Choosing a Minecraft server type is really one decision in disguise: do you want plugins or mods? It sounds like jargon, but it shapes everything else. Plugins (Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur) are server-side only, so players join with an unmodified vanilla client and never install anything. Mods (Forge, NeoForge, Fabric) change the actual game and almost always require every player to install the matching mod loader and mods on their own machine. A pure plugin server cannot run mods, and a pure mod server cannot run plugins.
This guide compares the main Java Edition server software in 2026, using only what each project actually documents. There are no invented benchmarks here, because none of these projects publish head-to-head TPS numbers. The goal is to help you match the right software to the community you want to run, then point you at the Minecraft server hosting that runs it.
Quick answer: want vanilla-client features and performance? Run Paper (or Purpur). Want a modded experience where players install the client? Run NeoForge on new versions, Forge on older packs, or Fabric for lightweight and performance mods. Want the pure, day-one authentic game? Stay on Vanilla.
| Software | Type | Plugins / Mods | Performance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | Official server | Neither (datapacks only) | Baseline reference | Authentic, day-one play |
| CraftBukkit | Plugin server | Bukkit plugins | Minimal (obsolete) | Legacy only |
| Spigot | Plugin server | Bukkit/Spigot plugins | Faster than vanilla | Mature plugin setups |
| Paper | Plugin server | Bukkit/Spigot/Paper plugins | Best-in-class for plugins | Most plugin servers |
| Purpur | Plugin server | Same as Paper (superset) | Inherits Paper’s | Paper + extra config toggles |
| Forge | Mod loader | Forge mods | Depends on mods | Large content packs, old versions |
| NeoForge | Mod loader | NeoForge mods | Depends on mods | Modern content/tech packs (1.20.5+) |
| Fabric | Mod loader | Fabric mods | Lightweight loader | Performance & fast-updating mods |
| Mohist | Hybrid (EOL) | Forge mods + plugins | Hybrid overhead | Mods + plugins together |
| BungeeCord | Proxy | Proxy plugins | Slower than Velocity* | Legacy networks |
| Velocity | Proxy | Velocity plugins | Faster/stabler than Bungee* | New multi-server networks |
Vanilla (official Mojang server.jar)
Vanilla is the official, unmodified server (server.jar) that Mojang ships free alongside the game. It is the reference implementation: 100% authentic behavior, the most predictable, and always the first to support every new version and snapshot on launch day. Its only built-in extensibility is datapacks and resource packs. There is no native plugin or mod support, no performance optimizations, and only basic admin tooling (ops, whitelist, simple permissions), so it can struggle as a community grows. Choose it when authenticity and instant version support matter more than features. See Vanilla vs modded Minecraft for the fuller trade-off.
CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper & Purpur (the plugin lineage)
These four share one family tree, each forking the one before and staying plugin-compatible with its ancestors: Vanilla → CraftBukkit → Spigot → Paper → Purpur. Anything that runs on an ancestor runs on its descendants. None of them run Forge or Fabric mods.
- CraftBukkit / Bukkit defined the original plugin API that everything else builds on. It has minimal optimization and is effectively obsolete versus Spigot today.
- Spigot is a performance-focused fork of CraftBukkit with extra API and tuning in
spigot.yml. Mature and hugely compatible, but generally slower than Paper and must be self-compiled via BuildTools. - Paper (PaperMC) is the de facto standard for high-performance plugin servers. It markets itself as “the blazing fast Minecraft server,” with asynchronous chunk loading and optimizations to the light engine, hoppers, and entities, plus deep anti-lag config. It runs Bukkit, Spigot, and thousands of Paper-specific plugins, and ships as ready-to-run jars. One caveat: some exploit fixes subtly change vanilla mechanics, which can matter for technical/purist servers.
- Purpur is a drop-in fork of Paper (via Pufferfish) that inherits its optimizations and adds hundreds of extra config options and gameplay toggles. It runs everything Paper runs. The trade-offs are a smaller, donation-funded team and extra features that can introduce non-vanilla behavior.
Rule of thumb: pick Paper for performance plugin servers, Purpur if you want that speed plus extensive tweakability, and plain Spigot/Bukkit only for legacy reasons. Dig deeper in Paper vs Spigot vs Bukkit and Paper vs Purpur.
Forge, NeoForge & Fabric (the mod loaders)
Mod loaders change the actual game, so players usually need the matching client and mods installed to join. Crucially, the three formats are mutually incompatible: a Fabric mod will not run on Forge or NeoForge, and vice versa. You pick one loader and use mods built for it. None of them run Bukkit/Spigot plugins on their own.
