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How to Create a Server for Minecraft Multiplayer? 9 Best Minecraft Servers

How to Create a Server for Minecraft Multiplayer? 9 Best Minecraft Servers
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Infrastructure

What's the best way to set up a reliable Minecraft Multiplayer server? In this article we'll be sharing with you 9 of the very best servers for your Minecraft Multiplayer experience. You'll learn about how to set up and host your Minecraft Multiplayer server, together with price comparisons, the pros and cons of each service, and lots of other great advice to help you get started.

Minecraft has been around since 2021 and remains hugely popular due to its extremely entertaining and diverse gameplay. But the real fun starts when you create your own server to play with friends (and even make new ones).

If you're thinking of creating your own Minecraft world, keep reading to find out everything you need to know to do it the right way. 

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What is a Minecraft server?

A server is a combination of hardware and software platforms that allows developers and administrators to run their websites, complex applications, and virtual online worlds.

It's basically a powerful computer launched remotely on one of the hundreds of data centers around the globe. It is online 24/7, and runs a special software that makes it possible for multiple users to access the web services or gaming realms residing on its hard drive.

Minecraft servers are more targeted. At a technical level, they are not too different from any VDS or dedicated servers. The real difference is in the software that they run.

These specialised servers are made to create unique Minecraft worlds online, allowing people to play together, change the rules of the game and communicate with each other.

Why do you need your own Minecraft server?

When creating your own Minecraft world, it's natural to want your own set of rules. The best way to do this is to have Minecraft on your own personal Minecraft Multiplayer server. You can set it up exactly the way you want it, invite the players you want to play with, and change anything at any moment.

Having your personal Minecraft Multiplayer server gives you control over many elements of the game such as:

  • Changing characteristics of the vanilla Minecraft world — the creatures inhabiting it, the materials it contains, etc.

  • Providing individual collections of accessible materials that players can use for crafting.

  • Choosing the most convenient way to create and maintain a virtual Minecraft realm as an administrator or game master.

  • Having the opportunity to make money from your Minecraft server.

  • Playing exclusively with your closest friends without being disturbed by strangers.

  • Building your very own private and cozy Minecraft world.

If the above sounds like a lot of fun, then you definitely should consider creating your private server.

How to play Minecraft online

Minecraft is a great game to play alone, but the fun multiplies when you join someone or invite friends to play together. That’s why so many Minecraft fans are eager to find the best way to play the game online. And that’s why you need a server.

We will guide you through different ways to create Minecraft servers, showing you the best way to set up your own, explaining how to play with your friends for free and what great Minecraft servers (with engaging and entertaining mods) already exist.

How to make a server in Minecraft using Realms

The developers of Minecraft — Mojang in conjunction with Microsoft — created Project Realms. A Realm is an individual Minecraft server. It can be as unique or normal as you want it, and it’s a great way to play Minecraft officially.

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All you have to do to get started, is to subscribe to Realms Plus. This is Microsoft’s service that allows you to create your personal realm on its servers, where you can play with up to ten friends.

The Realms service guarantees safe and reliable resources to play Minecraft online, without worrying about software settings, updating game clients, creating data backups, etc.

However, it comes with two major drawbacks:

  • You have to use a licensed version of Minecraft and pay to play.

  • You have to deal with Microsoft’s restrictions. No cheats, no mods, no custom rules or plugins.

If you really want to have your own unique experience, free from all restrictions, then Realms is not for you. But don’t worry. There are many other solutions for you to check out below.

How to create your own Minecraft server

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The first thing you have to do is download the Minecraft server that suits your needs. There are two server types:

  • Vanilla. That is the classic implementation of the Minecraft server as offered by the developers of the game. Just like Realms, it has restrictions on modes and plugins, but it still allows you to create a more personal and unique experience, and save all the data on your PC or dedicated server.

  • Bukkit. This is a project created by enthusiasts who wanted to break free of Microsoft’s restrictions, and explore Minecraft’s unlimited possibilities with modifications created by third-party developers and fans of the game.

Both of these servers are available online and can be downloaded for free.

Vanilla is available on the official Minecraft website. To work with it, you must download Minecraft Server and launch it via the Java command-line interface.

  1. Download and install Java

  2. Open the command prompt of your operating system

    • For Windows: select the Start button and type cmd, you’ll see Command Prompt in the list

    • For MacOS: press Command - spacebar to launch Spotlight and type Terminal, then double-click the search result

    • Linux: press Ctrl+Alt+t keys at the same time

  3. java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraftserver.1.17.1.jar nogui

Your server is now up.

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Next, you’ll need to configure your server and find a way to connect to it. The method for doing this depends on what kind of hosting you’ve chosen.

To create a Bukkit server, you’ll need to download Forge and install it. Once it has downloaded, you’ll need to launch it and set up the parameters of the server.

Where to host your server

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For your server to be accessible, it needs a place to live.

If you’ve downloaded a server and launched it on your computer, your server will only be online for as long as your computer is running it. Turn the computer off (or even close the command line while running Minecraft server), and bye-bye custom Minecraft world.

So you need a computer that will remain online and accessible for the players 24/7.

For this, you can use a generic hosting provider and rent a dedicated server to host your game world.

Once you have remote access to your rented server:

  1. Download your chosen Minecraft server onto it

  2. Start the server via the Java command java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraftserver.1.17.1.jar nogui

  3. Set up your connection parameters, find the IP address and ports to connect, etc.

While this is a very popular method for setting up your own Minecraft Multiplayer server, we agree that it involves a bit of work.

So let’s look at some other solutions.

How to host a Minecraft server for free

The process of creating and setting up a free Minecraft server is almost the same as for the paid version.

First, you have to find a free hosting provider that will allow you to host your data on its hardware. This isn’t exactly easy, as not many people like sharing their property with others for free.

Moreover, you’ll be forced to use a non-official Minecraft server application created by a third party. The same goes for the game client, since the original game isn’t free and there’s no way to override this.

