Scripts (resources) are what turn a blank FiveM server into a living roleplay world — inventory, voice, jobs, economy and UI. In 2026 the ecosystem has consolidated around a standardized, high-performance stack, so you no longer have to guess. This guide covers the essential FiveM scripts every server needs and how to add them.
The modern FiveM stack (2026 standards)
These resources have become the de-facto defaults — using anything else is usually a step down:
- txAdmin — the official web panel for managing and monitoring your server, now a native FXServer component. See our txAdmin setup guide.
- oxmysql — the standard database layer (async, node-mysql2). Almost every modern script depends on it.
- ox_lib — the shared library that provides menus, notifications and UI that other resources build on.
- ox_inventory — the de-facto free inventory in 2026. Slot-based with item metadata (weapon serials, durability), built-in shops and evidence lockers, and brutally efficient (around 0.08 ms idle with 64 players). Runs on ESX, QBCore and QBox via a bridge.
- ox_target — the “Third Eye” interaction model with optimised raycasting that handles hundreds of interaction points without tanking client FPS.
- pma-voice — the standard proximity voice system, with radio channels and grid-optimised proximity. Pairs with FiveM’s built-in Mumble server.
Start with these and you have a fast, maintainable foundation that virtually every other script is designed to work with.
What you build on top
With the stack above in place, you add the content that defines your server:
- Framework — ESX, QBCore or QBox (see ESX vs QBCore vs QBox); QBox ships with the ox stack natively.
- Jobs — police, EMS, mechanic and legal/illegal jobs (most modern ones use ox_target + ox_lib).
- Economy & banking — money, ATMs and shops that drive the RP loop.
- HUD/UI — health, hunger, money and status overlays.
- Anticheat — essential for any public server.
Where to get FiveM scripts
The official cfx.re forum and GitHub (the Overextended org for the ox resources) host the core free stack, while marketplaces like Tebex sell premium jobs and systems. Always confirm a script matches your framework and is actively maintained — an abandoned script can break with FiveM updates or hurt performance.
How to add a script to your server
- Place the resource folder in your
resourcesdirectory (often under[scripts]or your framework group). - Import any database SQL it requires.
ensure resourcenamein your server.cfg — mind the load order (oxmysql → ox_lib → framework → ox_inventory).- Restart and check the console for errors.
The resource’s fxmanifest.lua declares its scripts and dependencies — our fxmanifest guide explains it.
Keep performance in mind
Every script costs CPU. Use the in-game resmon (resource monitor) to watch each resource’s ms — a few bad scripts can lag a whole server. The reason the ox stack is recommended is precisely this: it’s built for low resource cost. Quality over quantity, and remove anything you don’t use.
Build faster with our FiveM tools
Editing vehicle, weapon and ped data by hand is painful — our free weapons, vehicles and peds tools, plus the server.cfg generator (ESX/QBCore/QBox presets), do the fiddly work for you. Run it all on a managed FiveM server for the single-thread CPU these scripts need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best FiveM inventory script?
ox_inventory is the 2026 default — free, slot-based with metadata, very low resource cost, and compatible with ESX, QBCore and QBox.
What scripts does every FiveM server need?
The core stack: txAdmin, oxmysql, ox_lib, ox_inventory, ox_target and pma-voice, plus a framework and your chosen jobs/economy scripts.
Why is my FiveM server lagging?
Usually a heavy or broken script. Use resmon in-game to find resources with high ms and optimise or remove them.
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