Deploy and Host a Self-Hosted Minecraft Server with One Click on Railway

Minecraft is one of the most popular sandbox games ever created, allowing players to build, explore, and survive in a world limited only by their imagination. Hosting your own Minecraft server lets you take full control over the gameplay experience, including mods, plugins, worlds, and community management. By self-hosting a Minecraft server on Railway, you can enjoy powerful hosting, easy scalability, and a simplified setup process - all without the hassle of managing infrastructure manually.

Why Deploy a Managed Minecraft Server on Railway

Deploying a managed Minecraft server on Railway offers instant setup, automatic scaling, and zero manual maintenance. With Railway, you can deploy your Minecraft server using a pre-configured template and start playing within minutes. You’ll also enjoy built-in performance monitoring, automatic backups, and integration with databases for plugins.

Railway vs DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean requires you to manually install Java, configure ports, set up the Minecraft JAR, and manage server updates. On the other hand, Railway automates all these steps. With one click, you can deploy your Minecraft server, access your dashboard, and start playing instantly.

Railway vs Linode

While Linode offers raw VPS power, you must handle OS updates, networking, and storage yourself. Railway abstracts all of that complexity. It automatically manages containers, updates, and scaling, ensuring your Minecraft server remains fast and reliable with no sysadmin work required.

Railway vs Vultr

Vultr users often need to configure server environments manually, including ports, firewalls, and Java dependencies. Railway automates these configurations. Deploying Minecraft on Railway takes seconds, while Vultr demands advanced technical know-how and time-consuming maintenance.

Railway vs AWS Lightsail

AWS Lightsail provides flexibility but is complex to set up and maintain for gaming servers. Railway simplifies everything, from installation to scaling. You can deploy your Minecraft world in just a few clicks without dealing with AWS networking or instance management.

Railway vs Hetzner

Hetzner’s low pricing is appealing, but it expects you to manage everything manually - from software installation to backup routines. Railway automates these tasks, giving you a ready-to-play Minecraft server that you can scale effortlessly without worrying about technical overhead.

Common Use Cases

Here are 5 common use cases for hosting a Minecraft server:

1. Private Multiplayer World: Create your own world to play privately with friends or family.
2. Community Server: Host a large public Minecraft server with plugins, rules, and ranks.
3. Modded Survival Server: Run complex modpacks like RLCraft, SkyFactory, or All The Mods with full control.
4. Creative Building Hub: Showcase architectural builds or create competitions for your community.
5. Educational or Event-Based Servers: Perfect for schools or online communities that use Minecraft for events, classes, or virtual exhibitions.

Dependencies for Hosting Minecraft Server on Railway

To host a Minecraft server, you’ll need a few basic components:

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) - Minecraft runs on Java.
• Minecraft Server JAR - The official or modded Minecraft server executable
• Port Configuration - Typically port 25565 for player connections.
• Persistent Storage - To save your world data and player progress.

Deployment Dependencies for Managed Minecraft Service

Railway manages these dependencies automatically. It provisions a Java environment, allocates persistent storage, and exposes your server port for easy connection. The setup is done in the cloud, meaning you can access your Minecraft server anytime, from anywhere.

Implementation Details for Minecraft Server

When deploying, you can specify environment variables like:

• MINECRAFT_VERSION – Version of Minecraft to install (e.g., 1.21.1)
• MAX_PLAYERS – Set the player limit.
• SERVER_NAME – Custom name for your Minecraft world.
• ENABLE_WHITELIST – Restrict access to selected players.
• EULA – Set to true to agree to Minecraft’s EULA. Railway automatically sets up networking, resource allocation, and scaling, ensuring your Minecraft world runs smoothly.

How Minecraft Hosting on Railway Compares to Other Hosting Platforms

Minecraft Server on Railway vs Aternos

Aternos is free but limited by performance and player slots. Railway gives you dedicated resources, ensuring lag-free gameplay and persistent uptime.

