If you’re building a FiveM roleplay server, the first big decision is your framework. For years that meant ESX vs QBCore — but in 2026 there’s a third name you need to know: QBox, the actively-maintained successor to QBCore. This guide compares all three so you pick the right one.
What a framework actually does
A framework is the backbone that handles players, money, jobs, inventory and the database layer that scripts plug into. Almost every FiveM script is built for a specific framework, so your choice decides your whole ecosystem. All three here use a MySQL/MariaDB database via oxmysql.
ESX
ESX is the older, most widely adopted framework:
- Largest script library — years of community resources; almost anything exists for ESX.
- Simpler and lighter — easier for beginners to learn and modify.
- The most tutorials and community support.
Trade-off: older ESX code is less structured and some legacy resources are unoptimised.
QBCore
QBCore became the standard for modern RP a few years ago — metadata, a modern inventory and tighter systems than classic ESX. Important 2026 reality check: QBCore’s own development has largely stalled, and the community has shifted to its successor, QBox. New servers generally shouldn’t start on original QBCore today.
QBox (the QBCore successor)
QBox is a fork of QBCore that is now the actively-maintained, modern choice:
- Native ox ecosystem — built around
ox_lib,ox_inventoryandoxmysqlout of the box. - Modern Lua 5.4 and cleaner, modular code.
- Better performance — roughly 25–40% less CPU than QBCore depending on load and script count.
- Active development and a fast-growing script library, with straightforward migration from QBCore.
Trade-off: a steeper learning curve than ESX, and some older QBCore scripts need a QBox-compatible version.
ESX vs QBCore vs QBox: which should you pick?
| ESX | QBCore | QBox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Stalled | Active (successor) |
| Best for | Beginners, max script choice | Existing QBCore servers | New modern RP servers |
| Performance | Light | Heavier | Best (ox stack) |
| Learning curve | Easiest | Medium | Steeper |
| Ecosystem | Largest library | Large (legacy) | ox-native, growing fast |
Short version: choose ESX if you’re new or want the widest selection of ready-made scripts; choose QBox if you’re building a modern RP server in 2026 (it’s the recommended QBCore successor); only stay on QBCore if you already have a server invested in it. Your framework is hard to change later, so decide before you build.
Installing your framework
You’ll set up a database and ensure the framework resources in your server.cfg in the correct order — for the ox stack that’s oxmysql → ox_lib → qbx_core → ox_inventory. Our server.cfg generator supports ESX, QBCore and QBox presets, and the simplest path overall is a managed FiveM server that deploys a full framework base in a few clicks.
Frequently asked questions
Is QBox better than QBCore?
For new servers in 2026, yes — QBox is the actively-maintained successor with modern Lua 5.4, native ox ecosystem and roughly 25–40% lower CPU usage. QBCore development has largely stalled.
Should I use ESX or QBox?
ESX if you’re a beginner or want the largest library of existing scripts; QBox if you want a modern, performant, actively-developed RP base.
Can you migrate from QBCore to QBox?
Yes — QBox is a QBCore fork with a documented migration path, though some scripts need QBox-compatible versions.
Do these frameworks need a database?
Yes, all use MySQL/MariaDB via oxmysql to store players, money and characters.
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