Sponge vs. Paper: Which Should You Use?

When setting up a Minecraft server, the choice of server software shapes everything from performance improvements to plugin compatibility. Two names that come up often are Sponge and Paper.

Both provide tools for server administrators who want stability, server customization, and better server performance, but they take different approaches.

Paper builds on Spigot to offer smoother gameplay and strong support for existing plugins, while Sponge connects closely with the Bukkit project and offers a powerful API for developers. Knowing how each impacts your own server helps you decide which option best supports your goals.

What Is Paper?

Paper is a high-performance fork of Spigot, which itself builds on Bukkit. Its main focus is improving performance without breaking compatibility with plugins that server owners already rely on. Paper integrates various optimizations, bug fixes, and tools for fine-tuning how your Minecraft world runs.

Because it maintains strong support for Spigot and Bukkit plugins, Paper is often the go-to choice for servers that want both stability and easy access to a wide plugin ecosystem.

What Is Sponge?

Sponge is a server framework that emphasizes flexibility and a developer-friendly API. Unlike Paper, which directly focuses on plugin compatibility with Bukkit/Spigot, Sponge provides its own ecosystem. It was created to give mod developers and server administrators a more robust foundation for managing plugins and mods.

Sponge can integrate with Forge, allowing modded Minecraft servers to run both Forge mods and Sponge plugins at the same time. This makes it especially popular for servers that want to combine mods and plugins seamlessly.

Pros And Cons Of Paper

Pros Of Paper

• Strong compatibility with Bukkit and Spigot plugins

• Enhanced performance and stability

• Active community with frequent updates

• Fine-tuning options for reducing lag and improving gameplay

• Easy transition for servers already running Spigot

Cons Of Paper

• Primarily focused on plugin compatibility, not mods

• Limited if you want to combine Forge mods with plugins

• Less flexible API compared to Sponge

Pros And Cons Of Sponge

Pros Of Sponge

• Designed with developers in mind, offering a powerful API

• Can integrate with Forge to support both mods and plugins

• Encourages stability and structured plugin development

• Great for heavily customized or modded server setups

Cons Of Sponge

• Smaller plugin library compared to Bukkit/Spigot-based servers

• Steeper learning curve for server owners used to Bukkit or Spigot

• Less focus on raw performance optimizations compared to Paper

Paper Vs Sponge Comparison

Plugin Compatibility

Paper offers excellent compatibility with Bukkit and Spigot plugins, making it easy to run most existing plugins. Sponge, on the other hand, has a smaller library and its own custom ecosystem, so compatibility is more limited.

Mod Support

Paper does not support Forge mods. Sponge stands out here by being able to integrate with Forge, allowing servers to run both mods and plugins together.

Performance

Paper is built with high-performance optimizations, reducing lag and improving gameplay smoothness. Sponge performs well but is not as optimized for raw speed as Paper.

API Flexibility

Paper’s API is moderate in flexibility since it builds on Spigot and Bukkit. Sponge provides a highly flexible, developer-focused API that gives more control for custom development.

Ease of Use

Paper is straightforward for anyone familiar with Spigot, making it beginner-friendly. Sponge has a steeper learning curve, especially for those used to Bukkit or Spigot.

Which One Should You Use?

If your goal is to run a highly stable server with maximum plugin compatibility, Paper is the stronger option. It provides outstanding performance improvements and a huge plugin ecosystem that is easy to maintain.

On the other hand, if you plan to run a heavily modded server or want more flexibility in how plugins and mods interact, Sponge is the better choice. Its integration with Forge makes it ideal for hybrid servers that want both mods and plugins.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to what type of server you want to build: a fast, plugin-heavy environment with Paper, or a flexible, mod-and-plugin hybrid with Sponge.

Still have some questions about which framework to use?

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Updated on: 16/09/2025