Paper, Fabric or Forge: which Minecraft server should you run?
Choose the software your world needs before choosing its hosting plan. A plugin-based survival server and a modpack can have different compatibility and resource requirements, even when the player count is the same.
A quick software comparison
| Software | Choose it for | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | A server using Paper-compatible plugins | Plugin support for your Minecraft and Paper versions |
| Purpur | A Paper-based server with additional configuration options | The settings you actually need to change |
| Fabric | Mods and modpacks built for Fabric | Loader, API dependencies and client/server requirements |
| Forge | A modpack or mod collection built for Forge | The exact pack, loader and Minecraft versions |
Start with your plugins or modpack
Write down what changes you want to make to the game. If your list is mostly server plugins, check whether those projects support Paper. If you already chose a Fabric or Forge modpack, use the loader and version specified by its author. Choosing a host first and trying to force an incompatible pack onto the server creates avoidable setup work.
Paper does not run Fabric or Forge mods. A familiar file extension does not make a mod a plugin, and changing the server software does not automatically convert the world or its custom content. Keep the pack name, release and download link together when discussing hosting.
Paper and Purpur for plugin-based servers
Paper is a practical starting point when your required plugins support it. Check each plugin’s supported server versions rather than assuming that a plugin working on an older release will work unchanged after an update.
Purpur builds on Paper and adds configuration and gameplay options. Pick it when you have a reason to use those settings. Neither choice removes the need to check plugins, test your world and keep a recoverable copy before changing software.
Fabric and Forge for modded worlds
For a modded server, follow the modpack’s own installation requirements. Fabric mods need compatible Fabric components; a Forge pack needs its matching Forge setup. Some mods are for clients, some for servers and some for both. Check the project’s documentation instead of uploading every file from a player’s installation.
Custom blocks, items and world data matter when moving a save. Test changes on a copy before using the only version of your community’s world. Ask about compatibility before agreeing an order; listing a software family is not a promise that every third-party pack will run on every plan.
Turn the software choice into a useful hosting request
Sift lists Paper, Purpur, Fabric and Forge for Minecraft hosting, with plans from 4 GB to 12 GB of memory. Use those tiers as resource options, not as a compatibility guarantee. The pack’s requirements and your workload determine which option to discuss.
Send the public information below with your preferred plan. Sift confirms the setup, resources and location on Discord before accepting an order. This helps separate a software mismatch from a need for more memory or CPU resources.
- Minecraft edition and exact version
- Software or modpack name, release and public project link
- Required plugins or mods and whether a world is being moved
- Expected busy periods and where your players are located
Documentation and further reading
- PaperMC: adding plugins
- PaperMC: migrating from Fabric or Forge
- Fabric: installing mods and checking compatibility
- Purpur documentation
For your Sift order, confirm the software, resources and region with us before paying.