Minecraft Server Types Explained: Paper vs Forge vs Vanilla vs BungeeCord

Which Minecraft Server Software Should You Use?

Choosing the right server software is the most important decision you'll make when setting up a Minecraft server. Pick the wrong one and you'll either miss out on features you need, or waste resources on capabilities you don't.

Here's the short version:

Read on for the full breakdown.

Vanilla — The Pure Experience

What it is: The official Mojang server software. Completely unmodified Minecraft, exactly as the developers intended.

Who Should Use Vanilla?

• Small friend groups who want the authentic Minecraft experience
• Players who want to be first on new updates (releases faster than modded alternatives)
• Anyone who wants a Realms alternative with more control and lower cost
• Servers where fairness matters — no plugins that could give advantages

Pros

• ✅ Official Mojang software — maximum compatibility
• ✅ First to receive new Minecraft updates
• ✅ Simplest to set up — no configuration complexity
• ✅ Lightweight — runs well on lower-spec plans
• ✅ Great Realms alternative at a fraction of the cost

Cons

• ❌ No plugin support at all
• ❌ Limited admin tools (no advanced bans, teleports, or permissions)
• ❌ Lower performance compared to optimized forks like Paper
• ❌ No anti-cheat or grief prevention tools
• ❌ Can't customize gameplay mechanics

When to Avoid Vanilla

If you need any kind of plugin — grief protection, teleportation, permissions, economy — Vanilla isn't for you. Even basic admin tools like /home or /tpa require plugins.

HostedGG Vanilla Plans

Get a Vanilla Minecraft server →

Paper — The Performance Powerhouse

What it is: A high-performance fork of Spigot (which itself is a fork of CraftBukkit). Paper is the most popular server software for good reason — it's faster, more stable, and fully compatible with the massive Spigot/Bukkit plugin ecosystem.

Who Should Use Paper?

• Most server owners — Paper is the best all-around choice
• Servers that need plugins (EssentialsX, WorldEdit, LuckPerms, etc.)
• Communities that want anti-grief and anti-cheat protection
• Large servers that need maximum performance
• SMP, Factions, Skyblock, Towny, and most other gamemodes

Pros

• ✅ Significantly faster than Vanilla and Spigot (optimized tick rates, chunk loading, entity AI)
• ✅ Full compatibility with SpigotMC and Bukkit plugins (thousands available)
• ✅ Built-in anti-exploit patches (dupe glitches, chunk ban fixes)
• ✅ Better memory management — handles more players with less RAM
• ✅ Active development with frequent updates
• ✅ Free MySQL database included at HostedGG

Cons

• ❌ Some Vanilla redstone behavior may differ slightly (TNT duplication, etc.)
• ❌ Updates sometimes lag a day or two behind Vanilla releases
• ❌ Not compatible with Forge mods (plugins only)

Paper vs Spigot — What's the Difference?

You might see "Spigot" mentioned elsewhere. Here's the deal:

Bottom line: Paper does everything Spigot does, but better. There is no reason to choose Spigot over Paper in 2026.

Essential Paper Plugins

Getting started? Here are the plugins most servers install:

HostedGG Paper Plans

Get a Paper Minecraft server →

Forge — Modded Minecraft

What it is: The most popular modding platform for Minecraft. Forge lets you install mods that fundamentally change the game — new blocks, items, dimensions, mechanics, machines, magic systems, and more.

Mods vs Plugins — What's the Difference?

This is the most common source of confusion:

Key rule: If you want to add new blocks, items, or fundamentally change gameplay → Forge. If you want server management tools and quality-of-life features → Paper.

Who Should Use Forge?

