Edition comes first
Java and Bedrock are separate games with separate server software. Paper, Fabric and Forge are Java-only. Bedrock Dedicated Server is Bedrock-only. Any cross-play is a bridge, not a shared server type.
Server software
Every option, classified honestly.
Minecraft server software is not interchangeable. Editions differ, extension models differ, and some implementations are official while others are community forks. This page states which is which before any support claim.
Catalogue
- Implementations listed
- 10
- Java Edition options
- 7
- Bedrock Edition options
- 3
- Intended launch set
- 5
- Live or installable today
- 0
Extension model comes second
Plugins, mods and add-ons are not synonyms. Paper and Spigot load plugins. Fabric, Forge and NeoForge load mods. Bedrock uses add-ons and behaviour packs. Mixing them requires separate software.
Official status matters
Vanilla and Bedrock Dedicated Server are published by Mojang Studios. Paper, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Purpur, Spigot, PocketMine-MP and Nukkit are community projects with their own maintainers and licences.
Master table
The full catalogue, in one place.
“Support status” describes our hosting support, not the quality of the software. A popular implementation can still be out of scope.
| Software | Edition | Maintainer | Extensions | Support status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla (Java) | Java | Mojang Studios | None | Planned, not built |
| Paper | Java | Community | Plugins | Preview only |
| Fabric | Java | Community | Mods | Preview only |
| Forge | Java | Community | Mods | Planned, not built |
| NeoForge | Java | Community | Mods | Not planned |
| Purpur | Java | Community | Plugins | Not planned |
| Spigot | Java | Community | Plugins | Not planned |
| Bedrock Dedicated Server | Bedrock | Mojang Studios | None | Preview only |
| PocketMine-MP | Bedrock | Community | Plugins | Not planned |
| Nukkit | Bedrock | Community | Plugins | Not planned |
Software names are the property of their respective projects. Listing an implementation is not an endorsement, a licence grant or a claim that it will be available. No third-party software is redistributed here.
Group 1 of 2
Intended launch set
Five implementations are intended for the first release: Vanilla, Paper, Fabric and Forge for Java, plus the official Bedrock Dedicated Server. Vanilla and Forge are marked planned; Paper, Fabric and the Bedrock Dedicated Server appear only in the full application's create-server preview, which is not part of this static marketing export. No installer, version pinning or update path exists.
Vanilla (Java)
Java Edition · Official Mojang Studios software
The official Minecraft Java server published by Mojang Studios.
- Strengths
- No third-party layer, so behaviour matches the base game. Suitable for survival worlds that do not need plugins or mods.
- Constraints
- No plugin or mod API. Performance tuning is limited to the official server properties and JVM flags.
- Support decision
- Planned as the baseline Java option. Update handling and version pinning are not implemented.
Paper
Java Edition · Community-maintained
A community-maintained Java server with performance patches and the Bukkit/Spigot plugin API.
- Strengths
- The practical default for plugin-based communities: broad plugin compatibility and lower tick times than Vanilla on the same hardware.
- Constraints
- Not official Mojang software, so some Vanilla behaviour can differ. Plugins must be checked for compatibility with the chosen Minecraft version.
- Support decision
- Selectable in the create-server preview. No Paper jar, plugin directory or update pipeline exists in this prototype.
Fabric
Java Edition · Community-maintained
A lightweight community mod loader for Java Edition, aimed at fast updates and small mod sets.
- Strengths
- Quick support for new Minecraft versions and a smaller footprint than Forge for modest mod lists.
- Constraints
- Fabric mods are not compatible with Forge or NeoForge mods, and Fabric does not load Bukkit/Spigot plugins. Mod lists need per-mod maintenance at every version bump.
- Support decision
- Selectable in the create-server preview. No mod loader, mod resolution or compatibility checking exists.
Forge
Java Edition · Community-maintained
The long-standing community mod loader for Java Edition, used by many large modpacks.
- Strengths
- The widest catalogue of established modpacks and mods for older and current Minecraft versions.
- Constraints
- Heavier memory and startup cost than Fabric. Mods are not interchangeable with Fabric, and Forge does not load Bukkit/Spigot plugins.
- Support decision
- Shown in the preview as an intended option. Forge installer pipelines and modpack handling are not built.