If you’re ok with all of the above, you just need to download the Bukkit server and launch it via the Forge Minecraft server app on your free hosting. The method is identical to the one we explained above for the non-free options.

Why you shouldn't host your server for free

Yes, you can host your Minecraft server for free. But we would strongly advise against doing so.

  • Free hosting providers are typically slow and unreliable. Don’t you want your virtual world to be alive and well at all times? Free hosting would definitely spoil the whole experience with its poor performance.

  • If you’re not paying money, the provider has no obligation towards you. So, if at any point they decide to shut down your virtual world, they can do so without asking and there’s nothing you can do about it.

  • Free hosting providers still need to pay the bills. This means they might display advertisements on your site or even in your gaming chat. This can be very annoying to say the least. And if you have minors playing on your server, some of the ads being displayed might not be appropriate for their age, which could get you in trouble.

  • One other way that free hosting providers will make money is by selling your personal data. Not all of them do it, but do you really want to take that risk?

  • The hardware restrictions of free hosting will limit you dramatically. You won’t be able to invite as many friends to play as you wish, and you’ll have severe limitations on how many materials, constructions, and NPCs you can add.

If you wanted to start your own Minecraft server to have unlimited creative freedom and a reliable platform, a free server will only lead to disappointment.

Luckily, there’s another option you can use.

The best way to host your Minecraft server

Instead of dealing with troublesome and confusing dedicated servers, you can use a hosting platform like Hostman.

Hostman features a marketplace with loads of software products that you can deploy with just one click. This includes Minecraft servers. With just a few clicks, you can create your very own private server, avoiding part of the limitations imposed by Microsoft.

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  1. Visit the Hostman Marketplace

  2. Choose Minecraft server

  3. Click on the Deploy button

Done!

You’re now ready to enjoy your own unique instance of Minecraft virtual world, supported by a reliable and swift hardware platform.

If you’re looking for a high-performance Minecraft server installation that offers a certain degree of freedom and that won’t break the bank, you have it all here.

How to connect to your Minecraft server

Connection to your virtual Minecraft worlds is usually established via the game client:

  1. Open the game.

  2. Go to the Multiplayer menu.

  3. Choose the Direct Connect option.

  4. Type the IP address of the server.

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Within a few seconds, you should be connected to the server hosted on the address you specified.

But what’s the Minecraft server’s address?

If the server is up and running on your local machine, then the IP address of the server is the same as the IP address of the PC itself. To discover your IP address, you can use a site like Speedtest. If you’re using remote hosting, you can find the IP address in the control panel of the service provider.

Popular ready-made Minecraft servers

Unfortunately, if you use a third-party client of the game, you won’t be able to see the server list in Minecraft. However you can find many ready-made maps and servers for Minecraft, each with their specific set of rules and unique gameplay features.

Here’s a list of some popular ready-made Minecraft servers for you to try out. We’ve added a little description for each one, but there’s a lot more information out there if you want to dig deeper.

Brawl

One of the best Minecraft servers. Great map for those of you who want to bring a bit of Call of Duty into the classic building and survival game. Brawl transforms Minecraft into a shooter with a variety of gameplay styles.

Minescape

This is a great setup for fans of classic online RPGs like Runescape. These kinds of servers imitate that game and do it quite well. Explore dungeons, kill monsters, find artifacts, etc.

Among US Performium

This map imitates the game called “Among Us”. Among Us Performium is pretty popular and allows players to experience the unique gameplay of Among Us in a new and interesting way.

Best Minecraft survival servers

At its core, Minecraft is a survival game. But if you’re a hardcore survivalist, you’ll love the added challenge and realism provided by these servers.

Grand Theft Minecart

An interesting alternative to classic GTA games. It won’t be as pretty as the original game, but the atmosphere and features are there. You can buy your own house, acquire weapons and get into firefights with the police. A true GTA experience.

Minewind

This one is perfect for people looking for an extra dose of adrenaline. Tons of griefers and different monsters on this map. Your only task is to survive as long as possible.

Best Minecraft parkour servers

With the rise in popularity of parkour, it’s only natural that this sport has found its way into Minecraft. Here, you’ll find a collection of challenging Minecraft worlds where you need to hop over cubes to get from point A to point B. These servers are called parkour servers and they are incredibly fun to play on.

ZERO.MINR

This is a Minecraft world based on the children’s game “the floor is lava”. Concrete platforms floating over a tremendous amount of lava. Your task is to get through this hell as fast as possible (without being burned up by a volcano of course).

MANACUBE

Great server and map with different modes. One of the best features of MANACUBE is SkyBlocks. An impressive amount of blocks hovers in midair, and you need to use them to get from point A to point B. If you’re wondering “What’s the best Minecraft server with skyblocks?” this is the one.

Best Minecraft prison servers

Jail in real life isn’t fun. But in Minecraft it can be a real blast! Here are some prison-themed servers to appease your inner escape artist.

The Archon

One of the most popular servers on the internet, and one of the largest offering prison mode. It is set in the past, with a bit of a pirate theme. So, get ready to board your enemy’s ship and plunder to your pirate heart’s content.

Purple Prison

One of the oldest prison servers. This one is all about life in prison. You’ll need to learn all of the little details about surviving in a prison, participating in massive gang fights, etc.

Summary

Minecraft servers are very popular gaming platforms, bringing together thousands of players for a ton of fun. You can create a private server to play exclusively with your friends, or create a public one to invite players from around the world and make money offering unique features not available anywhere else.

Whatever your path, the best way to host your server is at Hostman.

Just click on the Deploy button and you’re almost set up and ready to go. You can try out Hostman for free for the first 7 days. And if you like it (we hope you will), it only costs 19 dollars a month.

Shared between friends, $19/month is a small price to pay for complete freedom and unlimited fun :-)

Set up your Minecraft server with Hostman today.

