On this page
- Choose by chat scope and server platform
- 1. Carbon
- What it does well
- Who it suits and what to check
- 2. VentureChat
- What it does well
- Who it suits and what to check
- 3. EssentialsX Chat
- What it does well
- Who it suits and what to check
- 4. sChat
- What it does well
- Who it suits and what to check
- 5. zArrowChat
- What it does well
- Who it suits and what to check
- Test prefixes, channels and mentions before choosing
Key takeaways
6- Choose your required chat scope first: formatting, local channels or network-wide messaging.
- Carbon documents MiniMessage formatting, distance-based channels and cross-server messaging.
- VentureChat combines channels and moderation tools.
- EssentialsX Chat needs the main EssentialsX module and additional dependencies for rank formatting.
- sChat offers tab-based chat organisation; confirm its compatibility with your exact Minecraft version.
- zArrowChat is paid and made by our team, with formatting, filtering, mentions and inventory previews.
This comparison is for server owners choosing between rank formatting, local channels, network chat and public-chat features such as mentions. By the end, you will have a shortlist based on where your server runs and what players need from chat.
Choose by chat scope and server platform
Start with the job chat needs to do. Formatting a survival server's public messages is a different requirement from giving several servers shared channels. Our team would check platform support and dependencies before comparing extra features.
| Plugin | Good fit for | Platform notes | Free or paid | Requirements to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | MiniMessage formatting, local channels and network messaging | Modrinth lists Paper, Folia, Velocity and Fabric | Free | Java 21+ and the listing's dependency information |
| VentureChat | Channel chat with filtering and moderation tools | Bukkit/Spigot and BungeeCord; its page also announces Velocity support. Check the exact build. | Free | Three required dependencies listed on its resource page |
| EssentialsX Chat | Prefixes, suffixes and group-based formatting | Bukkit, Paper and Spigot loaders | Free | Main EssentialsX module plus its bridge and permissions dependencies |
| sChat | Chat arranged into tabs and network-wide channels | Bukkit/Spigot/Paper, BungeeCord and Velocity | Free | Exact Minecraft compatibility and the appropriate platform build |
| zArrowChat, made by our team | Public-chat formatting, filtering, mentions and inventory previews | Paper and Folia | Paid | Check the product's requirements against your server |
1. Carbon
Carbon is a channel-based chat plugin with MiniMessage formatting. Its listed features include RGB colours, clickable text and hover text.
What it does well
Channels can have join and leave commands, distance limits and world-specific settings. Carbon also documents cross-server messaging, player muting and ignoring, party chat, item and armour links, and username pings. That makes it worth considering when your requirements go beyond changing the appearance of public messages.
Who it suits and what to check
Shortlist Carbon for local and global channels, or when MiniMessage is a central requirement. Its Modrinth page lists Paper, Folia, Velocity and Fabric, including Minecraft 26.x versions. The listing also specifies Java 21+ and names a permissions dependency.
A beta release is listed, so assess the particular build before adopting it. The official wiki covers installation, channels, commands, permissions and placeholders. Use those sections to check that your planned channel structure is supported.
2. VentureChat
VentureChat is a free, open-source chat plugin built around channels, with formatting and moderation features alongside them.
What it does well
Its channel options include permissions and distance-based chat. The resource page also documents hover and click formatting, hex colours, placeholders, private and party channels, cross-server messaging, anti-spam and chat filtering.
For staff, the listed features include mute management, a moderation interface, command spy and database logging. Those are useful reasons to investigate it when channel management and staff oversight belong in the same shortlist.
Who it suits and what to check
VentureChat suits owners evaluating a channel system for Bukkit/Spigot or a BungeeCord network. Its resource page also announces Velocity support. If Velocity is your target platform, verify support for the exact plugin build and Minecraft version you intend to use.
The listing names three required dependencies. Include all three in your compatibility checks rather than evaluating the chat plugin alone. Its tested-version list reaches Minecraft 1.21; that does not confirm a particular 26.x build.
3. EssentialsX Chat
EssentialsX Chat is an add-on module for formatting chat with prefixes, suffixes and colours, including different formats for different groups.
What it does well
This is a focused option when your immediate goal is readable rank formatting. If you already use EssentialsX, assess its Chat module before adding a broader channel system that you may not need.
