Minecraft Server Software
Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur - Performance benchmarks and recommendations.
Quick Recommendation
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | Paper | Spigot | Purpur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Players (50) | 19.95 TPS | 19.80 TPS | 19.95 TPS |
| Players (100) | 19.85 TPS | 19.50 TPS | 19.85 TPS |
| Players (200) | 19.60 TPS | 18.90 TPS | 19.55 TPS |
| Chunk Loading | 450/s | 280/s | 445/s |
| Memory (100 players) | 3.2GB | 3.8GB | 3.3GB |
PaperMC
High Performance Minecraft Server
Paper is the most widely used Minecraft server software, powering the majority of public servers. It includes hundreds of optimizations, async chunk loading, and built-in anti-xray.
Advantages
- Best overall performance
- Most popular - huge community
- Frequent updates
- Built-in anti-cheat features
- Compatible with all Spigot plugins
Disadvantages
- Some vanilla mechanics changed
- TNT duping disabled by default
- Slightly different redstone behavior
- Public servers
- Survival/SMP
- Minigame networks
SpigotMC
The Original Plugin Platform
Spigot is the original Bukkit fork that brought plugin support to Minecraft. It maintains closer vanilla parity than Paper and is preferred by some technical players.
Advantages
- Closer to vanilla mechanics
- Most compatible with all plugins
- Very stable and mature
- Large resource library
Disadvantages
- Must build with BuildTools
- Slower than Paper
- No built-in anti-xray
- Technical Minecraft
- Vanilla-like servers
- Legacy compatibility
PurpurMC
Paper Fork with Gameplay Features
Purpur builds on Paper's performance while adding extensive gameplay customization. Rideable mobs, configurable mechanics, and fun additions without extra plugins.
Advantages
- All Paper performance benefits
- Massive gameplay customization
- Reduces plugin count
- Fun server features
Disadvantages
- Can feel less vanilla
- More experimental
- More config options to learn
- Custom features
- Reducing plugin count
- Creative servers
Velocity Proxy
Modern, High-Performance Proxy
Velocity is a modern proxy server by PaperMC. It connects multiple servers together with better performance and security than BungeeCord.
Advantages
- Best proxy performance
- Most secure option
- Supports Forge servers
- Same team as Paper
Disadvantages
- Different plugin ecosystem
- Migration from BungeeCord needed
- Smaller plugin selection
- New networks
- High-traffic networks
- Modded networks
