Mineshafter

Mineshafter

Mineshafter is a free, open source Minecraft server that provides similar functionality to the official Minecraft server software. It allows hosting Minecraft multiplayer games and mods without needing a paid Minecraft server account.
Mineshafter image
minecraft server multiplayer open-source free

Minecraft Server: Free Open Source

A free, open source alternative to official Minecraft server software, allowing hosting of multiplayer games and mods without a paid account

What is Mineshafter?

Mineshafter is an open source alternative to the official Minecraft server software that allows hosting Minecraft multiplayer games and mods without needing to have a paid Minecraft server account. It achieves this by exploiting a loophole in the Minecraft authentication system.

Some key features of Mineshafter include:

  • Free - No need to purchase a premium Minecraft server account
  • Support for plugins and mods like Bukkit and Spigot
  • Easy installation on Windows, Mac and Linux
  • Ability to host small to medium sizes servers for friends or communities
  • Regular updates and patches

However, using Mineshafter is controversial as it violates Minecraft's EULA. There is also no official support provided. Some mods or plugins may be incompatible due to lack of support for newer Minecraft versions.

Overall, Mineshafter is a good free alternative for small servers, but larger public servers likely need a legit premium Minecraft server account to avoid issues or takedowns.

Mineshafter Features

Features

  1. Allows hosting Minecraft multiplayer servers without a paid Minecraft account
  2. Open source and free to use
  3. Supports Minecraft mods
  4. Provides similar functionality to official Minecraft server software

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free to use

Open source code can be modified

Supports mods

Provides multiplayer server functionality

Cons

Not officially supported or endorsed by Minecraft/Mojang

Potential legal gray area due to bypassing Minecraft account requirement

May not be as robust or fully featured as official Minecraft server


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