Minecraft Server Software Comparisons

Comparisons

• Best Minecraft server software: which one fits your server?
  Best Minecraft server software by use case: vanilla, plugins (Paper, Purpur), mods (Fabric, NeoForge, Forge), hybrids, proxies and Bedrock.
• Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge (and Quilt)
  Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge for a modded server: supported Minecraft versions, how each server is installed, Java needs and which loader to choose.
• Minecraft 26.x vs 1.21.11: which version should your server run?
  Should your server run Minecraft 26.x or 1.21.11? Live data on which server software supports each, Java 25 vs 21, and how to upgrade safely.
• Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur
  Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur with live data: latest builds, Java, jar size, downloads and plugin compatibility. Short answer: most servers should run Paper.
• Velocity vs BungeeCord vs Waterfall
  Velocity vs BungeeCord vs Waterfall: status, default ports, plugin APIs, forwarding and Java. Waterfall is unsupported; new networks use Velocity.

Server software by category

• Hybrid servers: Forge/NeoForge mods and Bukkit plugins together
  Hybrid Minecraft servers run Forge/NeoForge mods and Bukkit plugins together: Mohist, Arclight and Magma, with supported versions and caveats.
• Minecraft plugin servers (Bukkit/Paper API)
  Every Minecraft plugin server: Paper, Purpur, Spigot, CraftBukkit, Folia, Pufferfish, Leaf and Leaves, with latest versions, Java and differences.
• Minecraft proxy servers: Velocity, BungeeCord and Waterfall
  What a Minecraft proxy does and which to use: Velocity, BungeeCord and Waterfall with default ports, plugin APIs, forwarding and latest builds.
• Modded Minecraft servers: Fabric, NeoForge, Forge and Quilt
  Modded Minecraft servers: Fabric, NeoForge, Forge and Quilt compared by supported versions, install method and required Java, from live build data.

Or browse every server software and the latest version of each.