Articles on: Minecraft

Minecraft: Paper vs Vanilla vs Fabric vs Forge

When creating a Minecraft server, you choose a server type. This affects performance, mods, and plugins.

Not sure? Pick Paper — it works for most friend groups.

Quick recommendation

You want…	Choose
Best performance + plugins	Paper (recommended)
Pure vanilla, no changes	Vanilla
Lightweight mods	Fabric
Modpacks / heavy mods	Forge

Paper (recommended)

Optimized fork of Spigot — better performance than Vanilla
Supports Spigot/Bukkit plugins (EssentialsX, LuckPerms, WorldEdit, etc.)
Best for groups who want /home, permissions, or admin tools

Vanilla

Official Mojang server software
No plugins, no mods — exactly as Mojang intended
Fine for small groups who want zero modifications

Fabric

Lightweight mod loader
Good for QoL mods (Lithium, Starlight) or light content mods
Does not support Bukkit/Spigot plugins

Forge

The standard choice for modpacks
Heavier on resources — use a Large or XL plan for big modpacks

Can I change later?

Server type is set at creation. To switch (e.g. Vanilla → Paper), create a new server or message us in chat about migration.

See also: Minecraft: mods and plugins and Minecraft: how many players can my server handle?

Still need help? Message us in chat.

Updated on: 10/06/2026

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