourname.play.novacrafthost.com) in multiplayer and connect. Many groups split the monthly cost, which works out to a few dollars each.
Do my friends need to install anything to join a Paper server?
No. Paper and Purpur are server-side only, so your friends join with the normal, unmodified game and all plugins still work. Only Fabric and Forge servers require every player to install matching mods on their own computer.
Can Bedrock players (console, phone, Windows 10/11) join a Java server?
Not by default. Java and Bedrock are separate editions with separate servers. Some server-side workarounds exist for letting Bedrock players onto Java servers, but the reliable answer for a Bedrock-heavy group is to run a Bedrock server instead, which NovaCraftHost also hosts.
What happens to my world if I cancel my server?
On NovaCraftHost your world is kept for 14 days after you cancel, so you can resubscribe and pick up where you left off or download the world files from the file manager. After 14 days the data is deleted. Daily automatic backups also run the whole time your server is active.
Ready to play?
Your server can be live in minutes. Backups, AI commands and one-click plugins included.
See NovaCraftHost plans