Is Anvil-MC really free?

Yes. Hosting a server on your own device is free forever, with no time limit — every server type, all game mode templates, mods, plugins and modpacks are included, and every free server gets a public address that stays reachable 24/7, with no queue and no port forwarding. Keeping the free public session running is ad-supported. Premium ($2.99/month or $19.99/year) is entirely optional, and adds a permanent *.anvil-mc.app subdomain that stays up on its own with nothing to renew, the remote web dashboard, DDoS protection, legacy Java versions and no ads.

Can I host a native Bedrock Edition server on Android?

Yes. Pick PowerNukkitX when you create a server and Anvil-MC sets up a native Bedrock server in one tap, exactly like a Java one. Bedrock and MCPE players connect to it directly — no Geyser bridge, no Java account and no port forwarding. Native Bedrock hosting is part of the free tier.

Can Bedrock Edition players join my Java server?

Yes. Enable Bedrock support with one tap and Anvil-MC configures Geyser, Floodgate and ViaVersion for you, so Bedrock Edition players on phone, console or Windows can join your Java server and share one world with Java players. Floodgate means they do not need to own a Java account. If you only want Bedrock players, run a native PowerNukkitX server instead.

Do I need a PC, a VPS or a paid host?

No. Anvil-MC runs the server on the Android phone or tablet you already own. There is no PC, no VPS rental and no monthly hosting bill — you only need a charged device and an internet connection.

How is this different from Aternos or Realms?

Aternos is free but queues you at busy times and puts the server to sleep when nobody is online. Realms is a paid subscription with no mods or plugins. Anvil-MC runs on hardware you control, so there is no queue and no sleep, and you keep full mod, plugin and file access. The trade-off is that your phone has to stay on and charging.

Does this work without port forwarding?

Yes. Anvil-MC uses built-in secure tunneling to route traffic to your device. Your friends can join from anywhere using a unique server address shown in the app, no router configuration required.

What Android version is required?

Anvil-MC requires Android 9.0 (Pie) or later. For best performance and background stability, we recommend Android 11 or higher.

Can my friends join from outside my network?

Absolutely. Our tunneling service lets anyone on the internet connect to your server, just like a rented server — as long as you share the address shown in the app.

No, Anvil-MC works entirely without root access. We use standard Android APIs to manage the Java runtime and all networking.

What Minecraft versions are supported?

Vanilla, Paper, and Spigot support 1.8.x through the latest release. NeoForge and Fabric support the most popular modding versions including 1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.19.x, and 1.20.x.

How much RAM do I need on my phone?

For a basic Vanilla server with 2–3 friends, 2 GB of allocated RAM works well — meaning your phone should have at least 4 GB total. For modpacks or larger player counts, we recommend phones with 6 GB+ so you can allocate 3–4 GB to the server.

Free Minecraft Server Hosting on Android (Java & Bedrock)

Features

Everything a Minecraft server needs, running on your phone.

Anvil-MC brings desktop-grade server hosting to your Android device — powerful, fast, and actually enjoyable to use.

Multiple Server Types

Run Vanilla, SpigotMC, Paper, Fabric and NeoForge from a JAR, or a native Bedrock server with PowerNukkitX — every one of them set up in a single tap. Bedrock players can also share one world with Java players through built-in cross-play.

Full Mod & Plugin Support

Install mods and plugins directly from your device. Download and install datapacks using Modrinth.

Zero Port-Forwarding

Every server gets a free public address through built-in secure tunneling, so friends can join from anywhere — no router settings, no IT headaches.

Live Server Console

Interactive real-time console with live logs, player management, and full command execution.

One-Tap Control

Start, stop, and restart your server with a single tap. Your server stays active in the background.

Advanced Configuration

Fine-tune RAM allocation, JVM arguments, and server properties. Full control, no compromises.

Compatibility

Any server. Java or Bedrock.

Choose your favourite server software and set it up with a single tap. Run a Java server, run a native Bedrock server with PowerNukkitX, or bridge both into one world with built-in Geyser.

PaperHigh performance

SpigotMCPlugin ecosystem

BukkitClassic plugin API

FabricLightweight mods

NeoForgeFull modding

VanillaPure Minecraft

PowerNukkitXNative Bedrock

PumpkinMCModern & fast

Cross-play

Bedrock and Java on one server

Flip one switch and Bedrock Edition players join your Java server, from phone, console or Windows. Anvil-MC configures Geyser and Floodgate for you. Want Bedrock on its own? Create a native Bedrock server with PowerNukkitX in one tap and clients connect straight to it.

