Is BeamMP Free? Everything You Need to Know
Short answer: Yes, BeamMP is completely free. You can download it, install it, and play online with friends without paying a penny. The only cost is BeamNG.drive itself — the base game that BeamMP runs on top of.
Let's break down exactly what's free, what costs money, and how to get started without spending more than you need to.
What Is BeamMP?
BeamMP is a multiplayer mod for BeamNG.drive, the soft-body physics driving simulator. BeamNG.drive is a single-player game by default — BeamMP is what lets you drive, crash, and race with other people online.
It's an open-source project with a growing community of tens of thousands of players. And yes, it's free.
What's Completely Free
Here's everything you get without paying anything beyond the base game:
- The BeamMP launcher — Free download from beammp.com. This is the mod/client that connects you to multiplayer servers.
- Joining any public server — There are hundreds of community servers running 24/7. Just open the server browser, pick one, and play.
- Creating a BeamMP account — Sign up for free. You need an account to play, but it costs nothing.
- Using mods on servers — Servers can run custom maps, vehicles, and mods. These download automatically when you join. No extra cost.
If you already own BeamNG.drive, you can be playing multiplayer in about five minutes.
What Costs Money
There are really only two things that involve spending money:
1. BeamNG.drive — ~$24.99 on Steam
This is the base game, and you need it. BeamMP is a mod, not a standalone game — it requires a legitimate copy of BeamNG.drive installed through Steam.
The good news: BeamNG.drive goes on sale regularly during Steam sales. It's been spotted at 20–25% off during summer and winter sales, so if you're patient, you can save a few dollars.
2. Server Hosting (Optional) — Free to ~$4.99+/mo
This only matters if you want to run your own server. If you just want to play on other people's servers, skip this section entirely — it's free.
Running your own server lets you control the map, the mods, who can join, and the rules. It's great for playing with a regular group of friends or building a community.
You have a few options for hosting, which we'll cover next.
Can You Get a Free BeamMP Server?
Yes — and you have a few ways to do it.
Self-Hosting (Free, But...)
You can run a BeamMP server on your own PC for free. The server software is open-source and available on the BeamMP website.
The downsides:
- Your PC has to stay on the entire time you want the server running
- Port forwarding is required, which can be tricky depending on your router and ISP
- Performance suffers if you're also trying to play BeamNG.drive on the same machine
- Your upload speed matters — if your internet is slow, other players will lag
- No uptime guarantee — when you shut down your PC, the server goes with it
Self-hosting works fine for quick sessions with a couple of friends, but it's not ideal for anything long-term.
Connect Hosting — Free Server, No Catch
At Connect Hosting, we offer a permanent free BeamMP server. Not a 7-day trial. Not a demo. A real server that stays online 24/7.
Here's how it works:
- Sign in with Discord
- Your server is created automatically
- No credit card required
- No time limit
- Runs on dedicated hardware, not your PC
We're an official BeamMP partner, and we're the only partner that offers a genuinely free tier with no expiration. We do this because we believe everyone should be able to play with their friends without worrying about cost.
Other Hosting Providers
Some other hosting companies offer free trials for BeamMP servers — usually 7 days. These can be useful for testing, but they expire, and then you're looking at paid plans.
Is It Worth Paying for a Server?
It depends on what you're doing.
A paid server makes sense if you:
- Want 24/7 uptime so friends can join anytime
- Plan to build a community with regular players
- Need reliable performance with no lag spikes
- Want easy mod and map management through a control panel
- Don't want to deal with port forwarding or server maintenance
Free tier or self-hosting is fine if you:
- Just want to cruise around with 2–3 friends occasionally
- Don't mind starting and stopping the server manually
- Are comfortable with basic networking setup
Connect Hosting's paid plans start at $4.99/mo if you need more player slots or resources beyond the free tier. But for a lot of people, the free server is genuinely enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BeamMP a virus?
No. BeamMP is a legitimate, open-source project. The source code is publicly available on GitHub. Some antivirus software may flag it because it modifies game files and opens network connections — that's normal for multiplayer mods. You can safely add it as an exception.
Always download BeamMP from the official website (beammp.com) to make sure you're getting the real thing.
Will BeamMP get me banned from BeamNG.drive?
No. The BeamNG.drive developers are aware of BeamMP and have no issue with it. You won't get banned from BeamNG.drive for using BeamMP.
You can get banned from individual BeamMP servers if you cheat or break their rules, but that's up to each server's moderators.
Does BeamMP work with a cracked copy of BeamNG.drive?
No. BeamMP requires a legitimate Steam copy of BeamNG.drive. This is by design — it verifies your game through Steam authentication. If you don't own the game on Steam, BeamMP won't work.
How many players can a BeamMP server hold?
It depends on the server's hardware and configuration. Most servers run between 8 and 20 players comfortably. BeamNG.drive is a physics-heavy game, so each additional player and vehicle adds significant load.
Is BeamMP on console?
No. BeamMP is PC-only, since BeamNG.drive modding is only supported on the PC version.
Get Started
If you already own BeamNG.drive, here's the quickest path to multiplayer:
- Download the BeamMP launcher from beammp.com
- Create a free BeamMP account
- Launch BeamMP and browse servers — or grab your own free server from Connect Hosting
That's it. No hidden costs, no subscriptions required, no nonsense. BeamMP is free, and getting into multiplayer has never been easier.