What is PaperMC?
PaperMC is a Minecraft server implementation based on Spigot, which itself is based on CraftBukkit. It's the most popular server software for Minecraft Java Edition, used by thousands of servers worldwide. Paper for Minecraft 26.x requires Java 25, the same as the vanilla server. If you have not installed it yet, follow Step 1 of the setup guide.
The key difference between Paper and vanilla (or even Spigot) is the extensive performance optimizations. Paper rewrites many internal systems to be more efficient, resulting in higher TPS and lower memory usage, especially on servers with many players or complex redstone builds.
Best of all, Paper is fully compatible with vanilla Minecraft clients. Your players don't need to install anything special - they just connect like normal.
Benefits Over Vanilla
How to Install PaperMC
Installing PaperMC is almost identical to setting up a vanilla server. If you've followed our main server setup guide, you just need to swap out the server jar file.
Download PaperMC
Go to the PaperMC Downloads page and download the latest build for your Minecraft version (26.2 at the time of writing).
Replace the Server Jar
Rename the downloaded file to server.jar and replace your existing vanilla server.jar with it.
Start Your Server
Run your start script as normal (see Step 7 of the setup guide if you have not made one). Paper will generate additional configuration files in the config folder.
Add Plugins (Optional)
Create a plugins folder in your server directory and drop any .jar plugin files into it. Restart to load them.
Top 5 Must-Have Plugins
These plugins are the foundation of most Minecraft servers. They're well-maintained, regularly updated, and trusted by millions of server owners. Version support was checked in September 2026. Plugins built for 26.1 usually run on 26.2, but check each download page for a 26.2 build before updating a live server.
Supports 26.1.2 (release), 26.2 via dev builds
The must-have plugin for any server. Provides over 100 commands including /home, /warp, /tpa, economy, kits, and player management. It's the foundation most servers build upon.
Key Features:
- Teleportation commands
- Economy system
- Chat formatting
- Kits and spawns
- Player nicknames
Supports 26.2
A drop-in fork of Vault, the permissions, chat, and economy API that many other plugins depend on. The original Vault stopped at 1.21, so use this maintained fork on 26.x.
Key Features:
- Permission system bridge
- Economy API
- Chat API
- Folia support
- Compatible with plugins written for Vault
Supports 26.2
The most popular permissions plugin. Lets you control exactly what each player or group can do on your server with a powerful web editor.
Key Features:
- Web-based editor
- Group inheritance
- Temporary permissions
- Per-world permissions
- Verbose debugging
Supports 26.2
Powerful in-game map editor. Select regions and fill, replace, or copy blocks instantly. Essential for builders and server setup.
Key Features:
- Selection tools
- Copy and paste
- Brushes
- Schematics
- Block replacement
Supports 26.1.2 (26.2 build pending)
Block logging and rollback plugin. See who placed or broke blocks, and restore griefed areas with a single command. A must-have for public servers.
Key Features:
- Block logging
- Rollback commands
- Lookup tools
- Container logging
- Chat logging
Resources & Documentation
PaperMC Documentation
Official docs covering configuration, API, and administration.
PaperMC Discord
Get help from the community and stay updated on releases.
GitHub Repository
Source code, issue tracker, and contribution guidelines.
Hangar Plugin Repository
PaperMC's official plugin marketplace with verified downloads.