Best Infrared Alternatives in 2026
The top Infrared alternatives are Velocity, BungeeCord and Gate: 15 minecraft server proxy software our editors would look at instead of Infrared, in our ranking order.
Infrared: A focused open-source proxy for domain routing, antibot checks, and operational telemetry. Where it falls short: self-hosted deployment puts infrastructure operations on the operator.
Switching from Infrared? For most minecraft server proxy software buyers the best Infrared alternative is Velocity, built for general-purpose Minecraft networks. On a budget, Minekube Connect starts at $10/mo.
Why People Look for an Infrared Alternative
- Self-hosted deployment puts infrastructure operations on the operator
- The documented default status version is Minecraft 1.18
- Platform-specific binaries are distributed instead of a hosted service
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallVelocity9.4
General-purpose Minecraft networks
Visit Velocity - Lowest priceMinekube Connect8.4
Paid plans from $10/mo
Visit Minekube Connect - Best free optionVelocity9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Velocity
All 15 Infrared Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forGeneral-purpose Minecraft networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.6
A free, open-source proxy for routing players across multi-server Minecraft networks.
- Fallback routing
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
9.4/10★★★★★Visit PaperMC -
Best forEstablished multi-server networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.6
A free, open-source choice for routing players across connected Minecraft servers.
- Fallback routing
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
9.2/10★★★★★Visit SpigotMC -
Best forCross-play and cloud-native networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.6
A self-hosted proxy for cross-play networks, flexible routing, and API-driven administration.
- Fallback routing
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Minekube -
Best forFeature-rich self-hosted networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.6
A broad, open-source proxy for administrators running multi-server Minecraft networks.
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Infrarust -
Best forBedrock-focused server networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.6
An open-source Bedrock proxy for routing, failover, translation, and shared player connections.
- Fallback routing
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Endlink -
Best forLegacy-to-modern protocol bridging
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.6
A free, open-source proxy for bridging Minecraft versions across self-hosted networks.
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit ViaProxy -
Best forAdding Bedrock players to Java servers
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.6
A free, open-source bridge for adding Bedrock players to Java servers.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Geyser -
Best forManaged, DDoS-protected networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.6
A managed, DDoS-protected edge for connected Minecraft server networks.
- Network admin tools
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Minekube -
Best forAdvanced routing and failover
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.6
A flexible Rust proxy for routed, monitored Minecraft networks with failover needs.
- Fallback routing
- Network admin tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit YvLink -
Best forWindows-based security-focused networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.6
A focused, free Windows proxy for filtering traffic and managing Minecraft server access.
- Network admin tools
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forOperators needing observability and controls
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.6
A control-focused Velocity proxy with routing, health checks, security controls, and observability.
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Vex -
Best forAnti-bot and protected BungeeCord setups
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.6
A focused paid proxy for BungeeCord networks that need anti-bot and routing controls.
- Fallback routing
- Network admin tools
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit FlameCord -
Best forContainerized hostname routing
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.6
An open-source choice for hostname routing across containerized Minecraft networks.
- Network admin tools
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit mc-router -
Best forBedrock server networks
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.6
A free, open-source Bedrock proxy for routing players across connected servers.
- Fallback routing
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit WaterdogPE -
Best forBroad-version Java proxying
- Better than Infrared:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.6
A broad-version Java proxy with plugins, transfers, health checks, and container deployment.
- Player transfer
- Network admin tools
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Void
Infrared Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Infrared?
Velocity: #1 in our Minecraft Server Proxy Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A free, open-source proxy for routing players across multi-server Minecraft networks.
Is there a free alternative to Infrared?
Yes. Velocity, BungeeCord, Gate, Infrarust and Endlink have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Infrared alternatives?
Self-hosted deployment puts infrastructure operations on the operator; The documented default status version is Minecraft 1.18; Platform-specific binaries are distributed instead of a hosted service.
How do I switch from Infrared?
Back up your world, configs and mods from Infrared's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Infrared after a test session.
How to Switch from Infrared
- Back up your world, configs and mods from Infrared's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Infrared after a test session.
Infrared vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Proxy compatibility | Server version support | Fallback routing | Player transfer | Network admin tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Infrared | Free | HAProxy Proxy Protocol; TCPShield/RealIP Protocol | 1.18 documented default (protocol 757) | Yes | 7.6 | |||
| 1 | Velocity | Yes | Free | Velocity; compatible with Vanilla, Spigot, Paper, SpongeVanilla, Fabric, Forge, and other implementations | Minecraft 1.7.2 through 26.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | BungeeCord | Yes | Free | Spigot, Bukkit, VanillaCord | Minecraft 1.8 through 26.1; current protocol mappings include 1.8, 1.9, 1.13–1.21.9 and 26.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Gate | Free | BungeeCord, Velocity, Geyser, BungeeGuard | Minecraft 1.8 through the latest version supported by the current Gate release | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Infrarust | Yes | Free | Velocity, BungeeCord, BungeeGuard | Forwarding modes: all Minecraft versions 1.7+; intercepted modes: 1.7.2 through 1.21.11 | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Endlink | Free | Endstone/BDS; Java servers via Geyser | Minecraft 1.26.40–1.26.51 clients; documented backends include 1.26.40–1.26.45 and 1.26.50 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | ViaProxy | Yes | Free | ViaProxy standalone; Geyser; ViaVersion; ViaBackwards; ViaRewind; ViaLegacy; ViaBedrock | Release 1.0.0-26.3; Beta b1.0-b1.8.1; Alpha a1.0.15-a1.2.6; Classic c0.0.15-c0.30; April Fools; Combat Test 8c; Bedrock 1.26.45 (WIP) | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Geyser | Yes | Free | BungeeCord, Waterfall, Velocity, Spigot, Paper, Fabric, NeoForge, ViaProxy, standalone | 26.2 Java clients; any modern Minecraft version | 8.5 | |||
| 8 | Minekube Connect | Yes | $10/mo | Gate, Paper, Spigot, Velocity, BungeeCord | NeoForge 1.21.x documented; Minecraft 1.19+ secure-profile configuration note | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 9 | YvLink | Free | Vanilla, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Paper/Velocity backends, Geyser Standalone, GeyserLite, ViaLite | Forge 1.8–1.12.2; Forge 1.13–1.20.1; Forge/NeoForge 1.20.2+; Fabric 1.21.1 | Yes | No | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 10 | MinecraftFirewall | Yes | Free | Paper, Spigot, Vanilla, ViaVersion, ViaBackwards | Minecraft 1.20.2 through the newest release; protocol tables 764–775; older clients can connect through ViaVersion or ViaBackwards | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 11 | Vex | Free | Velocity | 1.20–1.21.11 | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 12 | FlameCord | No | BungeeCord | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |||
| 13 | mc-router | Free | Velocity, BungeeCord | No | Yes | 7.9 | |||
| 14 | WaterdogPE | Yes | Free | PocketMine-MP, Nukkit | Minecraft Bedrock 1.20.80, 1.21, 1.21.2, 1.21.20, 1.21.30, and 1.21.50 are documented in the v2.0.3 release history | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 15 | Void | Free | None (Offline), Modern (Velocity), Online (Private Key); Legacy (Bungee) in development | Java 1.7.2 through 26.1.2; Java 1.0.0–1.7.1, Beta, Alpha, and Classic proxying also listed | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update