What is Minecraft server software?
Server software is the program that actually runs your Minecraft Java server – Mojang's own Vanilla server, an optimised fork like Paper, or a mod loader like Fabric, Forge or NeoForge. Players always join with the normal game, but the software on the server decides what add-ons it can load.
There are three families:
| Family | Engines on Spot.gg | Add-ons | Do players need to install anything? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | Vanilla, Vanilla (Snapshot) | None | No |
| Plugin servers | Paper, Purpur, Folia | Plugins (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper API) | No – plugins run only on the server |
| Mod loaders | Fabric, NeoForge, Forge | Mods | Usually yes – the same mods in the game |
| Proxy | Velocity | Velocity plugins | No – it links several servers into one network |
The key rule: plugins and mods are not interchangeable. A plugin .jar won't load on Fabric, and a Forge mod won't load on Paper.
What is Paper Minecraft?
Paper (PaperMC) is a free, open-source Minecraft Java server that runs Bukkit and Spigot plugins and is much faster than the Vanilla server. It started as a fork of Spigot, fixes many Vanilla bugs and exploits, and adds hundreds of performance and gameplay settings.
What Paper gives you compared with Vanilla:
- Plugins – permissions (LuckPerms), world protection (WorldGuard), building tools (WorldEdit), basic commands (EssentialsX), map pre-generation (Chunky) and thousands more.
- Better performance – chunks load and save asynchronously, entity and redstone handling is optimised, so the same hardware holds more players with less lag.
- Extra settings –
config/paper-global.ymlandconfig/paper-world-defaults.yml(next to the classicspigot.ymlandbukkit.yml), including a built-in anti-Xray. - The same gameplay – survival, the Nether, the End and redstone work like Vanilla. A few technical tricks that rely on Vanilla bugs (some duplication glitches, TNT duping) are fixed by default.
Paper is "the" default for servers without mods. On Spot.gg it's the second most-used Minecraft engine overall (410 active servers in October 2026), right behind Forge, which mostly runs modpacks.
Paper vs Spigot vs Bukkit: what's the difference?
Bukkit is the original plugin API, Spigot is a server built on it, and Paper is a faster fork of Spigot that runs the same plugins – so you don't need Spigot to use Spigot plugins. Since Minecraft 1.21.4 (late 2024) Paper is developed independently of Spigot (a "hard fork"), but plugins written for Bukkit or Spigot still work on Paper in the vast majority of cases.
That's why Spot.gg offers Paper and its forks and not plain Spigot or Bukkit: you get the same plugins with better performance and quicker updates.
Paper vs Purpur vs Folia: which plugin server to pick?
Pick Paper by default, Purpur if you want more gameplay options, and Folia only for a large server with many players spread out over the map.
| Paper | Purpur | Folia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Based on | Spigot (now independent) | Paper | Paper |
| Plugins | Bukkit, Spigot, Paper | Same as Paper | Only plugins marked Folia-compatible |
| Strength | Speed, stability, huge plugin support | Extra options in purpur.yml (rideable mobs, AFK, gameplay tweaks) |
Splits the world into regions ticked on several CPU threads |
| Versions in our panel | 1.7.10 – 26.3 | 1.14.1 – 26.3 | 1.19.4 – 26.3 |
| Best for | Almost every plugin server | Survival/SMP servers that want to tweak mechanics | Hundreds of players far apart from each other |
Folia is not "faster Paper" for a small server: with players in one area it behaves like a single thread, and many popular plugins don't support it at all. On Spot.gg only one server runs Folia; Purpur has 28.
Which engine do you need for mods: Fabric, NeoForge or Forge?
The one your mods (or your modpack) are built for – mods only work on their own loader and Minecraft version. In short: Fabric for lightweight and performance mods and the newest versions, NeoForge for most new big mods on 1.21+, Forge for older versions and the huge library of 1.12.2–1.20.1 modpacks.
| Loader | Versions in our panel | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 1.14 – 26.3 | Quick updates, performance mods (Lithium, FerriteCore), Cobblemon |
| NeoForge | 1.20.2 – 26.3 | All the Mods 10, Better MC 5 and most new large packs on 1.21.1 |
| Forge | 1.7.10 – 26.3 | RLCraft (1.12.2), Better MC 4 (1.20.1) and over a thousand older packs |
The full comparison, with numbers from our modpack catalog, is in Forge vs NeoForge vs Fabric. Setting up mods step by step is covered in how to make a modded Minecraft server.
Can you run plugins and mods at the same time?
