Paper vs Spigot

Q: Will my Spigot plugins work on Paper?

Yes. Paper is 100% compatible with Bukkit and Spigot plugins. You can migrate without touching your plugins. Some newer plugins use Paper API for advanced features, but core Spigot behavior still works.

Q: What is the difference between Paper and Purpur?

Purpur is a Paper fork with extra gameplay customization (mob behavior, block rules, flight mechanics, etc.). If Paper already covers your needs, stay on Paper. If you want deeper control, move to Purpur.

What is the difference between Paper and Spigot?

Published on 20 mars 2026Updated on 15 avril 2026

Paper vs Spigot: what are they exactly?

Spigot and Paper are two server software options (also called "jars") used to host a multiplayer Minecraft Java server. They replace Mojang's vanilla server by adding Bukkit plugin support and better performance.

Spigot is the historical CraftBukkit fork maintained since 2012. Paper is a Spigot fork launched in 2016, initially to fix bugs and improve performance. Today, Paper has become the de facto standard for most Minecraft servers.

Why choose between Paper and Spigot?

When you create a Minecraft server, your jar choice is one of the first technical decisions. It directly impacts performance, plugin compatibility, and available configuration options.

Both support Bukkit/Spigot plugins, but Paper goes further with extra optimizations and API additions. Understanding the differences helps you make the right call from day one, without migration pain later.

If you are undecided between a plugin server (Paper) and a mod server (Forge, Fabric...), the Minecraft mods vs plugins comparison gives the right framework before choosing your jar.

What about Purpur?

Purpur is a Paper fork that adds even more customization options (gameplay, mobs, blocks). If you want maximum control, that is the next step. Everything that runs on Paper runs on Purpur.

Paper vs Spigot: full comparison

Here is a detailed comparison on the criteria that really matter for a Minecraft server admin.

Criteria	Paper	Spigot
Performance	Excellent, deep optimizations for chunk loading, entities, and ticks	Decent, better than vanilla, but below Paper
Plugin compatibility	99% of Spigot plugins + Paper-only plugins	Bukkit/Spigot plugins only
API	Paper API (extended, modern, async)	Spigot API (more limited)
Configuration	Very advanced, paper-global.yml and paper-world.yml with hundreds of options	Basic, spigot.yml with fewer options
Built-in anti-exploit	Better, includes duplication and exploit fixes	Basic, some vanilla exploits remain
Updates	Fast, often available same day as a Minecraft update	Fast too, but fewer intermediate fixes
Community	Very active, official Discord, complete docs	Still active but community momentum moved to Paper
Best for	Any server type: survival, minigames, networks	Very simple servers or specific compatibility edge cases

Paper is backward-compatible with Spigot: migration from Spigot to Paper is immediate with no changes required.

Warning

Paper fixes some vanilla behaviors considered bugs (TNT duplication, certain farms). If your setup depends on these mechanics, check Paper config to re-enable them when needed.

How to migrate from Spigot to Paper

Migration is straightforward. Paper is a drop-in replacement for Spigot: your plugins, world, and existing config keep working with no changes.

Download the Paper jar

Go to Paper's official website and download the latest stable build for your Minecraft version. The file is named paper-*.jar.

https://papermc.io/downloads

Replace your server jar

Stop your server. Replace your spigot-*.jar file with the new paper-*.jar in the server root folder.

Update your startup script

Edit your launch command so it points to the new jar. Good moment to add Aikar flags if not already done.

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper-1.21.4.jar nogui

Start and verify

Start the server. Paper will generate its config files (paper-global.yml, paper-world-defaults.yml). Verify plugins load correctly with /plugins.

Tune Paper configuration

Explore Paper config files to optimize your server. view-distance, simulation-distance, and spawn limits are especially impactful.

Key points to remember

In 2026, choosing between Paper and Spigot is actually simple. Paper is far ahead in features, performance, and community support.

Why Paper is the best choice in 2026

•Higher performance across chunks, entities, and redstone
•100% compatible with existing Spigot plugins
•Advanced configuration for fine-grained server tuning
•More security and exploit fixes, shipped faster
•Instant migration from Spigot, no changes required
•More active community with stronger official documentation

Which host for a Paper or Spigot server?

Most hosts provide one-click Paper and Spigot installs. Make sure your host uses modern CPUs with strong single-thread speed, this is the most important factor for Minecraft performance. For RAM sizing, also see how much RAM for a Minecraft server.

Light Paper server (1-10 players)

RAM: 2-4 Go

Players: 1 to 10 players

Price: ~3-6€/month

✓ Ideal for: Perfect for survival with friends and a few essential plugins.

Paper community server (10-30 players)

RAM: 4-8 Go

Players: 10 to 30 players

Price: ~8-15€/month

✓ Ideal for: For a semi-public server with varied plugins (economy, protection, minigames).

Paper network server (30+ players)

RAM: 8-16 Go

Players: 30 to 100+ players

Price: ~15-30€/month

✓ Ideal for: For a multi-server network with Velocity or a large community server.

Ready to launch your Paper server?

Compare Paper-compatible Minecraft hosts with the best value for money.

Paper or Spigot: which one is right for you?

In almost all cases, Paper is the better choice. It does everything Spigot does, but better. Compatibility is complete, performance is stronger, and configuration is much richer.

The only rare case where Spigot still makes sense: you rely on an old plugin with unexpected behavior on Paper (very uncommon). Even then, contacting the plugin developer for an update is usually the better move.

In short

Pick Paper in 99% of cases. It is faster, more configurable, and fully compatible with your Spigot plugins. Migration takes 5 minutes. There is basically no reason to stay on Spigot in 2026.

Frequently asked questions about Paper vs Spigot

Will my Spigot plugins work on Paper?

Yes. Paper is 100% compatible with Bukkit and Spigot plugins. You can migrate without touching your plugins. Some newer plugins use Paper API for advanced features, but core Spigot behavior still works.

Is Paper really faster than Spigot?

Yes, significantly. Paper optimizes chunk loading, entity ticks, redstone handling, and garbage collection. On a server with 20+ players, TPS difference is measurable and noticeable.

Does Paper break automatic farms?

Paper fixes some behaviors considered bugs (TNT duping, certain sand farms). But you can re-enable these behaviors in Paper config files if your players rely on them.

Can I switch back from Paper to Spigot?

Yes. Just replace the Paper jar with a Spigot jar. Your world and plugins remain functional. Paper config files are simply ignored.

What is the difference between Paper and Purpur?

Purpur is a Paper fork with extra gameplay customization (mob behavior, block rules, flight mechanics, etc.). If Paper already covers your needs, stay on Paper. If you want deeper control, move to Purpur.