Deciding which Minecraft server type to use can be very daunting as there are many available, all with different features.
The best way to decide, is to try them out and see if they suit your needs, but this can be very time-consuming, so we've created a summary for each of the most popular server types, so you can make your decision based on that instead.
Please note: We support all server types, and all mod packs, so if you cannot find the server type or modpack you want, contact us and we'll get it setup for you.
Server Type | Mods? | Plugins? | Notes |
Vanilla | No | No | The default version of Minecraft. No mods, no plugins. |
Forge | Yes | No | Forge is a server type that allows mods, but no plugins. It requires players to install Forge on their PC to run mods and connect to Forge type servers. |
SpongeForge | Yes | Yes | SpongeForge is a mod for Forge, not actually a server type. However, it does make changes that allow Sponge plugins to be installed on a Forge type server. This is useful if you want to use a Forge modpack / mods with additional plugins. |
Craftbukkit | No | Yes | It allows server-sided modifications (plugins), however, no client-side modifications are required to play this. |
Spigot | No | Yes | This is simply an optimized version of Craftbukkit. It allows server-sided modifications (plugins), however, no client-side modifications are required to play this. |
PaperMC | No | Yes | Paper is the next generation of Minecraft servers, compatible with Spigot plugins, offering uncompromising performance. |
Purpur | No | Yes | Purpur is a drop-in replacement for Paper servers designed for configurability and new, fun, exciting gameplay features. |
Pufferfish | No | Yes | A highly optimized Paper fork designed for large servers requiring both maximum performance, stability, and "enterprise" features. |