Catalogue
Server software
Software that runs a Minecraft server, and proxies that sit in front of one. Build counts and checksums come from each project's own API, and every download links to the original host.
High performance Minecraft server software with a plugin API, built on Spigot and Bukkit.
- Minecraft versions
- 66 versions
- Builds
- 5.6k builds
SpigotServer software26.2The long-running Bukkit fork that defined the plugin API most server plugins are still written against.
- Minecraft versions
- 67 versions
- Builds
- 3.9k builds
SpongeServer software26.2Server platform with its own plugin API, available for vanilla and for Forge.
- Minecraft versions
- 93 versions
- Builds
- 2.9k builds
MohistServer softwareHybrid server for running Forge mods and Bukkit plugins on the same instance.
- Minecraft versions
- 9 versions
- Builds
- 2.4k builds
BungeeCordProxyThe original Minecraft proxy, moving players between servers on a network.
- Minecraft versions
- 22 versions
- Builds
- 2.0k builds
ArclightServer softwareHybrid server that runs Bukkit plugins alongside Forge or Fabric mods.
- Minecraft versions
- 11 versions
- Builds
- 1.5k builds
Velocity-CTDProxyCommunity fork of Velocity carrying features and fixes the upstream proxy has not taken.
- Minecraft versions
- 1304 versions
- Builds
- 1.3k builds
CanvasServer software26.2Paper fork that moves chunk generation and entity ticking onto more threads.
- Minecraft versions
- 12 versions
- Builds
- 1.1k builds
LeafServer software26.2Paper fork aimed at squeezing more performance out of a busy survival server.
- Minecraft versions
- 11 versions
- Builds
- 1.0k builds
ASPaperServer software26.2Advanced Slime Paper: Paper with the Slime world format, for fast world loading.
- Minecraft versions
- 17 versions
- Builds
- 833 builds
Modern, high performance Minecraft proxy with its own plugin API and its own release line.
- Minecraft versions
- 502 versions
- Builds
- 502 builds
BungeeCord fork that proxies players between Minecraft servers. Superseded by Velocity.
- Minecraft versions
- 11 versions
- Builds
- 487 builds
LeavesServer softwarePaper fork that restores vanilla behaviours Paper changed, for technical players.
- Minecraft versions
- 18 versions
- Builds
- 465 builds
PocketMine-MPServer softwareThe long-running Bedrock server written in PHP, with its own plugin API and the Poggit plugin catalogue behind it.
- Minecraft versions
- 437 versions
- Builds
- 437 builds
YouerServer softwareHybrid server from the Mohist project, targeting newer Minecraft versions.
- Minecraft versions
- 1 versions
- Builds
- 427 builds
DivineMCServer software26.2Purpur fork focused on throughput, with reworked chunk and entity handling.
- Minecraft versions
- 20 versions
- Builds
- 388 builds
Mojang's own server for Bedrock Edition, so phone, console and Windows players can join without a translation layer. Every release since 2018.
- Minecraft versions
- 373 versions
- Builds
- 373 builds
PufferfishServer softwarePaper fork tuned for large player counts, with async pathfinding and entity optimisations.
- Minecraft versions
- 18 versions
- Builds
- 239 builds
Paper fork that adds hundreds of gameplay and configuration options, from ridable mobs to fine grained mechanics toggles.
- Minecraft versions
- 40 versions
- Builds
- 223 builds
MagmaServer softwareHybrid server combining Forge mods with the Bukkit plugin API.
- Minecraft versions
- 6 versions
- Builds
- 213 builds
Waterfall fork with multi-protocol support for older Minecraft clients.
- Minecraft versions
- 5 versions
- Builds
- 157 builds
PlutoServer software26.2Lightweight Paper fork with a focus on a small, auditable patch set.
- Minecraft versions
- 18 versions
- Builds
- 121 builds
Paper fork that splits the world into independently ticking regions across multiple threads.
- Minecraft versions
- 11 versions
- Builds
- 116 builds
GateProxyA fast Minecraft proxy written in Go, a lightweight alternative to Velocity and BungeeCord for routing players between servers on one network.
- Minecraft versions
- 100 versions
- Builds
- 100 builds
LooHP LimboServer software26.2Minimal limbo server that holds players while the real server restarts.
- Minecraft versions
- 27 versions
- Builds
- 47 builds
GlowstoneServer softwareA Minecraft server written from scratch rather than forked from vanilla, with the Bukkit and Spigot plugin APIs.
- Minecraft versions
- 28 versions
- Builds
- 28 builds
NanoLimboServer softwareVery small limbo server, designed to use almost no memory per player.
- Minecraft versions
- 16 versions
- Builds
- 16 builds
CuberiteServer softwareA lightweight Minecraft server written in C++, designed to run well on very modest hardware with its own plugin system.
- Minecraft versions
- 3 versions
- Builds
- 3 builds
PowerNukkitXServer softwareA Minecraft Bedrock server written in Java, forked from Nukkit and kept current with the modern Bedrock protocol, with plugins and a command system.
- Minecraft versions
- 3 versions
- Builds
- 3 builds
Choosing Minecraft server software
Vanilla is Mojang’s own server jar and runs the game exactly as designed. Everything else here is a fork or a rewrite that adds something: plugin support, more performance, or both.
Paper is the default choice for most public servers: it takes the Bukkit and Spigot plugin ecosystem and adds years of performance work on top. Purpur and Pufferfish push performance and configuration further. Folia rewrites the server to use many threads for very large player counts.
A proxy such as Velocity or BungeeCord is not a server on its own. It sits in front of several servers and moves players between them without a disconnect, which is how a network runs a lobby, survival and minigames behind one address.
Common questions about server software
Which server software should I use?
For a plugin server, Paper is the safe default. If you want more performance, Purpur and Pufferfish build on Paper. For mods rather than plugins you need Fabric or Forge server software instead. For several servers behind one address, add a Velocity proxy in front.
What is the difference between a build and a version?
A Minecraft version is a release like 26.2. A build is one compiled snapshot of the server software for that version; Paper alone publishes thousands. The newest build for your version is almost always the one to run.
Are these downloads official?
Yes. Every build links to the project's own release or API. MCReference indexes what exists and shows the checksum; it never mirrors or repackages a jar.
Do plugins work on any server software?
Plugins target a server API, not the game. A Bukkit or Spigot plugin runs on Paper, Purpur and most forks of them, but not on a modded server, which uses mods instead.