Server app

The Minecraft server app for Android

Most apps in this category are remote controls for someone else's server, or a stripped-down server that cannot load a plugin. A real Minecraft server app has to run genuine server software on the device, serve both editions, hand you a public address, and survive the screen turning off. Here is that checklist, and how Anvil-MC answers each part of it.

Free forever · No root required · Android 9+

The five things a server app has to do

RequirementWhy it mattersAnvil-MC
Runs real server softwarePlugins, mods and modpacks only exist because the server is a genuine .jarYesPaper, Spigot, Bukkit, Fabric, NeoForge, Vanilla
Serves both editionsBedrock and MCPE players cannot join a Java server unaidedYesNative PowerNukkitX, or Geyser cross-play
A public address with no port forwardingRouter configuration is where most home servers dieYesAutomatic tunneling on every server
Keeps running in the backgroundA server that dies when you switch apps is not a serverYesAndroid background service
Still being maintainedMinecraft ships breaking changes; an abandoned app stops workingYesv1.8.8, 3 Sep 2026, dated changelog

The last row is the one people skip. Before you build a world on any hosting app, open its store listing and check that it shows an update within the last few months.

Real server software, not a lookalike

Anvil-MC runs standard server binaries on the device. That is what makes the rest possible: thousands of existing Paper and Spigot plugins, Fabric and NeoForge mods, complete Modrinth modpacks installed in one tap with dependencies resolved, custom worlds imported from a .zip, and full vanilla mechanics when you want them plain.

Because Google Play restricts bundled executables, Java .jar files are downloaded from each software provider's site and uploaded through the in-app file browser. Modrinth modpacks and game mode templates are handled automatically.

Both editions, from one app

A Bedrock player cannot connect to a Java server on their own, so an app that only runs Java software leaves half of a typical friend group out. Anvil-MC covers both:

  • Native Bedrock. Pick PowerNukkitX at server creation and Bedrock or MCPE clients connect straight to it — no bridge, no Java account.
  • Cross-play. On a Java server, one switch installs and configures Geyser, Floodgate and ViaVersion so both editions share a single world.

Both are one tap and both are free. The full comparison is on the Bedrock hosting page.

Managing it from the app

  • Live console. Real-time logs and command execution, plus RCON for administering the server from another device.
  • File browser. Upload plugins and mods, edit .yml, .json and .properties with syntax highlighting, import worlds and unzip in place.
  • Player management. Whitelist, operator, kick and ban controls from the dashboard.
  • AI crash analyzer. Crash reports are parsed and a likely fix is suggested; solutions the community has already hit are free to view.
  • Remote web dashboard. Manage the server from a browser on any device — a Premium feature.

What it costs

The app is free, and hosting on your own device is free forever — no account, no card and no trial. Every server type, game mode template, mod, plugin and modpack is on the free tier, and so is the public address, which stays reachable around the clock with no time limit and no queue. Keeping a free public session running is ad-supported.

Premium ($2.99/month or $19.99/year) adds a permanent *.anvil-mc.app subdomain that stays up on its own with nothing to renew, the remote web dashboard, advanced DDoS protection, legacy Java versions, premium themes and no ads.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Minecraft server app for Android?

Yes. Anvil-MC runs a real Minecraft server on the Android device itself — Paper, Spigot, Bukkit, Fabric, NeoForge and Vanilla from a .jar, or PowerNukkitX for a native Bedrock server. It is free, published on Google Play as version 1.8.8 (3 September 2026), and requires Android 9 or newer with no root.

What is the difference between a server app and a server manager app?

A manager app is a remote control: the server runs somewhere else and the app sends it commands. A server app runs the server process on your device. Anvil-MC is the second kind, which is why mods, plugins, file editing and offline LAN play all work.

Does the app support both Java and Bedrock?

Yes. Native Bedrock servers run on PowerNukkitX, with Bedrock and MCPE clients connecting directly. Java servers run Paper, Spigot, Fabric, NeoForge or Vanilla, and can bridge Bedrock players in with Geyser and Floodgate so both editions share one world.

Is the Minecraft server app free?

Yes. The app and hosting on your own device are free forever, with every server type, mod, plugin and modpack included and a public address that stays reachable with no time limit. Premium is optional and adds a permanent custom subdomain, the remote web dashboard, DDoS protection, legacy Java versions and no ads.

Does it need root?

No. Anvil-MC uses standard Android APIs to manage the Java runtime and networking. Android 9 or newer, no root and no developer options required.

Can I install plugins and mods through the app?

Yes. The in-app file browser uploads plugin and mod .jar files directly into the server folder, and complete Modrinth modpacks install in one tap with every dependency resolved for you.

Ready to start hosting?

Download Anvil-MC and launch your first free server in under a minute. No PC, no VPS, no port forwarding.

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Cover image: Minecraft screenshot by Minecraft Wallpaper (CC BY 2.0)