One-tap Geyser

Geyser translates the Bedrock protocol to Java in real time. Anvil-MC installs and configures it for you, no YAML to edit.

Floodgate included

Bedrock players join without owning a Java account. Floodgate handles the authentication side automatically.

ViaVersion built in

A wide range of client versions can connect to the same server, so nobody has to downgrade to play together.

Reviews

What players say

Reviews left on Google Play by people running Anvil-MC servers on their own phones.

Works great! I honestly couldn't imagine anything better for a phone. It runs really well on my Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, which I honestly didn't expect.

Galaxy A16 5GJul 2026

this application is very helpful for those who don't have money to buy a Minecraft server

Redmi 9Jun 2026

Turned the complexities of setting up a server using Termux and all that involves, into an user friendly interface, stable and even ad-free.

Galaxy A56 5GJul 2026

it's the best app for those who want to turn there old device into dedicated Minecraft server.

RealmeJul 2026

the best option to host Minecraft server on phone, the server not laggy at all th best part is you can customise the render distance

Realme 5iJul 2026

AMAZING ive really wanted to make an minecraft server due to this app ive had my dream thank you

Galaxy A23Jun 2026

best app I love it I got to play with my friends on an smooth server and we are the owners we built amazing houses and the server starts really fast

Infinix GT 30 ProAug 2026

The absolute app that I've been looking for for years, and it's perfect! No complaints (yet).

OPPO A60Aug 2026

This is the only time I will ever review an app, but this is one of the best ways to repurpose old tech or even utilize phones for other purposes.

Google PlayJun 2026

this is very best app for minecraft players who play with friends no issues. Anvil mc is the best

RealmeJul 2026

I love this hosting server app, it's easy to use and u can import an world to your server easily without any complicated set ups!

Google PlayAug 2026

This app was amazing like it had zero lag and no queue this app is fire and I recommend everyone to try this!!!

RealmeAug 2026

Read all reviews on Google Play

Pricing

Free forever. Premium when you need it.

Hosting on your own device is free with no time limit. Premium only adds the extras.

Free

$0/forever

no account required

Great for getting started and playing with a couple friends.

Unlimited 24/7 hosting on your device — included in Free
All available server setup options — included in Free
Mods, plugins and Modrinth modpacks — included in Free
Native Bedrock servers (PowerNukkitX) — included in Free
Java & Bedrock cross-play — included in Free
Public address, no port forwarding — included in Free
Public address that never needs renewing — Premium only, not in the free tier
Custom *.anvil-mc.app subdomain — Premium only, not in the free tier
Access to remote web dashboard — Premium only, not in the free tier
Advanced DDoS protection — Premium only, not in the free tier
Access to legacy Java versions — Premium only, not in the free tier
Premium themes — Premium only, not in the free tier
No ads, ever — Premium only, not in the free tier

Download free

No account, no card, no trial. Your public address stays reachable around the clock, extended free by watching a short ad.

Changelog

Anvil-MC ships regular updates with new features and fixes.

v1.8.8Latest

Sep 3, 2026

–Fixed a bug where servers were incorrectly asked for the ViaFabric mod as a requirement.
–Shutting a server down now reports its progress in a notification, so you can see when it has finished instead of guessing.
–Updated the start-up arguments used by performance mode servers.

v1.8.6

Aug 20, 2026

–New in-app tour: after signing up you can follow a guided walkthrough that covers setting up your first server, using the console, managing world files and adding datapacks or plugins. Start it any time from the profile page.
–Mod and plugin dependency check: adding a mod or plugin that needs dependencies now shows exactly which ones are required, with a single button to download them all at once.
–Installed mods and plugins now display their Modrinth icons.
–Safer server deletion: the delete button has a short countdown before it can be pressed, so a server is never deleted by a mistap.
–Various bug fixes.

v1.8.3

Aug 13, 2026

–Added a background Java startup cache post-install—skips repetitive initial tasks to shave 5–10 seconds off every boot.
–Startup memory crashes now pinpoint the exact limit exceeded and how to fix it, replacing generic 'out of memory' errors.
–Critical low-memory safeguard: automatically flushes world data to disk before the system can kill the process.
–Optimized CPU scheduling for heterogenous (big.LITTLE) mobile processors, preventing heavy server threads from stalling on efficiency cores.
–Thermal throttling warnings now log directly to the console so sudden performance drops are immediately explained.
–Servers on Minecraft 1.21.6+ now greet first-time players with a clean in-game dialog instead of wall-of-text chat messages.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about free Minecraft server hosting on Android, for Java and Bedrock.

Free Minecraft serverhosting on yourAndroid device