Minecraft server hosting: plugins or mods, and how much RAM you need
Minecraft is the easiest game to run a server for, and at the same time the one with the most choices. Which server software, which version, how much RAM — those three decisions determine nearly everything else.
Plugins or mods: decide up front
This is the distinction most beginners miss. Plugins (Paper, Purpur, Spigot) run on the server only; players install nothing. Mods (Forge, Fabric) change the game itself, so everyone needs exactly the same modpack. You cannot mix the two.
Want a public server anyone can join? Choose Paper. Want to play a modpack with friends? Then it is Forge or Fabric — and budget more RAM.
How much RAM
- 1–2 GB: vanilla or Paper, a handful of friends
- 4 GB: an active server with plugins, 10 to 20 players
- 6–8 GB: light modpacks, or a busy plugin server
- 10 GB+: heavy modpacks such as All the Mods
Modpacks are the big exception: a pack with 300 mods asks more of your server than a hundred players on vanilla. Always check what the modpack itself recommends.
Versions and updates
Since 2026 Minecraft uses year-based numbering with several updates a year. Plugins and modpacks usually trail by weeks. If you run a modpack, stay on the version it was built for — updating because you can is the quickest way to break your server.
Getting started
At MC-Node you pick your version in the panel and start with one click. From €0.75 per month, with DDoS protection and no player cap.