1
Also covers game and performance · open source
For large servers, Pufferfish offers a high-performance fork of Paper.
Alternatives
The Best Paper Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives0 free · 8 open source
Looking for something like Paper? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 8 are open source.
Run Paper, a Minecraft server built on Spigot with performance and server API changes.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionPufferfishFor large servers, Pufferfish offers a high-performance…Another optionPaperRun Paper, a Minecraft server designed to address gameplay…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pufferfish | — | Yes | — |
| 2 | Paper | — | Not stated | — |
| 3 | Minestom | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | paper-optimization | — | Not stated | Web |
| 5 | Connect Java | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | minecraft-optimization | — | Not stated | — |
| 7 | Purpur | — | Not stated | Web |
| 8 | MCJars | — | Not stated | Web |
| 9 | Panel | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | DiIiS | — | Yes | — |
All Paper alternatives
2
Paper
github.com/PaperMC/PaperAlso covers api, game, and performance
Run Paper, a Minecraft server designed to address gameplay and mechanics inconsistencies.
3
Also covers api, game, and performance · open source
Build lightweight Minecraft servers with Minestom, a server implementation hosted on GitHub.
4
paper-optimization
paper-chan.moe/paper-optimizationAlso covers game · same kind of website
Read Paper Chan’s guide to optimizing Minecraft server settings and performance.
5
Also covers game · open source
Route player connections from Connect Network through a Minecraft plugin for Spigot, Paper, and proxy servers.
6
minecraft-optimization
github.com/YouHaveTrouble/minecraft-optimizationAlso covers game
Read this repository’s Minecraft server optimization guide for performance tuning recommendations.
7
Purpur
purpurmc.orgAlso covers api and game · same kind of website
Run Purpur, a Minecraft server platform that lets server owners customize their setup.
8
MCJars
mcjars.appAlso covers api and game · same kind of website
MCJars provides Minecraft server owners with downloadable server files and configuration resources.
9
Also covers game · open source
Manage game servers with Pelican, an open-source panel built with Laravel and Docker.
10
Also covers game · open source
Run a community-built server implementation for Diablo III through the open-source DiIiS project.
11
Consoles
wiki.geysermc.org/geyser/using-geyser-with-con…Also covers game · same kind of website
Follow GeyserMC instructions for joining Minecraft Bedrock Edition servers from console versions.
12
Plugins
hangar.papermc.ioAlso covers game · same kind of website
Browse and download Minecraft plugins for your server through the Hangar plugin directory.
13
e4mc Retro
modrinth.com/mod/e4mc-retroAlso covers game · same kind of website
Open a Minecraft LAN server to players using older game versions with e4mc Retro.
14
GrimAC
modrinth.com/plugin/grimacAlso covers game · same kind of website
Protect Minecraft servers from known client-side exploits with the Grim Anticheat plugin.
15
mcsrvstat
mcsrvstat.usAlso covers game · same kind of website
mcsrvstat monitors Minecraft server status and displays whether servers are online.
16
Crafty 4
gitlab.com/crafty-controller/crafty-4Also covers game · same kind of website
Manage, control, and launch Minecraft servers with Crafty Controller 4.
17
ViaVersion
viaversion.comAlso covers game · same kind of website
ViaVersion lets Minecraft clients connect across multiple server versions through a family of compatibility projects.
18
Minekube Connect
connect.minekube.comAlso covers game · same kind of website
Minekube Connect creates an ingress tunnel for Minecraft servers, allowing players to connect to hosted worlds.
19
auto-mcs
auto-mcs.comAlso covers game · same kind of website
auto-mcs manages Minecraft servers across platforms, helping users set up and play with friends.
20
GeyserMC
geysermc.orgAlso covers game · same kind of website
GeyserMC lets Minecraft Bedrock Edition clients join Java Edition servers through a compatibility program.
21
e4mc
modrinth.com/mod/e4mcAlso covers game · same kind of website
Open a Minecraft LAN server to remote players through e4mc, a networking mod.
22
Also covers api and game · open source
Read usage documentation for an API that generates Minecraft server status banners.
23
Also covers api and game · open source
Detect and block Minecraft cheats with Grim Anticheat, a multithreaded predictive server plugin.
24
Also covers game · open source
Manage Minecraft servers across platforms with auto-mcs, a server management application.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Consoles24 alternativesConnect Java24 alternativesMC-Server-Banner-API24 alternativesminecraft-optimization24 alternativesDiIiS13 alternativesMinekube Connect24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to Paper?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Paper are Pufferfish, Paper, and Minestom.
Are there open-source alternatives to Paper?
Yes: Pufferfish, Minestom, Connect Java, and Panel.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative