Minecraft Java Edition has a wide range of server software beyond the official Vanilla release. Each type serves a different purpose, from running Plugins to loading Mods to connecting multiple servers together. You can install any of these through the Edition Installer under Advanced → Server Actions.
Plugins vs Mods: What’s the Difference?
This is the single most common source of confusion we see in support tickets. Plugins and mods are not interchangeable, and picking the wrong server type means your add-ons won’t load.
Plugins run server-side only. Players connect with a completely unmodified Minecraft client. Plugins can change server behavior, add commands, manage permissions, protect regions, and more - but they cannot add new blocks, items, or entities. They run on Paper, Spigot, and other Bukkit-based servers.
Mods modify the game itself on both the server and the client. Players need to install the same mod loader (and usually the same mods) on their own computer to connect. Mods can add entirely new content - blocks, biomes, dimensions, mobs, mechanics. They run on Forge, NeoForge, or Fabric.
You cannot mix Plugins and Mods. A Paper server won’t load Forge mods. A Forge server won’t load Bukkit plugins. Hybrid solutions like Cardboard and SpongeForge exist but come with significant trade-offs (see the Hybrid section below).
Where to Find Plugins
- SpigotMC - the largest
pluginrepository - Hangar - PaperMC’s official
pluginrepository - Modrinth - hosts both
pluginsand mods - CurseForge - primarily
mods, but haspluginsas well
The WinterNode panel includes a built-in plugin manager that lets you browse and install plugins directly. This only works on Paper and Spigot servers. For more details, see Minecraft Java Plugins Overview.
Where to Find Mods
- CurseForge - the largest
modsrepository, also hosts modpacks - Modrinth - growing alternative that hosts both Forge and Fabric
mods
For installation guides, see Mods and Modpack Installation.
Quick Comparison
| Software | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Paper ✓ | Plugins | Most servers. Best performance, largest plugin ecosystem. |
| Spigot | Plugins | Legacy setups already running Spigot |
| Purpur | Plugins | Servers needing extra configuration control beyond Paper |
| Forge | Mods | Modded servers on Minecraft 1.19 and earlier |
| NeoForge | Mods | Modded servers on Minecraft 1.20+ |
| Fabric | Mods | Lightweight modded servers, fast version updates |
| SpongeForge | Hybrid | Running Sponge plugins on a Forge modded server |
| Cardboard | Hybrid | Running some Bukkit plugins on a Fabric modded server |
| Velocity ✓ | Proxy | Connecting multiple servers into a network |
| BungeeCord | Proxy | Legacy proxy setups |
| Waterfall | Proxy | Proxy with Forge-compatible support |
| GeyserMC | Proxy | Letting Bedrock players join a Java server |
Vanilla
The default Minecraft server software from Mojang. No plugin or mod support. Good for a pure, unmodified experience, but most server owners move to Paper quickly for the performance improvements alone.
Plugin Servers
These all run Bukkit/Spigot The original modified server that introduced plugin support. Superseded by Spigot and Paper, but still available if you need it for compatibility reasons. A modified version of CraftBukkit with performance improvements and additional configuration options. Spigot was the standard for plugin servers for years. For new servers, Paper is the better choice. A fork of Spigot with further performance optimizations, bug fixes, and an expanded API. Paper is what we recommend for most plugin-based servers. It patches exploits and duplication bugs faster than upstream Spigot, and its async chunk loading makes a noticeable difference on busy servers. The majority of plugin servers on WinterNode run Paper. A fork of Paper that pushes configuration even further. Purpur exposes settings that Paper intentionally locks down, letting you toggle individual gameplay mechanics, re-enable patched bugs, and customize mob behavior. If Paper feels too restrictive for what you want to build, Purpur gives you the knobs.Plugins are server side modifications that change server behavior, add commands, manage permissions, and more. They don’t modify the game itself, allowing players to connect with an unmodded Minecraft client.CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper, and Purpur
Plugins. Each one builds on the last, so plugins written for CraftBukkit work on Spigot, Spigot plugins work on Paper, and Paper plugins work on Purpur.CraftBukkit
Spigot
Paper
Purpur
Mod Loaders
The original mod loader for Minecraft Java Edition. Forge has the largest back-catalog of mods, especially for older Minecraft versions. For versions 1.20 and later, most new development has moved to NeoForge. A fork of Forge that became the de facto successor for Minecraft 1.20 and beyond. If you’re setting up a modded server on 1.20+, NeoForge is where most mod authors are publishing. Forge mods are not directly compatible with NeoForge, but many mod authors publish for both. A lightweight, fast-updating mod loader. Fabric takes a modular approach - the base loader is minimal, and you add libraries (like Fabric API) as needed. It updates to new Minecraft versions faster than Forge or NeoForge, sometimes supporting snapshots within days. Fabric mods are not compatible with Forge or NeoForge mods.Mods change Minecraft’s code on both the server and client. Players need the same loader and mods installed on their computer to connect.Forge, NeoForge, and Fabric
Forge
NeoForge
Fabric
Hybrids
A Forge mod (not a standalone server type) that adds Sponge plugin support to a Forge modded server. This lets you use Sponge plugins alongside Forge mods. Note that SpongeForge uses its own plugin API - standard Bukkit/Spigot plugins won’t work here. A Fabric mod (formerly Bukkit4Fabric) that adds Bukkit plugin support to a Fabric server. This lets you run some Bukkit plugins alongside Fabric mods. Not every plugin is supported, but popular ones like CoreProtect, Multiverse, and WorldGuard are actively maintained by the Cardboard developers. Expect occasional compatibility issues.Hybrid server software tries to bridge the gap between Plugins and Mods. These can be useful in specific scenarios, but come with caveats.SpongeForge and Cardboard
SpongeForge
Cardboard
Proxies
Proxies are not Minecraft servers. They don’t run worlds or gameplay - they connect multiple backend servers into a single network. Players join the The original Minecraft A fork of BungeeCord with improved Forge support and additional features. If you need Forge-compatible proxying, Waterfall handles that better than stock BungeeCord. A modern Geyser is a Proxy, which routes them to the appropriate backend server. You need separate servers behind the Proxy to actually host gameplay. For setup guides, see Minecraft Java Proxy Servers.BungeeCord, Waterfall, Velocity, and GeyserMC
BungeeCord
Proxy software. BungeeCord connects multiple Spigot/Paper servers into a network, letting players move between them. Each backend server needs its own WinterNode server instance.Waterfall
Velocity
Proxy built from scratch by the PaperMC team. Velocity is faster and more secure than BungeeCord, with a cleaner plugin API. For new Proxy setups, Velocity is the recommended choice. It does not support BungeeCord plugins - you’ll need Velocity-specific plugins.GeyserMC Standalone
Proxy that lets Bedrock Edition players connect to Java Edition servers. It translates between the two protocols in real time. The standalone version runs as its own process, but Geyser is also available as a plugin for Paper/Spigot servers.
Checking Your Server Version
On Spigot-based servers (Spigot, Paper, Purpur), run the /version command in your server console. This returns the server software name, build number, and Minecraft version.
For Vanilla, Forge, Fabric, and other non-Spigot servers, open the latest.log file in your server’s logs folder. Within the first few lines, look for Starting minecraft server version 1.xx.x to find your Minecraft version. You’ll also see a line identifying the specific server software and build you’re running.