Minecraft Server Types Explained (Vanilla, Paper, Forge, Fabric)
Compare all Minecraft server types — Vanilla, CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, Forge, Fabric, and more.
Choosing the right server type is one of the most important decisions for your Minecraft server. Each type has different features, performance characteristics, and compatibility.
Server Type Comparison
| Type | Plugins | Mods | Performance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | No | No | Baseline | Pure Minecraft experience |
| CraftBukkit | Yes | No | Good | Legacy — replaced by Spigot |
| Spigot | Yes | No | Better | Basic plugin servers |
| Paper | Yes | No | Best | Most servers (recommended) |
| Purpur | Yes | No | Best | Paper + extra features |
| Pufferfish | Yes | No | Best | High-player-count servers |
| Forge | No | Yes | Varies | Modpacks, modded servers |
| NeoForge | No | Yes | Varies | Modern Forge fork (1.20.2+) |
| Fabric | No | Yes | Good | Lightweight mods |
| Quilt | No | Yes | Good | Fabric fork with extras |
| Sponge | Sponge | Forge | Varies | Plugins on Forge servers |
| Mohist/Magma | Yes | Yes | Varies | Forge + Bukkit hybrid |
Detailed Breakdown
Paper (Recommended for Most Servers)
Paper is an optimized fork of Spigot with significant performance improvements, bug fixes, and additional API features. It's compatible with all Bukkit and Spigot plugins.
Forge / NeoForge (For Modpacks)
Forge is the standard for content mods that add new blocks, items, dimensions, and mechanics. Most popular modpacks (RLCraft, ATM, Create) require Forge. NeoForge is the modern fork for Minecraft 1.20.2+.
Fabric (For Lightweight Mods)
Fabric is a lightweight mod loader that's popular for performance mods, quality-of-life tweaks, and technical Minecraft. It loads faster and uses less resources than Forge.
Hybrid Servers (Mohist/Magma)
These run both Forge mods and Bukkit plugins simultaneously. Useful but can have compatibility issues — use only when you specifically need both.
How to Change Server Type
Go to Startup on the XGamingServer panel and select your desired server type from the JAR dropdown.
⚠️ Warning: Changing server types may require a fresh world. Modded worlds won't load properly on Vanilla/Paper, and vice versa. Always backup first.
💡 Tip: If you're unsure, start with Paper. It has the best performance, largest plugin ecosystem, and you can always switch later.
See also: Changing Versions | Install Custom JAR
If you need help, join our Discord.
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