Compared, with sources
Minecraft AI companions: run your own, or have it hosted.
An AI companion for Minecraft comes one of two ways in 2026: an open-source bot or mod you set up and run yourself (Mindcraft, AI Player, Steve AI), or a hosted world with the AI player already in it (Cubelings). They differ most in what you have to install and who keeps it running. We make Cubelings; every open-source row below was checked against the project's own page.
Updated 30 September 2026.
Run your own
Mindcraft · AI Player · Steve AI · Voyager
You install it, bring an API key or a local model, and keep it running. Free apart from the model.
Hosted
Cubelings
The AI player is already in the world. Friends join with an unmodified game. Paid after a free fortnight.
The options
| Name | How it runs | Edition | Builds from a request | Survival play | What you need | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubelingsours | A hosted Minecraft world with an AI player (Cog) in it | Java | Yes: whole places, statues, terrain, playable games | Yes: gathers, mines, crafts, fights, eats, hides at night | Nothing to install; friends join with an unmodified game | Free fortnight, then paid plans |
| Mindcraft | An open-source bot that joins as a player (Node.js, mineflayer) | Java | Yes, per its README | Gathers and crafts; talks in chat | Node.js and your own API key, or a local model | Free (MIT); you pay for the model |
| AI Player | A Fabric mod that adds a server-side bot | Java | Not confirmed | Task chains: go, mine, sleep; combat listed as coming | An OpenAI-compatible API key or a local model server | Free (GPL) |
| Steve AI | A Forge mod; several AI players can share one build | Java (Forge 1.20.1) | Yes: "request a house" and it builds it | Mines and fights | Your own OpenAI, Groq or Gemini key | Free (MIT); you pay for the model |
| Voyager | A 2023 research agent that explores and learns skills on its own | Java (1.19) | Not a companion: it explores by itself | Autonomous exploration | Python, Node.js and a GPT-4 API key | Free (MIT); you pay for the model |
Sources, checked 30 September 2026: Cubelings, Mindcraft, AI Player, Steve AI, Voyager. Prices and versions change; the product's own page is the final word.
Which one to pick
It depends on how much you want to set up
- You like setting things up and want it freeMindcraft: open source and well known. Bring your own model or run one locally.
- You already run a modded serverAI Player or Steve AI: a mod on the loader you use, with your own API key.
- You want a world your friends just join, and an AI that builds whole places and writes gamesCubelings: nothing to install, whitelisted, and everything Cog builds can be undone.
- You play Bedrock on a phone, tablet or Windows PCCubelings, in beta: Bedrock players join the same hosted world as Java players. The open-source projects here are Java only, and no option on this page works on Xbox, PlayStation or Switch.
Questions
Straight answers
What is the best Minecraft AI companion?
It depends on how much you want to set up. For a free bot you run yourself, Mindcraft is the best-known open-source one. For an AI mod on a modded server, AI Player or Steve AI. For a hosted Java world that friends join with nothing to install, and an AI that builds whole places and writes games, Cubelings.
Is there a Minecraft AI companion that needs no mod?
Yes. Cubelings runs the AI player on the server, so everybody joins with an unmodified copy of Minecraft (Java Edition, or Bedrock in beta), and there is nothing to set up.
Does Cubelings work on Bedrock?
Yes, in beta, on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows. Bedrock players join the same world as Java players and Cog answers them. Consoles cannot join yet. The open-source projects on this page are Java only.
Read next
Where to go from here
- Can ChatGPT play Minecraft?Why a chat assistant needs a body in the game.
- CompareCubelings against Realms, a rented server and a build generator.
- AI companionWhat Cog does with you on the first day.
- Get early accessBe in the first worlds.
Invite-only beta
Bring an idea.
We’ll bring Cog.
A private Minecraft world for the people you choose, with Cog there to build alongside you. Join the list and we’ll email you when there’s a place.
14-day trial once invited · No card needed