Fabric, Forge or NeoForge: which Minecraft mod loader?
Choose the mod loader your mods are made for: Fabric for lightweight and performance mods, Forge for most older, larger mods and NeoForge for many large mods on recent versions. The host does not decide this. Fabric is lightweight and quick to update to new Minecraft versions, and most performance mods are made for it. Forge has most of the older, larger mods. NeoForge split off from Forge in 2023, and many large mods moved to it for recent versions. All three hosts we compare let you install each loader from the panel. Each loader has its own guide: Fabric server hosting, Forge server hosting and NeoForge server hosting.
One rule saves a lot of trouble: the server and every player must use the same loader, the same Minecraft version and the same mod versions. Client-side mods such as shaders or minimaps should not be installed on the server.
How much RAM does a modded Minecraft server need?
A modded Minecraft server needs about 5 GB before anyone joins, because every mod loads its blocks, items and recipes when the server starts. After that, each player adds roughly half a gigabyte. That is our rule for a hand-picked set of up to a hundred mods. With 100 to 200 mods, add 1 GB, and with more than 200 mods, add 2 GB. A large published modpack needs more again.
| Players online | Vanilla | Plugins | Modded | Modpack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | 4 GB | 5 GB | 8 GB | 13 GB |
| 6 to 10 | 6 GB | 7 GB | 10 GB | 18 GB |
| 11 to 20 | 9 GB | 12 GB | 15 GB | 28 GB |
| 21 to 30 | 12 GB | 17 GB | 20 GB | 38 GB |
| 31 to 50 | 19 GB | 27 GB | 30 GB | 58 GB |
Best plans for a modded Minecraft server
The best plan for a modded Minecraft server with ten players is 12 GB, on reserved threads when your mods add machines or mobs.
For 6 to 10 players with mods on Java in Poland (Warsaw), the finder recommends Lodehost Standard: 12 GB, AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5, for €23.95 a month when you pay monthly. As a new customer you pay €9.58 for the first month, 60% off. The best plans at the other two hosts are Astroworld Standard Performance at €23.95 and CheapestMinecraftHosting Builder at €9.60.
| If you want | Host and plan | Memory | Processor | Location | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | CheapestMinecraftHosting Builder | 12 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €9.60 |
| Balanced | Lodehost Standard | 12 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €23.95 (€20.95 on 24 mo) New customers: €9.58 for the first month, 60% off |
| More performance | Astroworld Standard Performance | 12 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €23.95 (€20.95 on 24 mo) New customers: €9.58 a month for the first 3 months, 60% off |
For a modded server with ten players, our balanced pick is a 12 GB plan on the Performance line, with reserved Ryzen 9 threads for mods that add machines, pipes or lots of custom mobs: Lodehost Standard at €23.95 a month. A light set of mods also runs fine on the standard line, where Astroworld Standard costs €16.95.
Can Bedrock players join a modded Minecraft server?
Bedrock players can join a modded Minecraft server through Geyser, but they cannot use Java mods. On a Crossplay server they connect to the Fabric or NeoForge server like any other player, yet modded blocks and items will not show up properly for them. If someone in your group plays on a phone or a console, stick to mods that do not add new content, or use Paper with plugins instead.
How to install mods on a Minecraft server
To install mods on a Minecraft server, follow the same four steps at all three hosts:
- Choose the loader and version in your server panel: Fabric, Forge or NeoForge, on the Minecraft version your mods support.
- Upload the mods to the
modsfolder of the server, through the panel's file manager or SFTP. Leave out client-side mods such as minimaps, shaders and texture tweaks. - Start the server once and read the console. A mod that is missing a library or made for another version tells you so there.
- Give your players the same mods. The easiest way is a profile in the CurseForge app, the Modrinth App or Prism Launcher that everyone imports, so all versions match.
Performance mods for a modded Minecraft server
A few mods make a modded server noticeably lighter without changing the game. Lithium speeds up the game logic on Fabric, FerriteCore cuts the memory that mods use on Fabric, Forge and NeoForge, and ModernFix shortens start times and memory use on Forge and NeoForge. They are safe to add to most mod lists, and they often save more than buying the next plan size up. If the server still lags, a faster processor helps more than extra RAM; see high performance Minecraft hosting.