Paper vs. Purpur vs. Spigot

The short answer

For many new plugin-based servers, Paper is a practical starting point. Purpur is useful when you want the Paper ecosystem with more gameplay configuration, while Spigot is the older foundation that helped establish the modern Bukkit plugin ecosystem.

What is Spigot?

Spigot is Minecraft Java server software designed around the Bukkit plugin API. It allows server owners to install plugins that add commands, permissions, minigames, moderation tools, gameplay systems, and many other features without requiring players to install the same modifications on their computers.

Spigot has existed for a long time and is an important part of the Minecraft server ecosystem. Many plugins describe themselves as Bukkit or Spigot plugins because of this history.

What is Paper?

Paper is server software built from the Bukkit/Spigot ecosystem with additional performance work, fixes, configuration options, and APIs for plugin developers.

One major advantage is compatibility: a large number of plugins designed for Bukkit or Spigot servers also work on Paper. Exact compatibility still depends on the individual plugin and Minecraft version, so you should always check the plugin's requirements.

Paper is a good choice when:

• You want to run plugins.
• You want a familiar Bukkit-style plugin ecosystem.
• You want more server-side optimization and configuration than a basic vanilla server.
• You are creating a general survival, SMP, minigame, or community server.

What is Purpur?

Purpur is based on Paper and adds even more configuration choices. Its goal is not simply to provide plugin support, but also to give server owners additional control over gameplay behavior.

That can be useful for a server with unusual gameplay rules or for an owner who wants to customize mechanics without writing a custom plugin for every small change.

Purpur is a good choice when:

• You already like the Paper ecosystem.
• You want additional gameplay configuration.
• You enjoy fine-tuning how your server behaves.
• Your plugins and Minecraft version are compatible with it.

Which one has the best plugin compatibility?

The three platforms are related, which means there is substantial overlap in their plugin ecosystems. However, compatibility should never be assumed for every plugin.

A plugin may depend on a particular Minecraft version, server API, or Paper-specific feature. Before changing software on an existing server, check the documentation for your important plugins and make a backup.

Which should you choose?

Can you switch later?

Server software can often be changed later, but changing the software underneath an existing world should be treated carefully. Plugins, configuration files, world behavior, and server features can differ.

Always make a backup before making a major server software or Minecraft version change.

What about Fabric and Forge?

Fabric and Forge serve a different purpose. They are mod loaders, while Paper, Purpur, and Spigot are primarily associated with server-side plugins. If you want a modded server, read our Fabric vs. Forge guide next.