We have a video guide on how to pick your Minecraft server type.
Regular & Modded
Regular server types like Vanilla, Spigot, and Craftbukkit do not require client modifications, however, server types like Forge do require a custom Minecraft client that you must download and install on your computer. Additionally, these modded server types may also require you to install specific mods or mod packs onto your computer.
Related Article: How to Set / Change Your Server Type
Server Types
| Server Type | Modded? | Notes |
| Vanilla | No | The default version of Minecraft with absolutely no modifications. This is the raw version provided by Mojang. |
| PaperMC | No | This is an optimized version of Craftbukkit/Spigot. It is the most popular server type and typically what we recommend users to use. |
| Craftbukkit/Spigot | No | This is a common server type. It allows server-sided modifications (plugins), however, no client-side modifications are required to play this. |
| BungeeCord | No | BungeeCord is not Minecraft server software. It cannot run worlds or players and is an exception in this list. It is very unique and different from everything listed here. It's intended use is to connect other servers together into a network. It is a proxy that bridges a connection between the player and another server (typically a Spigot server). However, BungeeCord itself is not a server - it runs as a server and pretends to be a Minecraft server, but isn't - it's essentially just a forwarder/redirector. |
|
GeyserMC/ |
No |
GeyserMC (formerly DragonProxy) is not Minecraft server software — rather, it is a proxy for Minecraft that allows for Bedrock edition players to join Java/PC edition servers. It pretends to be a Minecraft server, but it isn’t. It’s only purpose is to forward a Bedrock/MCPE edition player to the Java edition Minecraft server configured. |
| Forge | Yes | Forge is a server type that allows mods, but no plugins. It is built on top of Vanilla and requires users to install the Forge client to run mods client-side and connect to Forge modded servers. |
| KCauldron | Yes | KCauldron is a modification of Forge that allows Craftbukkit plugins to work. However, this is only available for up to Minecraft version 1.7.10 (it does not run for newer versions and SpongeForge is the only alternative). |
| SpongeForge | Yes | SpongeForge is technically not a server type - it runs as a mod for Forge. However, it does make changes that allow Sponge plugins to be installed on a modded server. |
| MCPC+ | Yes | This is just an older version of KCauldron and isn't used very commonly anymore. In fact, as of this writing, none of our clients use it. It's essentially KCauldron, but for Minecraft 1.6.4 - you don't need to worry about this at all. |
| Bedrock/ MCPE (Minecraft: Pocket Edition) |
No | We also support Bedrock with all of our plans. We have a separate article that outlines all of the main Bedrock Edition Server Types. Click here for Bedrock Edition Server Types. |
