Minecraft Server Software Compared: Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, NeoForge and Bedrock

Applies to: Minecraft: Java Edition 26.3 and Bedrock Edition (versions checked on 29 September 2026; Vanilla, Paper and Fabric tested on AlmaLinux 9)

The “server software” decides what your Minecraft server can do: plain gameplay, plugins, or mods. Players must use the matching edition, and for mods, the matching mods on their side too. We ran Vanilla, Paper and Fabric 26.3 servers for this comparison.

Vanilla (Mojang’s official server)

• The server.jar from minecraft.net. Exactly the normal game.
• No plugins or mods. Available on the day a new version comes out.
• Best for: small servers for friends who want the pure game.

Paper (plugins, performance)

• Runs plugins (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper API): permissions, economies, land protection, minigames. Players connect with an unmodified client.
• Adds many performance optimisations and settings (config/paper-global.yml, paper-world-defaults.yml, spigot.yml, bukkit.yml, and a plugins/ folder).
• Our test with build 140 for 26.3 reported This server is running Paper version 26.3-140. On 29 September 2026 that build was still marked BETA on PaperMC’s download service; new Minecraft versions get stable Paper builds some days or weeks after release.
• Best for: public or community servers that need plugins.

Fabric (lightweight mods)

• Runs mods; players need the same content mods. Quick to support new versions (Fabric Loader 0.19.5 for 26.3 in our test).
• Performance mods such as Lithium work on the server alone.
• Best for: modded servers with Fabric mods. See install Fabric and make a modded server.

NeoForge and Forge (large mods and modpacks)

• Many big mods and modpacks are made for NeoForge (a fork of Forge) or Forge.
• Support for a new Minecraft version takes longer: for 26.3, NeoForge was at 26.3.0.34-beta and Forge had build 66.0.8 but no “recommended” build yet when we checked.
• Best for: the modpack you want to play, on the version the modpack names.

Bedrock Dedicated Server

• Mojang’s server for Bedrock Edition (phones, consoles, Windows Bedrock). Java players can’t join it, and Bedrock players can’t join Java servers without extra software.
• Current versions (1.26) listen on TCP 19132 and use extra UDP ports for game traffic (the new NetherNet transport); older versions used UDP 19132 and 19133. Open the ports your version uses (see Minecraft ports). Add-ons instead of mods.

Plugins and mods don’t mix

Paper plugins don’t run on Fabric or NeoForge, and mods don’t run on Paper. Pick the software that matches what you want to add, and check that every plugin or mod supports your exact Minecraft version before updating.

Quick choice

• Friends, no extras: Vanilla (or Paper for better performance).
• Plugins, many players: Paper.
• Mods: Fabric, or NeoForge for the modpack you chose.
• Phones and consoles: Bedrock Dedicated Server.

Whatever you choose: give it enough RAM and manage it with console commands. Our Minecraft VPS includes a free Vanilla, Paper or Bedrock installation on request, and our engineers set up modded servers, billed by time.