Best Minecraft Server Software in 2025
Choosing the right server software is crucial for your Minecraft server. This guide compares all major options to help you make the best choice.
Quick Recommendations
- Best overall: Paper
- Best for customization: Purpur
- Best for mods: Fabric
- Best for vanilla experience: Vanilla
Server Software Categories
Minecraft server software falls into several categories based on what they support and how they modify the game.
Plugin Servers
These servers support plugins through the Bukkit/Spigot API. They are the most popular choice for multiplayer servers.
Paper
Paper is the most popular server software. It is a fork of Spigot with significant performance improvements and bug fixes. Paper is the recommended choice for most servers.
- Best performance of any plugin server
- Full Spigot plugin compatibility
- Active development and community
- Fixes many vanilla bugs and exploits
Purpur
Purpur is a fork of Paper that adds even more configuration options and gameplay features. Great for servers that want maximum customization.
- All Paper features plus more
- Extensive configuration options
- Fun additions like rideable mobs
- Perfect for custom game modes
Spigot
Spigot is the original plugin server that Paper is based on. It is still widely used but Paper is generally recommended for better performance.
Mod Loaders
Mod loaders allow you to install Minecraft mods that modify the game more deeply than plugins.
Fabric
Fabric is a lightweight mod loader focused on performance and quick updates. It has become the preferred choice for many mod developers.
- Fast updates for new Minecraft versions
- Lightweight and performant
- Growing mod ecosystem
- Great for performance mods
Forge / NeoForge
Forge is the longest-running mod loader with the largest mod library. NeoForge is a modern fork that continues development.
- Largest mod selection
- Best for complex modpacks
- Slower updates than Fabric
Proxies
Proxies allow you to connect multiple servers together into a network.
Velocity
Velocity is a modern, high-performance proxy. It is the recommended choice for new server networks.
BungeeCord / Waterfall
BungeeCord is the original Minecraft proxy. Waterfall is a fork with additional features and improvements.
Comparison Table
| Software | Type | Performance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Plugin Server | Excellent | Most servers |
| Purpur | Plugin Server | Excellent | Custom servers |
| Spigot | Plugin Server | Good | Legacy setups |
| Fabric | Mod Loader | Excellent | Performance mods |
| Forge | Mod Loader | Good | Large modpacks |
| Vanilla | Official | Baseline | Pure experience |
Conclusion
For most Minecraft servers, Paper is the best choice. It offers the best balance of performance, stability, and plugin compatibility.
If you need mods, choose between Fabric (modern, fast) or Forge (largest mod library) based on which mods you want to use.
Browse all available server software on MCServerJars.