On this page
- Choose by what you need to change
- 1. Paper
- What it offers
- Who it suits
- Check before choosing
- 2. Purpur
- What it offers
- Who it suits
- Check before choosing
- 3. Pufferfish
- What it offers
- Who it suits
- Check before choosing
- 4. Leaf
- What it offers
- Who it suits
- Check before choosing
- Decide whether Purpur is worth the switch
- Try a replacement on a copy first
Key takeaways
5- Choose Purpur for documented gameplay controls you intend to use, rather than assuming a speed improvement.
- Paper already provides performance-related configuration and remains a useful baseline.
- Pufferfish's checked downloads listed versions up to 1.21, so verify support before planning a 26.x server.
- Leaf documents asynchronous processing features, but check the exact build's status before choosing it.
- Back up, test your plugins and compare the same workload before keeping a replacement.
If you run Paper and wonder what Purpur would actually change, its main attraction is extra gameplay and configuration controls. This comparison explains when those controls justify switching, what Pufferfish and Leaf offer instead, and what to check before choosing a different server build.
Choose by what you need to change
Paper is the base these alternatives build on. Purpur emphasises configurable gameplay, Pufferfish targets performance for large servers, and Leaf combines performance work with additional customisation. Those are project goals, not evidence that one will run your particular server faster.
| Software | Main reason to consider it | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Performance work, mechanics fixes and the Paper API | Whether its existing settings already cover your needs |
| Purpur | Extra gameplay controls on top of Paper | Which documented settings you would actually use |
| Pufferfish | Optimisations aimed at large servers | Build availability for your Minecraft version |
| Leaf | Performance features including asynchronous processing | The status of the exact build you intend to run |
1. Paper
Paper describes itself as a performance-focused Minecraft server that also addresses gameplay and mechanics inconsistencies. It provides the Paper API for plugin developers.
What it offers
Paper already exposes performance-related controls. Its global configuration referenceSource site covers chunk-loading threads, per-player chunk limits, chunk sending, experience-orb grouping and player autosaving. Choosing Paper does not mean giving up configuration.
Who it suits
Stay with Paper when it supports the server you want to run and you cannot identify a specific feature you need from a fork. Treat it as the baseline against which you evaluate the other three options.
Check before choosing
The Paper downloads page listed 26.3 when checked on 30 October 2026. Check the target build and your plugins together rather than choosing solely because a version appears on a download page.
2. Purpur
Purpur is a Paper fork focused on configurable gameplay. Its repository describes it as a drop-in replacement for Paper, and its website lists support for plugins written for the Bukkit, Spigot and Paper APIs.
What it offers
The configuration reference covers global and per-world settings. Examples include which mobs are ridable, mob health and movement speed, elytra damage, drowning, daylight cycles and block mechanics. These are concrete reasons to consider Purpur if you want to shape survival gameplay.
Who it suits
Purpur is a good fit when you can name a gameplay change its settings provide. Before choosing it, write down two or three changes you want and find their entries in the documentation. That gives the switch a purpose beyond replacing the server name.
Check before choosing
Its FAQ says it inherits Paper's features and keeps default behaviour unless its additions are configured. Purpur's downloads API listed 26.3 on the research date. Plugin support is part of its stated design, but still include your actual plugin set in testing.
3. Pufferfish
Pufferfish describes itself as an optimised Paper fork for large servers, with performance and stability as priorities. Its README states compatibility with plugins that work on Paper.
What it offers
Its documented work includes reducing unnecessary entity processing, moving some work asynchronously, faster map rendering and hopper optimisations. Those give you specific areas to investigate rather than a general promise that changing the server software will fix every performance problem.
Who it suits
Consider Pufferfish when its documented optimisations match what you want to evaluate and it has a build for your server version. Use a representative workload to decide whether it improves your server enough to justify the change.
Check before choosing
Version availability is the immediate caution. On 30 October 2026, its downloads pageSource site listed versions up to 1.21, with no 26.x build shown. GitHub's branches page showed ver/1.21, last updated on 21 December 2025. That does not establish abandonment, but it does mean you should verify availability before planning around it.