 
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These include: Document-oriented databases (led by MongoDB) Key-value stores (e.g., Redis) Graph databases (Neo4j is a prominent example) Column-family stores (such as ClickHouse) The unifying feature among these systems is their rejection of the classic SQL language in favor of proprietary data processing methods. Unlike relational DBMSs, where SQL serves as a standardized language for querying and joining data through operations like JOIN and UNION, NoSQL databases have developed their own query languages. Each NoSQL database offers a unique syntax for manipulating data. Here are some examples: // MongoDB (uses a JavaScript-like syntax): db.users.find({ age: { $gt: 21 } }) // Redis (uses command-based syntax): HGET user:1000 email SET session:token "abc123" NoSQL databases are particularly efficient in handling large volumes of unstructured data. A prime example is the architecture of modern social media platforms, where MongoDB enables storage of a user's profile, posts, responses, and activity in a single document, thereby optimizing data retrieval performance. NoSQL vs SQL: Relational and Non-Relational Databases The evolution of NoSQL databases has paralleled the growing complexity of technological and business needs. The modern digital world, which generates terabytes of data every second, necessitated new data processing approaches. As a result, two fundamentally different data management philosophies have emerged: Relational approach, focused on data integrity and reliability NoSQL approach, prioritizing adaptability and scalability Each concept is grounded in its own core principles, which define its practical applications. Relational systems adhere to ACID principles: Atomicity ensures that transactions are all-or-nothing. Consistency guarantees that data remains valid throughout. 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Schema Flexibility One of the main advantages of NoSQL is its schema-free approach. Unlike relational databases, where altering the schema often requires modifying existing records, NoSQL allows the dynamic addition of attributes without reorganizing the entire database. // MongoDB: Flexible schema supports different structures in the same collection db.users.insertMany([   { name: "Emily", email: "emily@email.com" },   { name: "Maria", email: "maria@email.com", phone: "+35798765432" },   { name: "Peter", social: { twitter: "@peter", facebook: "peter.fb" } } ]) Horizontal Scalability NoSQL databases employ a fundamentally different strategy for boosting performance. While traditional relational databases rely on upgrading a single server, NoSQL architectures use distributed clusters. Performance is improved by adding nodes, with workload automatically balanced across the system. Sharding and Replication NoSQL databases support sharding—a method of distributing data across multiple servers. Conceptually similar to RAID 0 (striping), sharding enables: Enhanced system performance Improved fault tolerance Efficient load distribution High Performance NoSQL systems offer exceptional performance due to optimized storage mechanisms and avoidance of resource-heavy operations like joins. 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MongoDB, the leading technology in this segment, is the benchmark example of document-oriented data storage architecture. Data Storage Principle In document-oriented databases, information is stored as documents grouped into collections. Unlike relational databases, where data is distributed across multiple tables, here, all related information about an object is contained within a single document. Example of a user document with orders: { "_id": ObjectId("507f1f77bcf86cd799439011"), "user": { "username": "stephanie", "email": "steph@example.com", "registered": "2024-02-01" }, "orders": [ { "orderId": "ORD-001", "date": "2024-02-02", "items": [ { "name": "Phone", "price": 799.99, "quantity": 1 } ], "status": "delivered" } ], "preferences": { "notifications": true, "language": "en" } } Basic Operations with MongoDB // Insert a document db.users.insertOne({ username: "stephanie", email: "steph@example.com" }) // Find documents db.users.find({ "preferences.language": "en" }) // Update data db.users.updateOne( { username: "stephanie" }, { $set: { "preferences.notifications": false }} ) // Delete a document db.users.deleteOne({ username: "stephanie" }) Advantages of the Document-Oriented Approach Flexible Data Schema Each document can have its own structure Easy to add new fields No need to modify the overall database schema Natural Data Representation Documents resemble programming objects Intuitive structure Developer-friendly Performance Fast retrieval of complete object data Efficient handling of nested structures Horizontal scalability Working with Hierarchical Data Naturally stores tree-like structures Convenient nested object representation Effective processing of complex structures Use Cases The architecture is particularly effective in: Developing systems with dynamically evolving data structures Processing large volumes of unstandardized data Building high-load distributed platforms Typical Use Scenarios Digital content management platforms Distributed social media platforms Enterprise content organization systems Event aggregation and analytics services Complex analytical platforms Key-Value Stores Among key-value stores, Redis (short for Remote Dictionary Server) holds a leading position in the NoSQL market. 