The main EssentialsX module is a required part of this option. It is a separate project entry from the Chat add-on.
Who it suits and what to check
Shortlist it for a Bukkit, Paper or Spigot server that needs group-based presentation. The official modules page says prefix, suffix and group detection require additional bridge and permissions plugins. Match the main module and Chat module, then check those dependencies too.
Our EssentialsX setup guide helps with the wider suite. For the rank structure behind the formatting, follow our guide to groups, prefixes and promotion tracks. The verified module description establishes formatting features; it does not establish local-channel behaviour.
4. sChat
sChat organises chat into separate tabs and provides channels, private messaging and network-wide global channels. It is free and open source under the MIT licence.
What it does well
Its tab-based organisation gives it a distinct approach within this comparison. The project also lists hex colours and placeholder support, so presentation remains part of the feature set alongside channel separation.
It is worth a look when your requirement is to keep different conversations organised while retaining a global channel across a network.
Who it suits and what to check
The project lists Bukkit/Spigot/Paper, BungeeCord and Velocity support. Its Velocity note specifies build 116 or later. Check that detail when selecting a build rather than assuming every release has the same platform support.
The checked project information does not establish a Minecraft version range. Confirm your exact server version before choosing it, then test the tab organisation and channel behaviour with the players who will use them.
5. zArrowChat
zArrowChat is a paid chat suite made by our team. It offers MiniMessage formatting, a word filter, @mentions and inventory previews.
What it does well
Its feature set fits owners who want to improve everyday public chat. Formatting, filtering, mentions and inventory previews give you four concrete areas to assess against your server's needs.
For example, decide whether players need to draw someone's attention with a mention, share an inventory preview, or simply read clearer messages. Those requirements provide a more useful selection test than a long feature count.
Who it suits and what to check
Shortlist it when those public-chat features are the main reason for changing plugins. Check its Paper or Folia requirements against your server before choosing it.
For distance-based or cross-server channels, start with the options above that explicitly document those capabilities. Give our plugin the same practical evaluation as any other candidate: identify the features you need and test their behaviour before making a decision.
Test prefixes, channels and mentions before choosing
Write a small acceptance checklist before committing to a plugin. Keep it tied to player behaviour so you can judge each candidate consistently.
- Rank formatting: Compare messages from a normal player and a staff account. Check whether the expected prefix, suffix and colours appear.
- Local chat: If the plugin documents distance-based channels, test with two players close together and then farther apart.
- Global chat: For a network candidate, send messages from each intended server and check who receives them.
- Mentions: If mentions are part of your requirements, check the recipient's experience as well as the sender's message.
- Moderation: For a candidate with filters or mutes, test ordinary conversation alongside messages covered by your rules.
For a formatting-focused EssentialsX server, begin by evaluating EssentialsX Chat. For documented local channels, compare Carbon and VentureChat. For tab-based organisation, investigate sChat. For public-chat formatting, filtering, mentions and inventory previews, include zArrowChat in your shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Which Minecraft chat plugin supports local and global chat?
Carbon documents radius-based channels and cross-server messaging. VentureChat documents distance-based channels and cross-server messaging too. Compare their platform support and dependencies against your server before choosing.
How do I add rank prefixes to Minecraft chat?
EssentialsX Chat supports prefixes, suffixes and group-based formats. Its official modules page says prefix and group detection require the listed bridge and permissions plugins. Check those dependencies alongside the main EssentialsX and Chat modules.
Should I choose EssentialsX Chat or VentureChat?
EssentialsX Chat is a focused candidate for prefixes, colours and group-based formatting. VentureChat documents channels, cross-server messaging, filtering and moderation tools. Choose according to the features you need and the dependencies your server can support.
Which chat plugin should I check for a Velocity network?
Carbon lists Velocity support and cross-server messaging. sChat also lists Velocity support, specifying build 116 or later. VentureChat's page announces Velocity support too. Verify each candidate against the exact plugin build and Minecraft version you intend to use.
Which Minecraft chat plugins support MiniMessage?
Carbon documents MiniMessage formatting with RGB colours, click actions and hover text. zArrowChat, made by our team, also offers MiniMessage formatting, alongside a word filter, mentions and inventory previews. Compare the rest of their features against your chat requirements.