Not reliably – choose plugins (Paper/Purpur) or mods (Fabric/NeoForge/Forge). "Hybrid" engines that try to load both lag behind Minecraft releases and often break with bigger mods or plugins, so we don't recommend them.
If you run a modded server and want plugin-like features, use server-side mods instead: for example LuckPerms exists as a mod, and voice chat works through Simple Voice Chat.
When should you use Vanilla or a snapshot?
Choose Vanilla when you want pure Minecraft exactly as Mojang ships it, with no add-ons – and Vanilla (Snapshot) only to test the next version early. Vanilla is also the best start if you're not sure yet: on Spot.gg you can later switch a Vanilla server to Paper or a mod loader on the same version without losing the world (see below).
Snapshots are test builds of upcoming updates. Worlds opened in a snapshot may not load in older versions, so always use a copy of your world and keep a backup.
What is Velocity?
Velocity is a proxy, not a game server: it connects several Minecraft servers (for example a lobby, survival and minigames) into one network players join with a single address. On its own it doesn't run a world – it needs backend servers behind it, usually Paper. You only need it if you're building a multi-server network.
How much RAM does each engine need?
Vanilla, Paper, Purpur and Folia start at 2 GB; Fabric, NeoForge and Forge at 6 GB, because mods load much more into memory. On Spot.gg a 2 GB server costs $3.90 per month and a 6 GB server $7.55 per month after the free 24-hour trial.
| Engine | Minimum on Spot.gg | Comfortable for |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla, Paper, Purpur | 2 GB | A few friends; 4 GB ($5.99) for 10+ players or many plugins |
| Fabric, NeoForge, Forge | 6 GB | A small mod list; modpacks use their own recommended RAM |
| Velocity | 2 GB | The proxy itself; backend servers are separate |
More RAM does not fix lag on a server that already has enough – CPU, view distance and the number of loaded chunks matter more. Details in how much does a Minecraft server cost.
How do you choose the engine on Spot.gg?
Pick it in the server activation wizard: game Minecraft, then the engine, then the version. Our recommendation:
- No add-ons, just play – Vanilla.
- Plugins, an SMP, a server for friends with protections or ranks – Paper.
- Plugins plus more gameplay options – Purpur.
- Mods or a modpack – the loader the mods require, or simply pick a modpack and the loader is installed for you.
Plugins and mods are installed in the "Addons" tab of the server panel – the list only shows add-ons that match your engine and version.
Can you change the engine later without losing your world?
Yes, from Vanilla: "Information" → "Profile" → "Modify" → "Change engine" switches a Vanilla server to Paper, Purpur, Fabric, NeoForge or Forge on the same Minecraft version, keeping the world and settings. The server has to be stopped, and a mod loader needs at least 6 GB of RAM. Moving between other engines (for example Paper to Fabric) is a reinstall that clears the server files, so download your world first.
Things to know before switching:
- Vanilla → Paper works directly. Paper moves the Nether and the End into separate folders (
world_nether,world_the_end) on the first start. - Paper → Vanilla needs those two folders moved back by hand, otherwise the Nether and the End start empty.
- Modded → non-modded removes every modded block and item from the world.
- Never go down a version without a backup – downgrading can corrupt the world.
FAQ
Is Paper better than Vanilla?
For a multiplayer server, usually yes: Paper runs the same gameplay faster and can load plugins. Choose Vanilla only if you want zero changes or rely on Vanilla-only redstone and duplication mechanics.
Is Paper Minecraft free?
Yes. Paper is free and open-source. On Spot.gg you don't download or install it yourself – you pick Paper in the wizard and the server is ready in a few minutes.
Can Paper run Fabric or Forge mods?
No. Paper runs plugins only. For mods you need Fabric, NeoForge or Forge, and players need the same mods in their game.
What's the best server software for playing with friends?
Paper for a server without mods, a modpack (or Fabric/NeoForge) if you want mods. Both run 24/7 on a host, so friends can join whenever they want – see how to play Minecraft with friends.
Does Bedrock Edition use these engines?
No. Bedrock Edition (consoles, phones, Windows) uses its own server, described in how to make a Minecraft Bedrock server. Bedrock players can join a Paper server with the Geyser plugin – more in Minecraft crossplay.
Which Minecraft versions can I run?
From very old releases (Paper and Forge go back to 1.7.10) up to the latest version, 26.3. Minecraft Java switched to year-based version numbers in 2026 (26.1, 26.2, 26.3), and versions from 26.1 need Java 25 – on Spot.gg the right Java is set automatically.