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Working Principle The architecture of key-value stores is based on three fundamental components for each data record: Unique key (record identifier) Associated data (value) Optional TTL (Time To Live) parameter Data Types in Redis # Strings SET user:name "Stephanie" GET user:name # Lists LPUSH notifications "New message" RPUSH notifications "Payment received" # Sets SADD user:roles "admin" "editor" SMEMBERS user:roles # Hashes HSET user:1000 name "Steph" email "steph@example.com" HGET user:1000 email # Sorted Sets ZADD leaderboard 100 "player1" 85 "player2" ZRANGE leaderboard 0 -1 Key Advantages High Performance In-memory operations Simple data structure Minimal overhead Storage Flexibility Support for multiple data types Ability to set data expiration Atomic operations Reliability Data persistence options Master-slave replication Clustering support Typical Use Scenarios Caching # Cache query results SET "query:users:active" "{json_result}" EXPIRE "query:users:active" 3600 # Expires in one hour Counters and Rankings # Increase view counter INCR "views:article:1234" # Update ranking ZADD "top_articles" 156 "article:1234" Message Queues # Add task to queue LPUSH "task_queue" "process_order:1234" # Get task from queue RPOP "task_queue" Redis achieves peak efficiency when deployed in systems with intensive operational throughput, where rapid data access and instant processing are critical. 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Core Components Nodes Represent entities Contain properties Have labels Relationships Connect nodes Are directional Can contain properties Define the type of connection Example of a Graph Model in Neo4j // Create nodes CREATE (anna:Person { name: 'Anna', age: 30 }) CREATE (mary:Person { name: 'Mary', age: 28 }) CREATE (post:Post { title: 'Graph Databases', date: '2024-02-04' }) // Create relationships CREATE (anna)-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(mary) CREATE (anna)-[:AUTHORED]->(post) CREATE (mary)-[:LIKED]->(post) Typical Queries // Find friends of friends MATCH (person:Person {name: 'Anna'})-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(friend)-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(friendOfFriend) RETURN friendOfFriend.name // Find most popular posts MATCH (post:Post)<-[:LIKED]-(person:Person) RETURN post.title, count(person) as likes ORDER BY likes DESC LIMIT 5 Key Advantages Natural Representation of Relationships Intuitive data model Efficient relationship storage Easy to understand and work with Graph Traversal Performance Fast retrieval of connected data Efficient handling of complex queries Optimized for recursive queries Practical Applications Social Networks // Friend recommendations MATCH (user:Person)-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(friend)-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(potentialFriend) WHERE user.name = 'Anna' AND NOT (user)-[:FRIENDS_WITH]->(potentialFriend) RETURN potentialFriend.name Recommendation Systems // Recommendations based on interests MATCH (user:Person)-[:LIKES]->(product:Product)<-[:LIKES]-(otherUser)-[:LIKES]->(recommendation:Product) WHERE user.name = 'Anna' AND NOT (user)-[:LIKES]->(recommendation) RETURN recommendation.name, count(otherUser) as frequency Routing // Find shortest path MATCH path = shortestPath(   (start:Location {name: 'A'})-[:CONNECTS_TO*]->(end:Location {name: 'B'}) ) RETURN path Usage Highlights Essential when working with complex, interrelated data structures Maximum performance in processing cyclic and nested queries Enables flexible design and management of multi-level relationships Neo4j and similar platforms for graph database management show exceptional efficiency in systems where relationship processing and deep link analysis are critical. 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Key Features Full-Text Search // Search with multilingual support GET /products/_search { "query": { "multi_match": { "query": "wireless headphones", "fields": ["title", "description"], "type": "most_fields" } } } Data Analytics // Aggregation by categories GET /products/_search { "size": 0, "aggs": { "popular_categories": { "terms": { "field": "category", "size": 10 } } } } Key Advantages Efficient Search Fuzzy search support Result ranking Match highlighting Autocomplete functionality Analytical Capabilities Complex aggregations Statistical analysis Data visualization Real-time monitoring Common Use Cases E-commerce Search Product search Faceted navigation Product recommendations User behavior analysis Monitoring and Logging Metrics collection Performance analysis Anomaly detection Error tracking Analytical Dashboards Data visualization Business metrics Reporting Real-time analytics OpenSearch is particularly effective in projects that require advanced search and data analytics. 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04 June 2025 · 16 min to read
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Top AI Coding Tools in 2025: Best Models for Developers & Programmers

