ESX vs QBCore: Which FiveM Framework Should You Choose?

Compare ESX Legacy and QBCore frameworks for your FiveM RP server — features, architecture, and which is right for your community.

ESX and QBCore are the two dominant roleplay frameworks for FiveM. Both are free, open-source, and actively maintained. This guide compares them to help you choose.

Quick Comparison

Feature	ESX Legacy	QBCore
Multicharacter	Addon (`esx_multicharacter`)	Built-in
Gang system	Addon	Built-in with grades
Inventory	Default F2 menu (or ox_inventory)	Built-in `qb-inventory`
Jobs	32 addon job resources	~50 qb-* job resources
Economy	Bank accounts, billing, society	Cash, bank, crypto
Starting money	50,000 bank	500 cash + 5,000 bank
Phone	Addon	Built-in (`qb-phone`)
HUD	Addon	Built-in (`qb-hud`)
Voice	pma-voice (addon)	pma-voice + qb-radio
MySQL resource	oxmysql	oxmysql
OneSync	Required (1.7.5+)	Required
txAdmin recipe	Yes	Yes
License	GPL	GPLv3

Technical Differences

Aspect	ESX	QBCore
Player loaded event	`esx:playerLoaded`	`QBCore:Client:OnPlayerLoaded`
Get player data	`ESX.GetPlayerData()`	`QBCore.Functions.GetPlayerData()`
Server callbacks	`ESX.RegisterServerCallback`	`QBCore.Functions.CreateCallback`
Register usable items	`ESX.RegisterUsableItem`	`QBCore.Functions.CreateUseableItem`
Notifications	`esx:showAdvancedNotification`	`QBCore:Notify`

Scripts written for one framework do not work on the other without conversion.

When to Choose ESX

You want the largest script ecosystem — ESX has been around longer and has more third-party resources available
You're migrating from an existing ESX server
You prefer more modular architecture — pick only the addons you need

When to Choose QBCore

You want more built-in features out of the box (phone, HUD, gangs, multicharacter)
You're starting a new server from scratch and want a complete package
Your community prefers QBCore scripts (increasingly common for newer RP servers)

Can You Switch Later?

Switching between frameworks is a major migration — it requires converting all scripts, re-importing the database, and retraining admins. Choose carefully before building your server.