Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur — Best Minecraft Server Software (2026)
If you run a plugin-based Minecraft server, the software you pick — Spigot, Paper or Purpur — decides your performance and how much you can configure. They're all compatible with the same plugins, but they're not equal. Here's how they compare and which to run.
These aren't rivals so much as a chain: Spigot is the base plugin server, Paper is a fork of Spigot with major performance patches and extra config, and Purpur is a fork of Paper with even more gameplay and config options. Plugins written for Spigot generally work on all three.
Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur at a glance
| Spigot | Paper | Purpur | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | The classic plugin server | Fork of Spigot | Fork of Paper |
| Performance | Okay | Much better (many patches) | Same as Paper + extras |
| Config control | Basic | Extensive (paper-world config) | Most (adds gameplay toggles) |
| Plugin support | Spigot plugins | Spigot + Paper plugins | Spigot + Paper plugins |
| Best for | Legacy/compatibility | Almost everyone | Server owners who want max control |
Which should you run?
- Paper — the modern default. Big performance gains over Spigot, huge config control, and it runs virtually all Spigot plugins. If you're unsure, run Paper.
- Purpur — pick it when you want Paper's performance plus extra gameplay/config toggles (rideable mobs, per-world tweaks, more knobs). Fully Paper-compatible.
- Spigot — only for legacy setups or a specific plugin that needs it. For a new server, Paper or Purpur is the better choice.
Switching from vanilla or Spigot to Paper is usually the single biggest lag fix for a Minecraft server — its patches, entity limits and chunk handling dramatically raise TPS, and your world and plugins carry straight over. Purpur inherits all of that.
Related Minecraft guides
Setting a server up? See how to make a Minecraft server, and if it lags, how to fix Minecraft server lag. Deciding Java vs Bedrock first? See Java vs Bedrock.
Run Paper or Purpur in one click
Our Minecraft hosting lets you switch between Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Fabric, Forge and modpacks in a click, on fast cores with DDoS protection — the software choice made easy.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Paper, Spigot and Purpur?
They build on each other: Spigot is the base plugin server, Paper is a fork of Spigot with major performance patches and more config, and Purpur is a fork of Paper with extra gameplay and config options. Plugins written for Spigot generally work on all three.
Which Minecraft server software is best?
Paper for almost everyone — it's far faster than Spigot, highly configurable, and runs virtually all Spigot plugins. Choose Purpur if you want Paper's performance plus extra gameplay toggles, and Spigot only for legacy setups.
Is Paper better than Spigot?
Yes for most servers — Paper is a fork of Spigot with extensive performance patches (entity limits, chunk handling, mob spawning) and much more config control, while staying compatible with Spigot plugins. Switching to Paper is usually the biggest single lag fix.
Is Purpur better than Paper?
Purpur is Paper plus extra gameplay and configuration options, and it inherits all of Paper's performance. It's better if you want that extra control; if you don't need the extras, plain Paper is simpler and equally fast.
Do plugins work across Paper, Spigot and Purpur?
Generally yes — because Paper and Purpur are forks of Spigot, plugins written for Spigot work on all three. Some plugins additionally use Paper-specific APIs, which run on Paper and Purpur but not plain Spigot.
Should I still use Spigot in 2026?
Only for a legacy setup or a specific plugin that requires it. For a new server, Paper (or Purpur) gives far better performance and config while keeping plugin compatibility, so it's the better default.
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