Bedrock Dedicated Server
Bedrock Edition · Official Mojang Studios software
The official Bedrock server software published by Mojang Studios.
- Strengths
- Official Bedrock behaviour, so console and mobile players connect natively without translation layers.
- Constraints
- No Java plugins or Java mods. Bedrock add-ons and behaviour packs use a different model and are not interchangeable with the Java ecosystem.
- Support decision
- Selectable in the create-server preview. No Bedrock server binary, world or port allocation exists.
Group 2 of 2
Deliberately not planned
Named so the decision is visible. These are not “coming soon”; they are out of scope for the first release, and would need new evidence to change.
NeoForge
Java Edition · Community-maintained
A community fork of Forge used by newer modpacks, particularly on recent Minecraft versions.
- Strengths
- The direction most actively maintained modern Forge-style modpacks are moving towards.
- Constraints
- Separate from Forge: mods must be built for NeoForge. Not every Forge mod has a NeoForge release.
- Support decision
- Not in the planned first-release set. Revisit only if customer research shows demand.
Purpur
Java Edition · Community-maintained
A Paper fork that exposes additional gameplay and performance settings.
- Strengths
- Paper plugin compatibility plus extra configuration knobs for operators who want them.
- Constraints
- A second fork layer to track for updates. Extra settings can change gameplay in ways players notice.
- Support decision
- Not in the planned first-release set. Paper is the supported plugin path; forks add maintenance burden.
Spigot
Java Edition · Community-maintained
The historical community Java server that defined the Bukkit plugin ecosystem.
- Strengths
- Very wide plugin compatibility and long-standing documentation.
- Constraints
- Fewer performance patches than Paper, which is derived from it. Presented for clarity, not as a recommended default.
- Support decision
- Not planned as a separate option. Paper already accepts the same plugin API.
PocketMine-MP
Bedrock Edition · Community-maintained
A third-party Bedrock-protocol server with its own plugin API, written in PHP.
- Strengths
- A large third-party plugin ecosystem and moderate resource use for Bedrock-only servers.
- Constraints
- Not official Mojang software. It does not implement every Bedrock feature, and its plugins are unrelated to Java plugins.
- Support decision
- Not planned. Supporting a second, unofficial Bedrock implementation would multiply compatibility work.
Nukkit
Bedrock Edition · Community-maintained
A third-party Bedrock server implementation written in Java.
- Strengths
- Familiar JVM operating model for teams already running Java infrastructure.
- Constraints
- Not official Mojang software, and feature parity with the official Bedrock server varies by fork and version.
- Support decision
- Not planned. Out of scope for the first release.
Not server software
Bridges and protocol translators are separate things.
These tools are frequently marketed as “Bedrock support” or “any version”. They are translation layers between a client and a server, with their own constraints.
Geyser
A protocol bridge that lets Bedrock clients connect to a Java server.
Role · Optional future convenience for mixed friend groups that want one world.
Not a server and not “Bedrock hosting”. It is a translation layer with its own limitations, so those Java servers still cannot load Bedrock add-ons or run Bedrock-only software.
ViaVersion / ViaProxy
Protocol translation that lets clients on a different Minecraft version connect to a server.
Role · Potential future compatibility aid during version transitions.
Translates protocol, not gameplay. Version translation cannot guarantee that plugins, mods or world formats behave identically.
Bridges are not deployed by this prototype. ViaVersion and ViaProxy are also used by unrelated services on the same physical host; this project does not modify or depend on them.
What this means in practice
A software choice is also a support commitment.
Each supported implementation needs installer logic, update handling, a recommended default configuration and a compatibility statement. That is why the launch set is deliberately small.
What we would commit to
- A documented default version per implementation
- A tested install path and a documented update path
- A named compatibility boundary for plugins or mods
- A backup and restore path that includes server software files
What we will not claim
- “Any version” support — version translation is not bug-free
- “One-click modpack” support for arbitrary modpacks
- Bedrock add-on support on a Java server
- Support for software that is not on this page
Choose an edition
Read the edition page that matches your players.
Java for desktop communities that want plugins or mods. Bedrock for phone, console and Windows players on the official server.
Pre-launch prototype · No live Minecraft server · No payment collected