Free Pumpkin MC hosting
Pumpkin is a Minecraft server written in Rust. Java and Bedrock players play together with no add-ons, it restarts in milliseconds, and it never hibernates. TickHosting is the first host to offer it — free while the beta is open.
Free during the beta · no credit card · Java & Bedrock crossplay built in
This is early software. Player connections, world loading, chat, permissions and proxies work today. World generation, redstone, mob AI and combat are still being built. Perfect right now for lobbies, hubs, creative and testing — not yet for long-term survival.
A different kind of free server
Free Minecraft servers are usually heavy, slow to boot and hibernate the moment you log off. A Rust server changes the maths.
Java + Bedrock in one
Crossplay is built into Pumpkin. Bedrock and Java players share one server — no Geyser add-on to install or configure.
Restarts in milliseconds
Pumpkin comes back in a blink, not the 20–60 seconds a Java server needs. A renewal, a restart or a crash recovery is barely noticeable.
No hibernation
Free Pumpkin servers don't sleep when nobody's online — they keep running between renewals, so your friends can hop on whenever.
The first host to offer it
Pumpkin is brand new. TickHosting is the first provider with managed Pumpkin servers — one click instead of running the binary yourself.
Pumpkin vs the Java server
Figures published by the Pumpkin project. Real-world usage depends on your world and plugins.
| Metric | Vanilla | Paper | Pumpkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup time | ~7 s | ~5 s | ~5 ms |
| Idle memory | ~1.8 GB | ~1 GB | ~100 MB |
| Idle CPU | noticeable | noticeable | ~0.1% |
| Written in | Java | Java | Rust |
| Multi-threaded | Partly | Partly | Yes, all cores |
| Java runtime needed | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bedrock crossplay | No | Add-on | Built in |
Source: pumpkinmc.org — "1000× faster startup, 18× less memory."
What is Pumpkin MC?
A ground-up rewrite in Rust
Pumpkin is not a fork of the Java server or of Paper. It re-implements the Minecraft protocol from scratch in Rust, so it gets Rust's memory safety and multi-core performance.
Open source, GPLv3
Developed in the open on GitHub by the Pumpkin-MC community. You can read every line, file issues, and build it yourself.
Vanilla mechanics
The goal is a faithful vanilla experience — same blocks, same rules — just delivered by a much lighter engine.
Plugins in Lua
Pumpkin has its own plugin API with Lua scripting, plus a Bukkit/Paper compatibility layer. Both are still maturing during the beta.
Single binary
"Download, double-click, done." One executable, no Java install, no launcher — which is exactly why it is cheap to host at scale.
Proxy friendly
Velocity, BungeeCord and BungeeGuard are supported, so a Pumpkin server can sit behind your existing network.
What you get
One click from your dashboard. Live in seconds.
Generous RAM
Pumpkin needs a fraction of what Java does, so the free tier goes a long way. Exact limits are shown when you claim your slot.
NVMe SSD storage
Fast NVMe disk for your worlds and configs, with a free subdomain so your friends have an address to join.
DDoS protection
Every Pumpkin server sits behind the same network-edge filtering as our paid plans. No add-on, no fee.
Full panel
Live console, file manager, SFTP, config editor and scheduled restarts — the same panel our premium customers use.
Three steps to a free Pumpkin server
Create a free account
Sign up for TickHosting — it's free and takes a minute. No card, no commitment.
Join the Pumpkin beta
Open the Pumpkin beta from your dashboard. Slots roll out gradually; we'll let you know the moment yours is ready.
Deploy & play
Your Pumpkin server spins up in seconds. Share the address, and both Java and Bedrock friends can join.
Free Pumpkin MC hosting — your questions
Is Pumpkin MC hosting really free?
Yes. Free Pumpkin MC hosting is completely free during the beta — no credit card, no trial clock. Like our other free plans it renews periodically, but there's nothing to pay.
Who offers Pumpkin MC hosting?
TickHosting is the first hosting provider to offer managed Pumpkin MC servers. Pumpkin is a very new, independent open-source project — our beta is the first place you can spin one up in a click instead of running the binary yourself.
What is Pumpkin MC?
Pumpkin is a Minecraft server built entirely in Rust (pumpkinmc.org). It's open source under GPLv3, multi-threaded, starts in milliseconds instead of seconds, and has built-in Java and Bedrock crossplay with no extra proxy. It follows vanilla game mechanics.
Do free Pumpkin servers hibernate?
No. Free Pumpkin servers don't hibernate when they're empty — they keep running between renewals, so friends can join any time. Free servers still renew periodically like our other free plans (roughly every 4 to 12 hours depending on size), but because Pumpkin restarts in milliseconds a renewal or restart is barely noticeable.
Can I use plugins and mods with Pumpkin?
Pumpkin has its own plugin API (Lua) and a Bukkit/Paper compatibility layer, both still in development. Vanilla datapacks and resource packs work. Java mod loaders such as Forge and Fabric are not supported — Pumpkin isn't the Java server, it's a new implementation.
Which Minecraft version does Pumpkin support?
Pumpkin targets the latest Java Edition release and keeps up with new versions. Bedrock Edition support is a work in progress, so Bedrock crossplay improves version by version.
Is Pumpkin stable enough for a public server?
It's early beta software. Player connections, world loading and saving, chat, permissions, movement, inventory and proxy support all work today. World generation, redstone, mob AI, combat, villagers and advancements are still being built. It's a great fit right now for lobbies, hub servers, creative builds and testing — not yet for long-term survival worlds.
How do I get a free Pumpkin MC server?
Create a free TickHosting account and join the Pumpkin beta from your dashboard. Beta slots are rolling out gradually; once yours is ready your Pumpkin server deploys in seconds.
What's the catch — how is this free?
No catch. Pumpkin uses a fraction of the RAM and CPU a Java server needs, so a beta free tier is cheap for us to run. Free servers renew periodically, the same as our other free plans, and our premium Java, Bedrock and Hytale plans cover the rest.
Be first on Pumpkin
Grab a free Pumpkin MC server while the beta is open. Bring a lobby, a build server, or just curiosity.
Pumpkin is an independent open-source project — TickHosting is not affiliated with it. Learn more at pumpkinmc.org and on GitHub.