Minecraft Server on Railway vs Apex Hosting

Apex Hosting offers premium paid services with full control, but costs significantly more. Railway provides a similar managed experience at a lower cost, ideal for indie or community servers.

Minecraft Server on Railway vs Shockbyte

Shockbyte has great uptime but requires manual setup for advanced configurations. Railway automates setup and scaling, making it beginner-friendly yet powerful.

Minecraft Server on Railway vs Bisect Hosting

Bisect Hosting offers strong support and customization, but requires subscription plans. Railway is more cost-effective with simple pay-as-you-go pricing.

Minecraft Server on Railway vs PebbleHost

PebbleHost is affordable but lacks the automation Railway provides. Railway handles setup, scaling, and backups, letting you focus purely on gameplay.

How to Use Minecraft Server (After Deployment)

Once deployed, you can access your Minecraft server via the Railway dashboard. Connect using your public Railway URL or IP in your Minecraft client: Server Address: your-railway-server-url.railway.app Then, customize your world by editing the server.properties file in your Railway workspace. You can change difficulty, world seed, max players, and enable or disable cheats. Install plugins and mods through the plugins or mods folder if using Bukkit, Spigot, or Forge builds.

How to Self Host Minecraft on Other VPS

1. Download the Minecraft Server JAR

Go to the official Minecraft website and download the server JAR file.

2. Install Dependencies

Make sure your VPS has Java installed. For most servers: sudo apt update && sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre -y ### 3. Start the Server Run: java -Xmx2G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui

4. Configure the EULA

After first launch, edit eula.txt and set: eula=true ### 5. Access the Server Open port 25565 in your firewall, then connect using your server’s public IP in Minecraft. With Railway, you can skip all these steps and get your Minecraft server live instantly - one click, no setup needed. Deploy Now on Railway

Features of a Minecraft Server on Railway

• One-click deployment with automatic configuration.
• Persistent world storage and backups.
• Support for mods and plugins (Spigot, Paper, Forge, Fabric).
• Easy environment variable management (for version, EULA, etc.).

Official Pricing of Minecraft Hosting

Hosting a Minecraft server on Railway is cost-effective and flexible. Railway uses usage-based pricing:

• Free Tier: Perfect for small private servers or testing.
• Paid Plans: Start at $5–$10/month, depending on memory, CPU, and storage. Compared to traditional hosts like Apex Hosting ($7.49–$29.99/month) or Shockbyte ($9.99–$25.99/month), Railway remains one of the most affordable and scalable solutions. [Updated October 2025]

Self-Hosted Minecraft Advantages:

• Full control over configurations and data.
• No subscription lock-ins.
• Easy scalability on demand.
• Better privacy and customization.

Monthly Cost of Self Hosting Minecraft on Railway

Typically $5–$10/month for basic worlds and small communities, scaling based on memory and plugin requirements. How Railway Makes It Easier:
Traditionally, managing these resources manually can be a challenge. With Railway, this process becomes effortless. Railway automatically adjusts your server’s resources according to your selected plan, so your performance scales with your player base. You don’t have to manually upgrade or configure anything.

FAQs

What is a Minecraft Server?

A Minecraft server is a multiplayer game environment that allows players to connect, interact, and explore together in a shared Minecraft world.

How do I self-host a Minecraft Server?

You can self-host a Minecraft server by deploying it on Railway or manually setting it up on a VPS with Java, the Minecraft server JAR, and open ports.

What version of Minecraft can I host on Railway?

You can host any version, including Java Edition (1.8 to 1.21+), Spigot, Paper, and Forge modded servers.

Do I need technical knowledge to host on Railway?

No! Railway automates setup, scaling, and maintenance, allowing you to host your Minecraft world without coding or configuration skills.

Can I add plugins or mods?

Yes, you can upload plugins to /plugins or mods to /mods depending on the server version you deploy.

How do backups work on Railway?

Railway automatically maintains persistent storage for your Minecraft world, so even after restarts, your world remains intact.

What’s the cost of hosting on Railway?

Hosting costs as little as $5/month, depending on usage and server size.