In the early days of computing, programmers wrote code entirely on their own, from scratch and solo. Hardcore mode! The only help they had was paper reference books describing the syntax of specific languages. Today, things are very different. In addition to countless electronic manuals, guides, articles, videos, and forums, we now have neural networks, arguably one of the most groundbreaking technologies of the early 21st century. Trained on massive datasets, these AI models have become the primary source of coding assistance. The advantages are obvious. AI coding tools speed up the development process by taking on much of the routine work involved in writing code. This allows developers to focus on architecture and logic instead of syntax errors and inefficient constructs. Some tools generate code from scratch, and others analyze and complete already-written code. However, in recent years, so many AI-powered projects have emerged that it can be difficult for the average person to figure out which AI is actually the best for programming. There are both specialized and general-purpose models. Some only generate specific types of data (like code), while others handle all kinds (text, code, images). Some are free, others paid. To determine which AI is the best for programming (and why), we first need to create a list of the top coding AIs, and then analyze the pros and cons of each one. 1. GitHub Copilot Copilot is arguably the best AI coding assistant, developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It’s positioned as an AI co-programmer trained on millions of open-source GitHub repositories. Features Developed by the largest cloud-based code hosting platform, Copilot leads the list of neural networks for programming, offering a wide range of capabilities: Code Generation: Produces ready-to-use code snippets in all major languages based on text descriptions: scripts, functions, classes, even entire files. While the AI sometimes generates imperfect results, this can be resolved by making the user’s request more specific. Code Translation: Converts code written in one programming language into logically equivalent code in another. This feature alone puts Copilot ahead of many other coding AIs, as not all models can do this effectively. Code Autocompletion: Suggests autocompletion based on the overall context of the codebase. Refactoring: Enhances code structure, optimizes algorithms, and fixes errors. It can also suggest alternative, more efficient solutions that a developer might not have initially considered. Editor Integration: Integrates via plugins into popular text editors and IDEs like Visual Studio Code, Neovim, JetBrains IDEs, and others. These features help automate routine coding tasks. A lesser-known use case of Copilot is learning programming languages. The AI can generate simple code snippets that demonstrate the syntax and mechanics of a specific language. Interestingly, this teaching method aligns with Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input Hypothesis, which states that language acquisition is driven by understandable input, i.e., the material that the learner can interpret with explanation. Similarly, Copilot can be used as an interactive reference, potentially replacing resources like Stack Overflow. Languages Supported Copilot supports all major programming languages: C, C++, C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, Scala, Swift, and TypeScript. It can also generate code using popular frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Vue.js, Node.js, Django, Flask, and Ruby on Rails. Pricing Plans Naturally, GitHub offers only a limited set of Copilot features for free. The free version also has monthly limits on code generations. The full version is available through subscriptions for individuals, teams, and enterprises. Pricing starts at $4/month, with a 30-day free trial. In return, users get a powerful tool for faster coding. Despite requiring a subscription, many developers consider Copilot the best AI coding assistant, especially when compared to general-purpose models like ChatGPT, which aren't primarily designed for code generation. 2. Tabnine Tabnine is an AI that generates code snippets not based on explicit prompts but on the development context formed by the programmer’s current work. Features Unlike Copilot, Tabnine primarily focuses on code autocompletion. However, it also offers several distinctive features: Offline Mode: The Enterprise version of Tabnine can run entirely offline, generating code without internet access. This improves data privacy, as code is processed locally and not sent to the cloud; however, it does require more system resources. Personalized Generation: Tabnine learns from a specific developer’s codebase, mimicking their unique style and preferences. This results in personalized suggestions that feel as if the code were written by the developers themselves, in contrast to Copilot, which was trained on public GitHub repositories. IDE Integration: Since Tabnine is not a standalone application but a smart autocompletion engine, it integrates with virtually all major IDEs through plugins, including VS Code, IntelliJ, Visual Studio, Eclipse, Android Studio, AppCode, CLion, GoLand, Neovim, PhpStorm, PyCharm, Rider, RubyMine, WebStorm. Interactive AI Chat: Tabnine also offers a built-in chat interface for personalized communication with the AI. Users can ask questions related to the code in their current editor tab. All in all, Tabnine is geared more toward typing speed and efficiency rather than generating large chunks of code from scratch. Think of it as classic autocompletion but supercharged with AI. Languages Supported Like Copilot, Tabnine supports autocompletion for all major programming languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C/C++, C#, Go, Ruby, Swift, PHP, Rust, Kotlin, Perl, Dart, Scala. Pricing Plans Tabnine is available under two subscription plans: Dev – from $9/month for individual developers. Enterprise – from $39/month for teams and companies. The Enterprise plan offers advanced customization options, enhanced security, and on-premise deployment for maximum privacy. 3. ChatGPT ChatGPT is a generative AI developed by OpenAI, based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. Unlike Copilot and Tabnine, ChatGPT can generate not just code but also various forms of text content. That makes it a general-purpose neural network—a versatile tool for generating any data based on a user's prompt. Some might argue that ChatGPT is more text-oriented than code-focused. However, it remains one of the best free AI for coding, as its basic version is available to everyone without a paid subscription. Features ChatGPT operates through a chat interface, where prompts are entered as natural language messages. That’s why its name consists of Chat and GPT: Chat: its ability to hold conversations, answer questions, and maintain real-time dialogue. GPT: short for Generative Pre-trained Transformer: Generative: creates original text rather than copying answers, Pre-trained: trained on vast data corpora, Transformer: refers to the model’s architecture, which uses attention mechanisms to understand and generate contextually accurate responses. In short, ChatGPT is a conversational AI capable of tackling almost any language-based task — including code generation. Here’s what it can do: Conversational Interaction: The AI responds as if you were chatting with another person. You can ask it to use a certain tone, generate text, tables, code, and even simple images. This makes ChatGPT a virtual assistant, coworker, or advisor. Free Code Generation: The base model is completely free to use. More advanced versions offer improved performance but require a subscription. Multi-Format Output: It can create more than just code. You can generate