- Forge is the long-established loader with a massive, mature library and the broadest historical version coverage (from very old builds through 1.21.x). It is heavier than vanilla, updates to brand-new versions can lag, and much of the scene has migrated to NeoForge on newer versions.
- NeoForge is a community-governed fork of Forge created in mid-2023, and has become the default content/tech loader for roughly 1.20.5 and newer. It has faster, more open update cadence and high (but not 100%) backward compatibility with older Forge mods. Most major mods now ship NeoForge builds. It is not compatible with Fabric and covers fewer very old versions than legacy Forge.
- Fabric is a lightweight, modular loader (Fabric Loader plus Fabric API) that updates quickly to new versions and snapshots and is the common home of popular optimization mods. Its large content/tech modpack library is leaner than Forge/NeoForge, and mods need the Fabric API and a matching client.
Compare the two big families in Forge vs Fabric.
Mohist (the hybrid) and proxies
Mohist is a hybrid that runs Forge mods and Bukkit/Spigot plugins on one server, the only real way to combine both. That bridging is inherently fragile: mod/plugin conflicts are common, and it is not endorsed by Forge or PaperMC. Importantly, the original Mohist is now End of Life, with ownership transferred in January 2025 and updates paused; MohistMC now develops successors, Youer (a NeoForge hybrid) and AsyncYouer (Paper-based). More in What is Mohist?
Proxies are a separate layer. BungeeCord and Velocity are not game servers; they sit in front of several backend servers (which run Paper/Spigot) to form one network with a shared lobby and cross-server transfers. BungeeCord is mature with a larger third-party plugin library due to its age, but PaperMC positions Velocity as the faster, more stable, secure-by-default choice for new networks (Paper’s Waterfall fork is discontinued in its favor). See BungeeCord vs Velocity. You only need a proxy for multi-server networks.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Vanilla if you want the pure, authentic game, day-one version support, and datapacks only.
- Choose Paper (or Purpur) if you want server-side features and admin control (economy, permissions, protection, minigames) with vanilla clients and the best performance. Purpur adds extra config toggles.
- Choose NeoForge for a modded experience with big content/tech mods on modern versions, or Forge for older versions and older packs.
- Choose Fabric for lightweight, performance, or fast-updating mods and quick snapshot support.
- Choose a hybrid (Mohist / successors) only if you truly need both mods and plugins on one server, accepting reduced stability.
- Add a proxy (Velocity for new setups, BungeeCord for legacy) when you want multiple linked servers as one network.
How to Run It
Whichever type you pick, you can deploy it on XGamingServer Minecraft hosting and switch software from the panel. Before you launch, size your memory with our free Minecraft RAM Calculator (modded Forge/NeoForge packs need noticeably more than a lightweight Paper server), and tune your world with the Server Properties tool. For in-game administration afterward, keep our Minecraft commands list handy.
FAQ
What is the difference between plugins and mods?
Plugins (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper/Purpur) are server-side only, so players join with a normal vanilla client and install nothing. Mods (Forge/NeoForge/Fabric) change the game itself and almost always require every player to install the matching loader and mods. A pure plugin server cannot run mods, and a pure mod server cannot run plugins.
Can I run both mods and plugins together?
Only with a hybrid such as Mohist, which bridges Forge mods and Bukkit/Spigot plugins on one server. This is inherently less stable and is not endorsed by Forge or PaperMC. The original Mohist is also now End of Life; its successors are Youer and AsyncYouer.
Are Forge, NeoForge and Fabric mods interchangeable?
No. The three formats are mutually incompatible; a Fabric mod will not run on Forge or NeoForge and vice versa. The one nuance is that NeoForge (a 2023 fork of Forge) has high but not 100% backward compatibility with older Forge mods. Fabric remains incompatible with both.
Is Paper or Purpur faster?
Purpur is a downstream fork of Paper and inherits its optimizations, so performance is broadly similar; Purpur’s emphasis is extra configurability and gameplay toggles rather than more speed. Neither project publishes numeric benchmarks, so treat performance claims as qualitative.
Do I need a proxy like Velocity?
Only if you want to link several servers (lobby, survival, minigames) into one network with cross-server transfers. A single server does not need a proxy. For new networks PaperMC recommends Velocity as faster and more stable than BungeeCord; BungeeCord still has a larger legacy plugin ecosystem.
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