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EnglishIs Fork Minecraft Server Manager Free and Open Source?
Updated
Yes. Fork (fork.gg) is a free, open-source Minecraft server manager for Windows. You don't need a credit card to download or use it, and the source code is publicly available so anyone can inspect or contribute to it. The main condition to be aware of is platform: Fork currently runs only on Windows, with Mac and Linux support described as still in progress.
What "free" means here
According to the site, there is no payment step to use Fork — the FAQ section states plainly that you don't need to "whip up your credit card." The project instead asks for voluntary support:
- Donations — a Ko-fi link is provided for users who want to help cover the project's costs.
- Code contributions — because the source is open, you can add features yourself if something is missing.
Note that the site does not publish a pricing page or list any paid tier, so there is no evidence of a premium version. It also doesn't state any licensing terms beyond "open source," so if license specifics matter to you, check the source repository before relying on it.
What open source gets you
Open source here means the source code for the project is publicly available. Practically, that gives you two things:
- A path to missing features. If Fork lacks something you need, you can write the code and submit it rather than waiting on the maintainer.
- Transparency. You can see how the tool handles your server files and configuration instead of taking it on faith.
It does not automatically mean the project is actively developed at full speed — see the status note below.
What Fork actually does
Fork is a GUI for managing Minecraft servers, aimed at making hosting "easy, clean and fast." Its documented features include:
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Terminal Page | Manage players, view server status, and run commands in the Minecraft console |
| Custom Settings Pages | Edit server settings through validated forms that write to the correct config files |
| Built-in Editor | Edit configuration files that don't yet have a custom page, without an external text editor |
| Create Page | Create servers or whole proxy networks in a few clicks |
| Import Page | Point Fork at an existing server on your system and it integrates it |
| Multiple Servers | Run several servers at once and combine them into one network via Waterfall |
| Plugin support | Full Paper support plus a plugin manager |
| Auto-restart & hardware stats | Automatic server restarts and stats such as CPU usage |
The site also notes Fork stays current with the newest Minecraft and Paper releases.
System requirements
Fork is Windows-only for now. The listed requirements are:
- Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 version 1607 or later (64-bit)
- Windows Server 2016 or later (64-bit)
- Windows Server Nano version 1809 or later (64-bit)
If you're on Mac or Linux, the site says solutions are being worked on but does not give a timeline.
Before you commit: the rework caveat
The FAQ states that Fork is undergoing a major rework — many features will be added and the core will be changed. Until that's done, the project is expected to receive only small bugfix updates. So if you need a stable, actively evolving tool right now, factor that in; if you just want a free Windows GUI and are comfortable with a project in transition, the cost of trying it is zero.
Getting help
Support is handled through the project's Discord server, which the site presents as the place to go if your server won't run.