Paper vs Purpur vs Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge: which Minecraft server software should you use?
By the MACO Core team · · 3 min read
Short answer: choose Paper if you want plugins and the best performance for a normal server. Choose Fabric for lightweight and performance mods, or NeoForge (or Forge for older versions) for big content mods and most modern modpacks. Choose Vanilla only if you want the official server with nothing added.
The key thing to understand: plugins and mods are different. Plugins (Paper, Purpur) run on the server only, so players join with a normal game. Mods (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge) usually need players to install the same mods too.
At a glance
| Software | Adds | Players need mods? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | Nothing | No | Pure, official Minecraft |
| Paper | Plugins (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper) | No | Most servers: fast, stable, huge plugin library |
| Purpur | Plugins + extra settings | No | Paper users who want more gameplay tweaks |
| Fabric | Mods (lightweight) | Usually yes | Performance mods, tech and small content mods |
| Quilt | Mods (Fabric-compatible) | Usually yes | Fabric mods with Quilt extras |
| Forge | Mods (classic) | Yes | Older versions and classic modpacks |
| NeoForge | Mods (modern Forge fork) | Yes | Most new content mods and modpacks |
Paper: the default choice for most servers
Paper is a high-performance version of the Minecraft server that runs plugins. It fixes many vanilla bugs, improves performance, and supports the huge Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugin ecosystem: permissions, economies, minigames, land claiming, anti-cheat and more. Because plugins are server-side, anyone can join with a normal Minecraft client.
Pick Paper if you want a survival or community server with plugins and the smoothest performance.
Purpur: Paper with extra options
Purpur is built on Paper and runs the same plugins, but adds hundreds of extra configuration options, for example rideable mobs or tweaks to game mechanics. If you like Paper but want to customise gameplay further, Purpur is a drop-in upgrade.
Fabric: lightweight modding
Fabric is a fast, lightweight mod loader that updates quickly to new Minecraft versions. It is popular for performance mods (like Lithium on the server), quality-of-life mods and technical Minecraft. Players need the same client-side mods for anything that adds blocks or items.
Forge and NeoForge: big content mods and modpacks
Forge is the classic mod loader behind many famous modpacks, especially on older versions like 1.12.2 and 1.20.1. NeoForge is a modern fork of Forge that most new content mods and modpacks now target. If a modpack lists NeoForge, use NeoForge; if it lists Forge, use Forge.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- Do you want players to join without installing anything? Use Paper (or Purpur).
- Are you running a specific modpack? Use whatever loader the modpack says.
- Want mods for performance or small additions? Use Fabric.
- Want big content mods on a recent version? Use NeoForge.
Can I switch later?
Yes, but plugins and mods are not interchangeable, and worlds created with mods may not load correctly without them. Always take a backup first. On MACO Core you can switch software and version from the Version tab in one click, and old files are moved to a backup folder instead of being deleted.
FAQ
Is Paper better than Spigot? For most servers, yes. Paper is based on Spigot, runs the same plugins and adds big performance improvements.
Can I use plugins and mods together? Not on a normal setup. Plugins run on Paper and mods run on Fabric or NeoForge. Hybrid servers exist but are less stable, so we recommend picking one side.
What is the fastest Minecraft server software? For plugin servers, Paper and Purpur. For modded servers, Fabric with performance mods like Lithium is usually the lightest.