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Paper vs Purpur vs Fabric for performance

Confused by server software? We compare Paper, Purpur, and Fabric to help you choose the best performance and feature set for your Minecraft server.

AwakeNode Team · Reviewed by Harry · Updated 15 Oct 2026

Understanding Server Software

Choosing the right server software is the most important decision for your server's performance and compatibility. While Vanilla Minecraft is the base, it is rarely efficient enough for multiplayer hosting. We recommend using optimised forks or loaders to ensure a smooth experience for your players.

Paper: The Industry Standard

Paper is the most popular high-performance fork of Spigot. It focuses on fixing bugs, improving server performance, and providing a robust API for plugins.

  • Best for: Survival servers, economy servers, and general-purpose communities.
  • Compatibility: Supports almost all Spigot and Bukkit plugins.
  • Performance: Highly optimised with advanced chunk loading and entity management.

Purpur: Feature-Rich Performance

Purpur is a fork of Paper designed to be highly customisable. It includes all the performance optimisations of Paper but adds a vast array of configuration options to change how the game behaves.

  • Best for: Servers that want unique gameplay mechanics or specific tweaks to vanilla behaviour.
  • Compatibility: Fully compatible with Paper plugins.
  • Performance: Matches Paper's performance while offering more granular control over server mechanics.

Fabric: The Lightweight Alternative

Fabric is not a Spigot fork; it is a lightweight, modular mod loader. It is designed to be updated quickly when new Minecraft versions release.

  • Best for: Technical servers, modded gameplay, or servers that want to stay on the absolute latest version of Minecraft immediately.
  • Compatibility: Uses Fabric mods rather than Spigot/Bukkit plugins.
  • Performance: Extremely lightweight, though performance depends heavily on the specific mods installed.

Managing Your Software on AwakeNode

We make switching between these software types simple via our control panel.

On AwakeNode

  1. Navigate to your server in the Awakenode panel.
  2. Use the Startup tab to select your preferred software (Paper, Purpur, or Fabric).
  3. Confirm the change and restart your server. Our system handles the installation automatically.

On other hosts / manually

On this page

  • Understanding Server Software
  • Paper: The Industry Standard
  • Purpur: Feature-Rich Performance
  • Fabric: The Lightweight Alternative
  • Managing Your Software on AwakeNode
  • A Note on Performance and RAM

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  1. Stop your server.
  2. Download the relevant .jar file from the official project website.
  3. Upload the file to your server via SFTP.
  4. Rename the file to match your startup command or edit your startup script to point to the new filename.
  5. Restart the server.

A Note on Performance and RAM

If you find your server is lagging, it may be due to insufficient RAM. On AwakeNode, upgrading your plan automatically updates your memory allocation (Xmx) without any manual configuration. To add your own JVM flags, set a custom startup command in your server's Startup tab.

Questions

Can I switch from Paper to Fabric later?+

Yes, you can switch software types using the Startup tab, but be aware that plugins and mods are not cross-compatible. You will need to remove your existing plugins or mods when switching.

Which software is best for a large modpack?+

Fabric is generally better for modded servers as it is designed specifically for mod compatibility. Paper and Purpur are intended for plugin-based servers.

Do I need to edit startup flags for better performance?+

To add your own JVM flags, set a custom startup command in your server's Startup tab.

Are Paper plugins compatible with Purpur?+

Yes, Purpur is a fork of Paper, so it maintains full compatibility with all Paper and Spigot plugins.

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