What is a Paper Minecraft server?
A Paper server is a Minecraft Java server that runs PaperMC, a faster version of Spigot with support for plugins. Paper loads chunks in the background, makes entities and redstone cost less and fixes many bugs, and it adds settings for things like how many mobs spawn per chunk and how long items stay on the ground. Almost every Bukkit and Spigot plugin runs on it, and it is what most plugin authors test on. If you are not sure which server software to pick for a plugin server, pick Paper.
Paper vs Purpur vs Spigot
Choose Paper for a normal plugin server, Purpur if you want to tweak gameplay, and Spigot only when an old plugin demands it. The three are built on top of each other and share one plugin system:
- Spigot is the classic plugin server. It is stable and runs every Bukkit plugin, but it has fallen behind on performance.
- Paper is Spigot made faster, with more settings and bug fixes. It switches off a few bugs some players rely on, such as TNT duplication; most of them can be switched back on in
config/paper-global.ymlunder the unsupported settings. - Purpur is Paper with hundreds of extra gameplay options in
purpur.yml, such as rideable mobs and spawner pickup. With its options left alone, it performs like Paper.
Paper, Purpur and Spigot read the same world, so you can switch between them and keep your builds, inventories and plugins. Folia, a Paper variant that spreads the world over several cores, is made for huge servers, and most plugins do not run on it without changes.
How to make a Paper server
To make a Paper server, choose Paper as the server software and add plugins once it runs:
- Order a plan with enough RAM for your players and plugins, and choose Paper as the server software.
- Pick the Minecraft version your plugins support. The hosts set the matching Java version with it.
- Install plugins from the panel or upload their jars to the
pluginsfolder, then restart the server. - Set up permissions and a whitelist before you share the address, for example with LuckPerms.
PaperMC server plugins
A PaperMC server runs Bukkit, Spigot and Paper plugins, which you find on Modrinth, Hangar, SpigotMC and CurseForge. The usual first plugins are EssentialsX for homes and teleports, LuckPerms for ranks, a claims plugin against griefing and Geyser with Floodgate if Bedrock players should join. Astroworld Hosting installs plugins from a catalogue of 510 vetted projects and works out which jar fits your Minecraft version. More about plugin servers, and how much RAM each extra plugin costs, is on Minecraft plugin server hosting.
How much RAM does a Paper server need?
A Paper server needs about 5 GB of RAM for five players, 7 GB for ten and 12 GB for twenty with a handful of plugins. Every extra 10 to 25 plugins add about a gigabyte, and a web map or extra worlds add more.
| Players online | RAM needed | Plan size | Lowest price for that size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | 5 GB | 6 GB | No plan this large |
| 6 to 10 | 7 GB | 8 GB | CheapestMinecraftHosting Plus, €6.40 a month in Poland (Warsaw) |
| 11 to 20 | 12 GB | 12 GB | CheapestMinecraftHosting Builder, €9.60 a month in Poland (Warsaw) |
Paper server settings for less lag
Paper's own settings live in config/paper-global.yml and config/paper-world-defaults.yml, next to the vanilla server.properties. The settings that help most are the simulation distance in server.properties, which decides how far around players the world keeps ticking, the mob spawn limits per chunk and how long dropped items stay loaded. Change one at a time and check the result with spark, so you know what helped.
Best Paper server hosting plans
The best Paper server hosting for ten players is an 8 GB plan, and twenty players need 12 GB.
For 6 to 10 players with 10 to 25 plugins on Java in Poland (Warsaw), the finder recommends Lodehost Starter: 8 GB, AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5, for €15.95 a month when you pay monthly. As a new customer you pay €6.38 for the first month, 60% off. The best plans at the other two hosts are Astroworld Starter Performance at €15.95 and CheapestMinecraftHosting Plus at €6.40.
| If you want | Host and plan | Memory | Processor | Location | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | CheapestMinecraftHosting Plus | 8 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €6.40 |
| Balanced | Lodehost Starter | 8 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €15.95 (€13.95 on 24 mo) New customers: €6.38 for the first month, 60% off |
| More performance | Astroworld Starter Performance | 8 GB | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5 | Poland (Warsaw) | €15.95 (€13.95 on 24 mo) New customers: €6.38 a month for the first 3 months, 60% off |
For a Paper server with ten players and 10 to 25 plugins, an 8 GB plan fits: CheapestMinecraftHosting Plus costs €6.40 a month, Lodehost Starter €12.95 and Astroworld Starter Performance with reserved Ryzen 9 threads €15.95. For a world without plugins, see vanilla Minecraft server hosting.