Java vs Bedrock: which server should you host?

Minecraft is really two games. Java Edition runs on PC only and is where the modding and server community lives. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, consoles and Windows, and is what most younger and console players own. They cannot join each other's servers out of the box.

So the first question for your server is simply: what do your players own?

Java Edition servers

If you want plugins, mods, or the 'classic' server experience, Java is the answer. It's also what QuishHost's full plan range is built around.

• ✦Platform: PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) only
• ✦Ecosystem: virtually all plugins, mods and modpacks are Java
• ✦Server software choice: Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge — see our software guide
• ✦Default port: 25565 (TCP)

Bedrock Edition servers

Bedrock makes sense when your group is mostly on consoles or phones and you want plain survival. Just know the admin tooling and add-on ecosystem is much thinner than Java's.

• ✦Platform: mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Windows
• ✦Ecosystem: far smaller — official Bedrock server software is much more limited
• ✦Default port: 19132 (UDP)

The crossplay option: Geyser

There's a third path that many communities land on: host a Java server and install Geyser, a translation layer that lets Bedrock players join a Java server. Its companion, Floodgate, lets them join without owning a Java account.

It works remarkably well for survival gameplay. Be aware it's a translation between two different games, so edge cases exist — some blocks, menus and movement feel slightly different for Bedrock players, and heavily custom servers may need extra configuration.