Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur vs Vanilla: Which Minecraft Server?
For most public or survival servers that want plugins, run Paper. Run Vanilla if you want the unmodified game with no add-ons, and Fabric, NeoForge or Forge if you want mods that change the game itself. Spigot and Purpur sit in the plugin family alongside Paper: Spigot is the older base, and Purpur is a Paper-based option with extra configuration.
The real decision is not performance but what you want to add. Plugins and mods are different things and do not run on the same software. This guide was checked against the projects' own documentation in November 2026.
- Vanilla: Mojang's own server. No plugins or mods.
- Paper: the common choice for plugin servers. Its docs call it a drop-in replacement for Spigot and CraftBukkit.
- Spigot: must be built locally with BuildTools. Few reasons to choose it over Paper today.
- Purpur: based on Paper and focused on configurability and extra gameplay features.
- Fabric, NeoForge, Forge: mod loaders. Mods and plugins are not interchangeable.
On this page
Quick comparison
| Software | Adds | Plugins | Mods | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | Nothing | No | No | Unmodified survival with friends |
| Paper | Performance work, extra API and config | Yes (Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugins) | No | Most plugin servers, minigames, survival communities |
| Spigot | Plugin API, some tuning | Yes | No | Cases that specifically require Spigot |
| Purpur | Many extra configuration options and gameplay features | Yes | No | Paper servers that want more tweakability |
| Fabric | Mod loader | No (on its own) | Yes (Fabric mods) | Lightweight mod setups and performance mods |
| NeoForge / Forge | Mod loader | No (on its own) | Yes (loader-specific mods) | Large content modpacks |
Vanilla
Vanilla is the server jar Mojang publishes. It gets every new version first and has no extra moving parts, which makes it the right pick for a small private world where you want the game exactly as shipped. The trade-off is that you cannot add plugins, and the options for tuning performance are the ones in server.properties.
Paper
Paper's documentation describes it as a Minecraft Java server designed to greatly improve performance and offer more advanced features and API. It is described as a drop-in replacement for CraftBukkit and Spigot, so Bukkit and Spigot plugins work, and moving from Vanilla is straightforward because Paper converts world saves automatically. One difference the docs call out is that Paper keeps per-dimension data such as game rules.
- Paper also has its own Paper plugin format, which uses a newer plugin loading framework. Paper plugins only work with Paper, while Bukkit plugins can run on other software.
- Its global configuration lives in
config/paper-global.yml. - A 26.x Paper server needs Java 25. Older versions need older Java: Java 21 for 1.20 to 1.21.11.
Paper's downloads page currently lists builds for 26.3. When a Minecraft version has just released, check that Paper has a build for it before you update.
Spigot
Spigot was the dominant plugin server before Paper, and its API is the base most plugins are written against. The catch is distribution. According to SpigotMC's own documentation, Spigot is not offered as a ready-made download because of a 2014 DMCA takedown against CraftBukkit, and BuildTools is the legal workaround that builds the jar on your machine.
java -jar BuildTools.jar --rev latestFor most servers, Paper does everything Spigot does and is simpler to install. Choose Spigot only if you have a specific reason to.
Purpur
Purpur describes itself as Minecraft server software based on Paper, and supports plugins for the Bukkit, Spigot and Paper APIs. Its documentation calls it a drop-in replacement for Paper designed for configurability and extra gameplay features. Choose it if you want to change small gameplay behaviours without writing plugins; the cost is a larger set of options to learn. Check its download page for your Minecraft version, since the documentation does not list supported versions.
Fabric, NeoForge and Forge
These are mod loaders, not plugin servers. They load mods that change the game's code, which is how they add new dimensions, machines or mobs. Fabric calls itself modular and lightweight. NeoForge and Forge are commonly used for larger content packs. A server runs one loader, and players need the matching mods on the client for content mods.
Fabric, NeoForge and Forge do not run Bukkit or Spigot plugins by themselves. If you want both mods and plugins, you need a hybrid project that does both; those are separate software with their own compatibility trade-offs, so research a specific one before committing. Setup steps for the loaders are in the modded server guide in this section.
Plugins vs mods, and how to choose
- Plugins use a server API such as Bukkit, Spigot or Paper. They add commands, economies, protections and minigames, and players join with an unmodified Minecraft client.
- Mods change the game through a mod loader. They can add content players see and often must be installed on the client.
- Want the plain game and nothing else? Vanilla.
- Want permissions, claims, economy or minigames with a normal client? Paper.
- Want Paper plus extra tweaks? Purpur.
- Want new blocks, machines or a known modpack? Use the loader that pack requires.
Hosting with ChicagoServers? The Minecraft server hosting page lists what is included, such as one-click mod and modpack installs, free server backups and SFTP file access. Switching software on an existing world is straightforward from Vanilla to Paper, but going from plugins to a mod loader means starting that setup again. Back up the world first either way.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paper better than Spigot?
For most servers, Paper does everything Spigot does, is a drop-in replacement, and focuses on performance and additional API. Spigot is only needed if you have a specific reason.
Can I use Fabric mods and Paper plugins together?
Not on standard Fabric or Paper. Mods need a mod loader and plugins need a plugin server. Hybrid projects exist but need separate evaluation.
Do Bukkit and Spigot plugins work on Paper?
Yes. Paper's documentation describes it as a drop-in replacement for CraftBukkit and Spigot.
What is Purpur?
A server based on Paper that is designed for configurability and adds extra gameplay features. It supports Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugins.