Enzonic Relay vs port forwarding
Port forwarding is free and needs no third party, when your connection allows it. A tunnel works on almost any connection and keeps your home IP address private.
Updated October 17, 2026
How port forwarding works
Your router receives all traffic for your public IP address. A port-forwarding rule tells it to pass traffic on one port (25565 for Java, 19132/UDP for Bedrock) to the computer running the server. Players then connect to your public IP address or a dynamic DNS name.
When it does not work
- Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT). Many mobile, satellite and some fibre and cable providers share one public IPv4 address between many customers. There is no port on your router that the internet can reach.
- No access to the router in shared housing, dorms, schools or offices.
- Changing IP addresses unless you set up dynamic DNS.
- Privacy: every player learns your home IP address.
Side by side
| Enzonic Relay | Port forwarding | |
|---|---|---|
| Works behind CGNAT | Yes (outbound connection only) | No |
| Router access needed | No | Yes |
| Address players use | yourname.r.enzonic.dev (Java), node:port (Bedrock) | Your public IP or a dynamic DNS name |
| Your home IP visible to players | No | Yes |
| Extra latency | A detour through the nearest of 4 regions | None |
| Cost | Free plan, paid from $2.49 / month | Free |
Which should you pick?
If you can forward a port, have a stable address and are happy sharing your IP address with friends, port forwarding is the most direct path. If any of those is a problem, use a tunnel. The step-by-step guide takes about five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am behind CGNAT?
Compare the WAN address in your router's status page with the address a 'what is my IP' site shows. If they differ, or the router shows an address in 100.64.0.0/10, you are most likely behind CGNAT.
Is a tunnel slower than port forwarding?
Traffic goes through a relay, so there is extra distance. Picking the region closest to most players keeps it small; Enzonic Relay can pick the nearest region for you.
Is port forwarding dangerous?
Opening one port to a game server is common, but it exposes that port of your network to the internet and shows players your IP address. Keep the server updated either way.