any language-based content based on a clear prompt and adapt it to the ongoing context of the conversation. For example, you could write this fun prompt: “Give me an example of Python code with a helicopter and a car class. Each should have a fuel variable initialized to 100. Then create objects of each class and have the helicopter hook the car with a cable.” ChatGPT would generate something like this: class Helicopter: def __init__(self): self.fuel = 100 self.hooked_car = None def hook_car(self, car): self.hooked_car = car print("The helicopter has hooked the car with a cable.") class Car: def __init__(self): self.fuel = 100 helicopter = Helicopter() car = Car() helicopter.hook_car(car) You can check this code in any online Python interpreter and get the expected output: The helicopter has hooked the car with a cable. So, if you're working late at night and wondering which neural network is best for hands-off code generation, ChatGPT is worth considering. After all, OpenAI is a global leader in machine learning. At the very least, ChatGPT is the best conversational AI for code creation, capable of generating not only code but also full documents, tables, and even basic images. Languages Supported Since it was trained on a vast linguistic dataset, ChatGPT can generate code in nearly any language and not just general-purpose ones. It supports all major programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C, C++, C#, Go, PHP, Swift, Kotlin, Ruby, Rust, Haskell, Lisp, Elixir, Erlang, and F#. It also understands domain-specific languages: HTML, CSS, SASS/SCSS, SQL, GraphQL, Shell, PowerShell, Lua, Perl, YAML, and JSON. Listing them all would be pointless, as ChatGPT can understand and generate code or text in virtually any format. That's its defining strength. Pricing Plans OpenAI offers four subscription tiers for ChatGPT, each expanding the capabilities of the last: Free – All basic features. No cost. Plus – Enhanced performance and access to newer models with better contextual understanding and faster responses. Starts at $20/month. Pro – Full access with no usage limits. Starts at $200/month. Team – Adds collaborative tools, custom roles, and enhanced security for data sharing and storage. Team data is excluded from AI training — ensuring full confidentiality. Starts at $25/month. Paid plans provide higher accuracy, better performance, and more stability. Still, the free version offers nearly identical functionality — the difference lies in the fine details. 4. Claude Claude is another natural language processing AI developed by Anthropic. According to its creators, Claude is a safer, more ethical, and more predictable alternative to ChatGPT. Features Overall, Claude's capabilities are similar to ChatGPT’s, with a few notable distinctions: Image and Document Analysis: Claude can interpret the contents of images and documents in detail, recognizing real-world objects, diagrams, graphs, numbers, and text. ChatGPT is also capable of this, but only in its paid version. Claude offers it natively. Massive Context Window: Claude supports up to 200,000 tokens, which allows it to analyze large volumes of data. By comparison, ChatGPT maxes out at around 128,000 tokens. One token is roughly 5 characters of English text. High Ethical Standards: Thanks to built-in ethical constraints, Claude is less likely to generate inappropriate content, making its responses more conservative. While this may not matter to some users, from a broader perspective, output filtering is a key trait that separates the best AI coding tools from the rest, especially as AI tools become mainstream. In short, Claude offers high factual accuracy, which is crucial for generating reliable code based on user instructions. Languages Supported According to Anthropic, Claude performs best when generating Python code. However, it also supports other popular languages: JavaScript, Java, C++, Go, PHP, Ruby, C#, Swift, TypeScript, Kotlin, and Rust. Of course, the full list of supported languages isn’t publicly available, as the model was trained on diverse datasets. Practical testing is the best way to determine support. Pricing Plans Claude offers several pricing tiers: Free – Standard chat access via browser or mobile app (iOS/Android). No cost. Pro – Enables structured chats, document analysis, and access to additional Claude models and features. Starts at $18/month. Team – Adds collaboration features for group work. Starts at $25/month. Enterprise – Provides deeper control over generation processes, user role management, and enhanced data privacy. Custom pricing. Despite Claude being one of the top free AI for coding, it can’t be considered a full competitor to ChatGPT. Here’s why: Smaller Knowledge Base: ChatGPT was trained on more data, producing more accurate and diverse responses. Limited Availability: Claude is not as widely accessible as ChatGPT and is available in fewer countries. Few Integrations: ChatGPT is integrated into many products (e.g., Office, Azure), while Claude is not. Slower Development: ChatGPT evolves rapidly, releasing updates and features faster than Claude. Still, Claude is worth trying for anyone who regularly uses AI in programming or text generation tasks. 5. Snyk Code Snyk Code is an AI-powered static analysis tool for detecting vulnerabilities and errors, part of the broader Snyk ecosystem. Features Trained on a database of known vulnerabilities (updated regularly), Snyk Code focuses on secure development: Vulnerability Detection: Performs real-time code analysis during development and commits to catch threats before they reach production. Development Tool Integration: Works with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure Repos, and is compatible with popular IDEs: VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, Eclipse. Contextual Fix Recommendations: For every issue found, it provides an explanation and sample fixes, helping developers patch their code quickly and securely. In essence, Snyk Code is best used after you have written the code as an added security layer before deployment. Languages Supported Snyk Code supports major programming languages only: Apex, C, C++, Go, Groovy, Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, .NET, PHP, Python, Ruby, Scala, Swift, Objective-C, TypeScript, VB.NET. Pricing Plans Snyk Code is free for individual use, but teams and companies can choose from the following: Free – Basic analysis with a limit of up to 200 scans per month. Team – Adds support for private repos, CI/CD integration, and advanced security features. Starts at $25/month. Enterprise – Includes local deployment, advanced analytics, and enterprise-level controls. Custom pricing. While Snyk Code doesn’t generate code, its powerful analysis tools and free tier perfectly justify its inclusion in any list of the best free AI tools for coding. 6. Documatic Documatic is an AI that automatically generates documentation and enables codebase exploration. It analyzes the project, extracts key information, and structures it for easy reference. Features Documatic is designed for codebase analysis; all other functionality stems from this core: Automatic Documentation Generation: Produces detailed code explanations, reducing the need for manual comments. Code Search and Navigation: Responds to developer queries with relevant code snippets and context. Project Structure Visualization: Displays project components (dependencies, microservices, repos) as interactive graph nodes, useful for understanding complex architectures. Code Explanation: Clarifies algorithms and logic, making unfamiliar projects easier to understand. Documatic is passive: it doesn’t generate code, only analyzes and documents it. Languages Supported It supports modern interpreted and compiled languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, C#, PHP. Pricing Plans Documatic keeps things simple with just two tiers: Free – Full basic functionality for solo developers, including auto-documentation. No cost. Team / Enterprise – A combined tier for corporate use, offering unlimited analysis, integrations, reporting, and collaboration tools. Custom pricing. While it’s easy to chase the best AI coding tools, it’s crucial to remember: the developer matters more than the AI. Skills, logic, creativity, and experience outweigh any neural network’s output. You should only upgrade to premium tools when free features no longer meet your needs. 