• Players who want modpacks (ATM, RLCraft, SkyFactory, FTB, Tekkit, etc.)
• Groups that want tech mods (Mekanism, Thermal, Applied Energistics)
• Groups that want magic mods (Thaumcraft, Botania, Ars Nouveau)
• Anyone who wants a completely different Minecraft experience
• Custom modpack creators

Pros

• ✅ Thousands of mods that fundamentally transform the game
• ✅ 250+ one-click modpack installation at HostedGG
• ✅ Massive modding community with constant new content
• ✅ Supports gameplay impossible in Vanilla (tech trees, new dimensions, quests)

Cons

• ❌ Requires much more RAM than Paper or Vanilla (4-8GB minimum)
• ❌ All players must install the same mods/modpack on their client
• ❌ Mods can conflict with each other — debugging can be complex
• ❌ Updates lag behind Vanilla (mod authors need time to update)
• ❌ Not compatible with Spigot/Bukkit plugins (different ecosystem)
• ❌ Generally lower server performance than Paper

Popular Modpacks

HostedGG Forge Plans

Note: Forge servers need more RAM because mods add complexity. Light modpacks work on 4GB; heavy ones (ATM, RLCraft) need 6-8GB.

Get a Forge Minecraft server →

BungeeCord — The Network Proxy

What it is: BungeeCord isn't a game server — it's a proxy that connects multiple Minecraft servers into a single network. Players connect to BungeeCord, which routes them to whichever backend server they want.

Who Should Use BungeeCord?

• Server owners running multiple gamemodes (Survival + Minigames + Creative)
• Anyone building a server network (like Hypixel or Mineplex)
• Large communities that want a single IP for all their servers
• Networks that need cross-server chat, permissions, and parties

How It Works

Players connect to: play.yourserver.com
         ↓
    [BungeeCord Proxy]
     ↙     ↓      ↘
[Survival] [Minigames] [Creative]
 (Paper)    (Paper)      (Paper)

Players join one IP address. BungeeCord routes them to the default server (usually a hub/lobby). From there, they can transfer between servers using commands (/server survival) or portals.

Pros

• ✅ Single IP for your entire network
• ✅ Players transfer between servers without disconnecting
• ✅ Cross-server features (global chat, shared bans, parties)
• ✅ Each gamemode runs on separate hardware for better performance
• ✅ Scale by adding more backend servers as you grow

Cons

• ❌ You need separate Minecraft servers for each gamemode (additional cost)
• ❌ Configuration is more complex
• ❌ Not needed for single-server setups
• ❌ Requires IP forwarding setup for security

BungeeCord vs Velocity

You might also hear about Velocity, a newer alternative:

Both work at HostedGG. BungeeCord has more plugins; Velocity is technically superior. For new networks, Velocity is the better choice. For existing networks with BungeeCord plugins, stick with Bungee.

HostedGG BungeeCord Plans

BungeeCord proxies are very lightweight. Even the Starter plan can handle hundreds of simultaneous connections.

Get a BungeeCord proxy →

Side-by-Side Comparison

*Paper patches some redstone exploits (like TNT duplication) by default. These can be re-enabled in config.

Decision Flowchart

Not sure yet? Answer these questions:

1. Do you want mods that add new items, blocks, or dimensions?

• Yes → Forge
• No → Continue

2. Do you need plugins (permissions, economy, teleports, protection)?

• Yes → Paper
• No → Continue

3. Are you connecting multiple servers together?

• Yes → BungeeCord (+ Paper for each backend server)
• No → Continue

4. Do you just want plain Minecraft with friends?

• Yes → Vanilla

Still unsure? Go with Paper. It's the most versatile option — you get plugin support, better performance, and you can always choose not to install any plugins for a near-vanilla experience.

Can I Switch Later?

Switching between Vanilla and Paper is always safe. Switching to/from Forge is risky because mod content doesn't exist in non-Forge servers.

Ready to start? Pick your Minecraft server type:

• Paper Minecraft → — Best for most servers
• Forge Minecraft → — For modpacks and mods
• Vanilla Minecraft → — Pure Minecraft
• BungeeCord → — For server networks

All plans include DDoS protection, instant setup, and a free MySQL database.