Choosing a Minecraft server engine

The engine is the program that runs your Minecraft server. It decides whether you can install plugins or mods, and how well the server copes with more players.

Engine comparison

Plugins run only on the server, so players join with the regular game client. Mods usually have to be installed by every player too.

Which one to choose

• You want plugins (land claims, economy, ranks): choose Paper. It's faster than a regular server and supports plugins written for Bukkit, Spigot and Paper.
• You need more options than Paper has, such as mob behaviour or riding mobs: choose Purpur. It's Paper with extra settings and supports the same plugins.
• You're playing a modpack: choose the engine the modpack requires. Its page always says which.
• You're playing with a few friends and no add-ons: choose Paper here too. Gameplay is almost the same as in Vanilla, but the server uses fewer resources and runs more smoothly.

BungeeCord and Velocity

These aren't game server engines but proxies that join several servers into one network, such as a lobby and separate game modes. Players connect to the proxy, and it moves them between servers. You only need one if you run more than one server. For new networks, we recommend Velocity.

Changing the engine

The client panel is available in Polish only, so its labels are given in Polish with a translation. You change the engine and game version in the client panel's version installer. After the change, start the server and check the Konsola (Console) tab to make sure it started without errors.

Switching from Vanilla to Paper is safe. On its first start, Paper moves the Nether and the End into separate world_nether and world_the_end folders.

Common problems