I like both. But I'm very good at Skywars on Bedrock. I'm also good at godbridiging and pvping on bedrock. But Java has more adventure maps than bedrock and is more fun to me. Everything uploaded on Java is free. Bedrock has a marketplace that has content that you have to buy and a few content is free, and I don't like that.

Personally, I prefer Java, as while at first there are a lot of things to get used to (especially coming from consoles), I have found far more freedom with what can be done, especially things like datapacks (so now I wouldn't have to copy every single command if I wanted to transfer something to another world, for instance). It also feels a lot more fluid, at least to me, in its gameplay, and when I go fast, it feels like it is going to my speed.

Also, I still would prefer the 360, aka legacy console, to bedrock, and ironically, I find java feels more similar to playing the 360 compared to bedrock (I don't know how to explain it though).

Main thing in favor of bedrock is the cross-compatibility though.

I don't know if this seems like nonsensical sense or not, but I hope that explains sufficiently.

Bedrock is easier to use, you can install resource packs, addons, worlds, etc. by just clicking a file. You can play with people outside your local area network easily by using a Xbox account, when joining if there are resource packs in the world, the game will download it automagically.
Bedrock also updates automatically so there are less chances of having different versions and being unable to join.

Meanwhile on JE to just install a world you have to extract an archive file, investigate where a folder called "saves" might be, move what you extracted there then finally make sure you extracted it correctly otherwise it won't show up in the game, for resource packs the process is similar.
Now if you want to play with someone not in your lan, the one hosting needs to open ports on their router and share their ip address (assuming they can port forward), The resources.zip file in the world folder will be downloaded when joining if there's one,
but, there are things that can prevent you from joining for example: the host is using a different version of Minecraft, the host has mods that are required in the client and need to be installed manually, things like that.


TL;DR: Bedrock is like Windows, Java is like Linux.

Having started (and become reasonably facile) with java, I find the differences in game mechanics in BR irritating. (The only serious advantage BR has AFAIK is stronger cross platform support — although various kluges to allow BR players to play on java are lessening that cachet.)

they're both good but java edition is far superior because of modding easy to use resource packs and minecraft java edition has more technical features then bedrock edition minecraft java edition has custom heads that can be obtained with a single command minecraft java edition also has custom model data (which is extremely useful for mapmaking) and its easier to customize

both have pros and cons
i like java and i think java redstone is a lot better as well as mods and other things so I did vote for java, but bedrock edition still has a place in my heart for being the first version i ever played, and still has some cool things too

but both are good

bedrock has spawn eggs.

Java is the better version, as you have way more control over the game than in Bedrock.



Only reason to USE bedrock is if you're on non windows / Linux / MacOS systems.

i use java for the controls and ability to change more in the game :)