4. Leaf
Leaf describes itself as a customisable Paper fork balancing performance, vanilla mechanics and stability. Its README says it incorporates optimisations from other projects, including Pufferfish and Purpur.
What it offers
Leaf lists asynchronous pathfinding, mob spawning and entity tracking among its features. It also documents support for the linear region-file format and states compatibility with Spigot and Paper plugins. These are capabilities to assess individually, rather than reasons to enable every available option.
Who it suits
Leaf is worth evaluating when its specific performance features interest you and you are prepared to review the chosen build carefully. Set a clear goal for the trial, such as evaluating entity-heavy gameplay, instead of assuming more optimisation features must produce a better result.
Check before choosing
Its repository showed a 26.3 branch during research. A branch name alone does not establish release readiness, so check the status of the exact build you intend to use. Leaf's README explicitly tells users to take backups before switching.
Decide whether Purpur is worth the switch
Purpur's strongest case over Paper is control over gameplay. If your answer to “what would we change?” is ridable mobs, different mob attributes or another documented Purpur setting, you have a concrete reason to try it.
- Keep Paper when its features meet your needs and you have no specific reason to change.
- Try Purpur when its documented gameplay settings match the server you want to build.
- Evaluate Pufferfish when a suitable version exists and its performance work matches your testing goals.
- Evaluate Leaf when you want to investigate its performance features and have checked the build's status.
For the wider choice of server architectures, our broader server software comparison covers a different part of the decision. Here, the useful question is whether a Paper-based alternative gives you something you will actually use.
Try a replacement on a copy first
Purpur's installation documentation directs users to Paper's installation process because it is a drop-in replacement. Keep the trial focused: choose a matching Minecraft version, retain your plugin set and change one thing at a time. If you also intend to change Minecraft versions, follow our server update preparation guide before combining those changes.
- Stop the test server through its console and back up its complete directory using your shell or file-transfer tools.
- Keep the original server jar separately, then place the chosen replacement in the test directory.
- Check that the startup command points to the replacement filename. Start the test server and review its console output before testing gameplay.
- Stop the test server and use the Backups tab to create a backup, where available.
- Use the File Manager or SFTP to retain the original jar and upload the replacement.
- Check the Startup tab's jar variable and startup command. If the host controls those settings, ask it to select the replacement. Start the server and review the Console.
- Stop the test server and retain a complete backup before replacing files.
- Use Files / FTP to keep the original jar separately and upload the replacement.
- Check the JAR selection. If your host restricts custom jars, ask it to make the chosen build available. Start the server and review the console.
For the trial itself, use a short acceptance checklist:
- Check the console for plugin startup errors.
- Test the player actions your server depends on.
- For Purpur, test each gameplay setting you intended to change.
- For performance-focused choices, compare the same workload before drawing a conclusion.
Keep the replacement only if it delivers the behaviour or measured improvement you wanted. Purpur can be the more useful choice for a customised server without being a necessary upgrade for every Paper owner.
Frequently asked questions
What is Purpur Minecraft server software?
Purpur is a Paper fork focused on configurable gameplay. It adds global and per-world controls for features such as mob attributes, ridable mobs and block mechanics.
Is Purpur better or faster than Paper?
Purpur offers more gameplay controls, which can make it a better fit for a customised server. The checked sources do not establish a speed advantage, and its FAQ says an unedited purpur.yml behaves like Paper.
Can I use Paper plugins on Purpur?
Purpur states support for plugins written for the Bukkit, Spigot and Paper APIs. Its FAQ identifies hard-coded server-type checks as a possible source of incompatibility, so test your actual plugins before switching.
Is Pufferfish still maintained?
The checked pages do not establish that it has been abandoned. On 30 October 2026, GitHub showed a ver/1.21 branch last updated on 21 December 2025, and the downloads page showed no 26.x build.
What is Leaf, and how does it differ from Purpur?
Leaf is a Paper fork that emphasises performance and customisation, with documented asynchronous pathfinding, mob spawning and entity tracking. Purpur's central attraction is its additional gameplay controls. Choose by the specific features you need, and check Leaf's exact build status before testing.