7. Mintlify Mintlify is a comprehensive online platform for automating code documentation with AI. Unlike Documatic, Mintlify offers cloud hosting with visually styled, user-accessible documentation sites. For instance, a developer or team building a JavaScript library can generate full documentation from a GitHub repo, resulting in a live, multi-page site with API references. These pages are editable using a WYSIWYG editor. Fun fact: Anthropic uses Mintlify to power the documentation for Claude. Features Mintlify connects the project’s codebase to a public-facing documentation site, offering: Automated Documentation Generation: Generates detailed documentation (including API references) directly from your codebase. Version Control Integration: Syncs with GitHub and GitLab, ensuring documentation updates automatically when the code changes, which makes it perfect for CI/CD pipelines. Documentation Site Hosting: Creates a stylish, SEO-optimized site with editable sections. Analytics & Feedback: Provides user analytics and supports direct feedback collection to improve documentation quality. While powerful, Mintlify has a learning curve as its feature-rich interface takes time to master. Languages Supported Supports 12 modern languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C, C++, PHP, Java, C#, Ruby, Rust, Dart, Go. Pricing Plans Mintlify offers four plans: Hobby – Free plan for individuals with full standard functionality. Pro – Advanced configuration and analytics. Starts at $150/month. Growth – Allows full customization, branding removal, and other perks. Starts at $550/month. Enterprise – Full configuration control and dedicated support. Custom pricing. Where other AI coding tools show their intelligence directly, Mintlify’s AI works silently in the background. At first glance, it may seem like a manual documentation editor; however, over time, it reveals itself as an automation powerhouse, seamlessly connecting code to documentation. 8. Codeium Codeium is an AI-powered coding assistant that consists of several products built on artificial intelligence: Windsurf Editor – an integrated development environment (IDE) with built-in AI. Forge – an AI assistant for code analysis and review. In addition to these, there’s a browser-based chat called Live, as well as numerous IDE extensions – Codeium Extensions. The Codeium Windsurf Editor integrated development environment, with the code editor on the left and the AI chat on the right. Source: codioailab.com Features Codeium offers a wide range of features that assist during coding and code editing: Code Autocompletion: Provides intelligent suggestions as you type. Chat Assistant: A built-in AI chat can explain code snippets in detail, offer refactoring suggestions (passively while you write), and answer programming questions directly within the development environment. It can also advise on build commands and configuration. Intelligent Search: Ensures quick access to classes, methods, functions, and code fragments, streamlining navigation in large codebases. Essentially, Codeium aims to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for virtually all coding scenarios – all powered by AI. Languages Supported Supports all popular programming languages, including: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby, Kotlin, Swift. Pricing Plans Codeium offers several pricing plans for both individual developers and entire teams: Free – All standard features. Free of charge. Pro – Expanded context and deeper AI understanding, faster autocompletion, and other advanced features. Starting at $15/month. Pro Ultimate – Even more useful tools and priority support. Starting at $60/month. Teams – Collaboration and analytics tools for teams. Starting at $35/month. Teams Ultimate – Enhanced AI model access. Starting at $90/month. Enterprise SaaS – Custom pricing upon request. 9. Gemini Gemini is a versatile AI developed by Google. Despite being relatively new, it rounds out our list of the top AI coding assistants in 2025. Unsurprisingly, it’s a direct competitor to both ChatGPT and Claude.  Features It’s important to recognize that Google is a major player (arguably a monopolist) in the software market. With vast cloud infrastructure, massive data resources, and many popular services (plus its own OS, Android), Gemini offers a broad array of capabilities for working with both text and visual data: Text Generation, Analysis, and Translation. Image Generation and Analysis: Generates images from text prompts and can also analyze images and describe their contents. Code Generation and Analysis: Generates code snippets in any language and format. Also understands and analyzes code, providing suggestions for improvement. Google also offers the Gemini Code Assist extension for popular IDEs. Integration with Google Services: Integrated with many Google apps and Android tools. Fast Response Generation: Provides answers faster than ChatGPT and generally operates at a higher speed. Large Context Window: Can handle up to 1 million tokens. Notably, the advanced capabilities of Gemini’s language model are available through a special AI Studio for developers. This environment allows not only text-based interaction but also screen sharing for more detailed feedback. AI Studio is designed for app developers who want to test Gemini integration with their products. Languages Supported Gemini supports the following major programming languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, Go, TypeScript, C#, Ruby, PHP, Swift, Kotlin, Rust, SQL, HTML, CSS, Bash, Perl, Lua, R, Dart, Scala, Julia, Fortran. Pricing Plans Google offers a fairly straightforward pricing structure for Gemini: Free – Standard model access. Advanced – Enhanced performance, accuracy, and multimodal capabilities. Starting at $22/month. Thus, just like ChatGPT, Gemini is another great free AI for programming, particularly when it comes to working with general-purpose data. The ability to generate not only code but also supporting text is an important asset in development. Conclusion So, what is the best AI for coding? That’s for each user to decide. Some may be satisfied with intelligent autocompletion, while others may require the generation of large code fragments across multiple languages – complete with detailed explanations. Model Type Features Pricing Copilot Specialized Code generation, autocompletion Subscription Tabnine Specialized Autocompletion Subscription ChatGPT General Generation, analysis Free, subscription Claude General Generation, analysis Free, subscription Snyk Code Specialized Analysis Free, subscription Documatic Specialized Documentation Free, subscription Mintlify Specialized Documentation, hosting Free, subscription Codeium Specialized Generation, analysis Free, subscription Gemini General Generation, analysis Free, subscription Ultimately, the most important factor is not the tool itself, but the developer using it. Skills, experience, logic, critical thinking, and creativity all outweigh the capabilities of any neural network. So, switching to paid versions of AI products – whether they’re code generators or analyzers – only makes sense when the free version clearly falls short for your needs.
03 June 2025 · 19 min to read
Infrastructure

