Bukkit vs. Paper: Which Should You Use?

Choosing the right Minecraft server software can make or break your Minecraft server. Among the most common options are Bukkit and Paper, both designed to help server administrators improve server performance and expand server customization.

Bukkit was one of the first major projects to support plugins, laying the foundation for countless server types still in use today.

Paper, on the other hand, builds on Spigot with modern performance enhancements, better performance, and broader plugin compatibility. Understanding what each brings to your own server is essential before deciding which setup will deliver the gaming experience you want.

What Is Paper?

Paper is a Minecraft server software that is focused on performance and a fork of Spigot, which itself comes from Bukkit. It builds upon the solid plugin foundation of Bukkit and Spigot, adding advanced optimizations to reduce lag, enhance stability, and provide administrators with more fine-tuned control over their servers.

Because Paper supports nearly all Spigot and Bukkit plugins, it has quickly become one of the most popular choices for Minecraft servers of all sizes.

What Is Bukkit?

Bukkit is one of the oldest and most influential Minecraft server software in Minecraft history. It introduced plugin support, making it possible for administrators to customize gameplay, add commands, and manage servers more effectively.

Although it has fewer performance optimizations compared to Paper, Bukkit laid the groundwork for everything that came after, including Spigot and Paper. Many plugin developers still account for Bukkit compatibility, even today.

Pros And Cons Of Paper

Pros Of Paper

• Strong compatibility with plugins that use the Bukkit or Spigot API

• Advanced performance optimizations to reduce lag

• Active community with frequent updates

• Fine-tuning options for gameplay and server management

• Easy migration from existing Spigot servers

Cons Of Paper

• Focused on plugins, not mods

• Requires slightly more setup knowledge than Bukkit

• Can be overwhelming for smaller or casual servers

Pros And Cons Of Bukkit

Pros Of Bukkit

• First framework to introduce plugin support for Minecraft

• Simple and easy to set up for beginners

• Strong foundation with a long history in the community

• Plugins designed for Bukkit often still work today

Cons Of Bukkit

• Lacks modern performance improvements

• Updates are less frequent compared to Paper

• Outpaced by Spigot and Paper in terms of features and efficiency

• Smaller community and fewer active developers

Paper Vs Bukkit Comparison

Plugin Compatibility

Both Bukkit and Paper support plugins, but Paper has broader compatibility because it works with Bukkit and Spigot plugins seamlessly. Bukkit supports plugins as well, but its library is more limited compared to modern standards.

Performance

Paper outperforms Bukkit significantly, offering lag reduction, optimization features, and advanced configuration options. Bukkit provides basic performance but lacks the fine-tuning and efficiency of newer software.

Ease of Use

Bukkit is easier to set up and is beginner-friendly, making it a good entry point for those new to running servers. Paper is also approachable, but it offers more options that may feel overwhelming to new administrators.

Community Support

Paper has an active, growing community and frequent updates. Bukkit’s community is smaller and less active, though it still has historical importance.

Future Development

Paper continues to evolve with Minecraft updates, while Bukkit has slowed down in development, making Paper the better long-term choice.

Which One Should You Use?

If you are starting fresh and want the best combination of performance, compatibility, and active support, Paper is the clear choice. It provides modern optimizations and works with most existing plugins without hassle.

However, if your goal is simply to experiment with plugins on a smaller or casual server and you prefer simplicity, Bukkit can still serve as a lightweight entry point.

For long-term projects and Minecraft community servers, Paper is almost always the better option.

Still have some questions about which framework to use?

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Updated on: 16/09/2025