Vanilla vs Paper Explained
When setting up a Minecraft Java server on Server Heron, you will choose between two builds: Vanilla and Paper. Both run Minecraft Java Edition, but they serve different needs.
What is Vanilla?
Vanilla is the official, unmodified server software released directly by Mojang. What you get is pure Minecraft with no extras and no changes. Every official game update is supported the moment Mojang releases it, and any Java Edition client can connect without issues.
Vanilla is the right choice if you want a straightforward survival, SMP, or creative server where the experience stays close to the original game.
What is Paper?
Paper is built on PaperMC, which sits on top of Spigot. It runs the same game but makes significant improvements under the hood: better tick rates, reduced lag under load, and full support for Spigot plugins.
If your server will have many players, custom mechanics, economy systems, anti-grief tools, or any other plugin-based features, Paper is the go-to choice.
Which should you pick?
Choose Vanilla if:
- You want a simple, authentic Minecraft experience
- You do not need plugins
- You want to always be on the latest official Mojang release
Choose Paper if:
- You want to install plugins
- You expect a larger player count
- You want better overall server performance