Top AI Models in 2025: Features, Use Cases & Full Comparison

Artificial intelligence and neural networks are used not only for generating texts and solving mathematical problems. They are also widely applied in medicine, scientific research, finance, marketing, and advertising. There are many different neural networks — some generate only textual data, others create images and videos, and some work with vector graphics.  Today, we will take a detailed look at the 8 best AI apps to use in 2025: Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini Ultra, DeepSeek, MidJourney, Claude, Sora, and Recraft. Grok 3 Our list of the best AI applications in 2025 opens with the AI from xAI called Grok. Grok was designed with a focus on processing and analyzing complex queries. The AI can not only generate text but also, for example, explore social media user profiles, verify links, and analyze uploaded files (including images and PDF documents). The third version of the AI differs from the previous versions (Grok 1 and Grok 2) by improved performance, extended functionality, and a changed approach to training. Key features of Grok 3 include: Increased computational power. The model was trained on the Colossus supercomputer equipped with approximately 200,000 Nvidia GPUs, which significantly increased accuracy and depth of data processing. New versions of built-in models. Grok 3 introduced new models — Grok 3 Reasoning and Grok 3 mini Reasoning. These models use a “chain of thought” approach that allows them to analyze tasks step-by-step, verify their conclusions, and correct mistakes. Information retrieval from various external sources. Grok 3 has introduced a new feature called DeepSearch, which searches the internet and social media, providing the AI with more flexibility in information retrieval and response generation. Use of synthetic data. Earlier Grok versions primarily used human-created data. Grok 3 actively incorporates synthetic data in training, increasing model adaptability and reducing bias. New functionality. Grok 3 includes new modes — Think and Big Brain — which enhance the response generation process for complex queries. Image generated by Grok from the prompt 'Draw Dubai city at night' ChatGPT-4.5 No list of the best AI applications would be complete without mentioning ChatGPT. The flagship product of OpenAI, released in late November 2022, caused a sensation worldwide. ChatGPT can be used for a wide range of tasks, from creating texts of any complexity to use in medicine and scientific research. As of May 2025, the latest version is ChatGPT-4.5, which offers the following features: Multimodal support. This means the model can analyze images along with text. For example, a user can upload an image and ask the AI to describe it or answer questions about its content. Improved accuracy in responses. ChatGPT 4.5 significantly improves fact-checking and generates more accurate answers compared to versions 3.5 and 4, which sometimes provide unverified or false information. Enhanced safety mechanisms. Version 4.5 features stronger filters to reduce bias and improve safety, resulting in fewer inappropriate or offensive responses. Image generated by ChatGPT from the prompt 'Draw Dubai city at night' Gemini Ultra Search giant Google also contributed to the development of neural networks by releasing Gemini Ultra in December 2023. As a multimodal neural network, Gemini Ultra is integrated into Google’s ecosystem. It processes not only text data but multimedia, including images and videos. The AI’s applications range from search and data analysis to creative content generation. Gemini Ultra is considered a serious competitor to ChatGPT. Key features include: Support for multiple data formats. Unlike most other models, Gemini Ultra was built to handle various data types (text, images, audio), enabling it to analyze images or generate code from text prompts. High performance in query processing. Based on a multimodal architecture, Gemini Ultra shows impressive results in tasks requiring cross-modal reasoning. Image generated by Gemini from the prompt 'Draw Dubai city at night' DeepSeek R1 Chinese company DeepSeek, developer of the AI of the same name, caused a sensation in the AI world. On January 27, 2025, when DeepSeek R1 was released, it became the most downloaded AI app worldwide and caused market excitement, affecting stock prices of global tech firms (Nvidia, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Renesas Electronics, SoftBank Group). This was preceded by news that DeepSeek R1’s development cost was much lower than competitors. It also used fewer chips and had an optimized architecture. Communication between chips was enhanced to reduce data volume for memory saving and implement the Mix-of-Models method. DeepSeek R1 positions itself as a competitor to ChatGPT and other language models. Its applications range from solving math problems and learning programming to composing complex texts and writing scientific articles. Main advantages of DeepSeek R1: Architecture. It uses a Mixture-of-Experts architecture, consisting of many specialized subnetworks, each handling specific data types or tasks, providing high performance with less computational cost compared to similar-sized models. Open source. Unlike most AI models, DeepSeek R1 is open source, allowing users to view, improve, and modify the AI code. Training process. Training uses Reinforcement Learning, a method where the AI learns by trial and error to optimize its decisions and become smarter. Text generated by DeepSeek from the prompt 'Tell me 5 reasons to visit Dubai' Midjourney V6.1 While many neural networks focus on text, the popular Midjourney AI changes the interaction by generating images from text prompts. Version V6.1, released in July 2024, has the following features: Improved image quality. Generated images look much better—more detailed, realistic, and with natural textures. Better handling of complex requests. It processes complex prompts more effectively, reducing the need for repeated clarifications. New upscaling modes. Two new upscaling modes were added: Upscale Subtle (doubles resolution without altering the image) and Upscale Creative (also doubles resolution but adds creative changes). Both enlarge images up to 2048x2048 pixels. Faster image generation. A Turbo mode introduced in March 2024 speeds up generation by 3.5 times. Claude 3 Claude 3 is a neural network and family of language models released in March 2024 by Anthropic. It is positioned as a versatile solution for a wide range of tasks and an alternative to other neural networks such as ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini Ultra, etc. Claude 3 is trained on a variety of internet text data and incorporates extensive user feedback to improve response accuracy. Features: Three distinct models: Claude 3 Haiku: Basic model for short texts, translation, and data structuring. Claude 3 Sonnet: Standard model balancing speed and quality, suited for large and analytical data. Claude 3 Opus: Advanced model for complex tasks like forecasting, process automation, and scientific data processing. Enhanced context understanding. Uses advanced algorithms and can handle large volumes of text and images. Text generated by Claude from the prompt 'Tell me 5 reasons to visit Dubai' Sora OpenAI, best known for ChatGPT, released a new service called Sora in February 2024. It generates short (up to one minute) Full HD videos from user text descriptions. The model was trained on a large video dataset and can create videos on various topics. Features include: Full built-in video creation functionality. Besides generating videos from text, Sora includes editing tools like Remix (element modification), Storyboard (scene assembly), Loop (looping), and Blend (video transitions). Style support is also available. Recraft Closing our list of the top AI apps is Recraft, a tool for creating and editing images and graphic content. Launched in 2023, by 2025 it became popular among creative users. Recraft can create images based on text descriptions with specific styles and edit existing images by removing/replacing objects or changing backgrounds. Main features: Creation of various image types. Can generate both raster and vector graphics. Customization. Users can select size, style, color palette, and fine-tune details like color, element placement, detail level, and add text. Image generated by Recraft from the prompt 'Draw Dubai city at night' Conclusion: Comparative Table We reviewed 8 top AI applications for 2025. The market offers various AI tools not only for text but also for photo and video creation. Each service has unique features. For clearer comparison, see the table below: Neural Network Developer Main Purpose Multimodality Pricing Policy Features Grok xAI General queries, reasoning Yes (text, images) Paid plans, free tier exists High accuracy, single interface for text and images ChatGPT OpenAI Text generation, dialogue, data analysis Yes (text, images) Free and paid plans Versatile, voice support, fast response generation Gemini Ultra Google DeepMind Text, images, code generation Yes (text, images, audio) Free and PRO plans in some countries Google ecosystem integration, high performance, task-specific models DeepSeek DeepSeek AI Text, scientific articles, code generation No (text only) Free (open source), paid API Open source, optimized for technical tasks Midjourney Midjourney Image creation No (images only) Free limited use, paid plans High image quality, supports references Claude Anthropic Text, big data analysis, automation, forecasting Yes (text, images) Free limited use, paid plans High performance in creative and technical tasks Sora OpenAI Video creation No (video only) Paid plans, free limits High-quality videos, cinematic style, text-based generation Recraft Recraft Image creation and editing No (images only) Paid plans, free limits Suitable for design and commercial use
02 June 2025 · 8 min to read

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