Where it sits in the family tree
CraftBukkit introduced the plugin API, Spigot improved performance on top of it, and Paper forked Spigot and added extensive further optimisation. Each step kept the world format and the plugin interface intact.
That lineage is why a plugin written years ago for Bukkit usually still runs on a modern Paper server without modification.
What Paper changes
Performance work dominates: better tick behaviour under entity and redstone load, improved chunk handling, optimised hoppers and network code. It also exposes configuration for entity activation ranges and other limits that vanilla simply does not have.
On top of that it ships practical tooling — configuration that is validated at startup, clearer logs, and first-class support for spark profiling.
What it deliberately does not change
Gameplay. Farms, redstone, mob behaviour, and world generation follow vanilla rules unless you explicitly change a setting. That is the promise that makes migrating from vanilla a one-restart operation.
Players also install nothing. Every change is server-side, so the stock client connects as normal.
Who should run it
Anyone who wants plugins, or who has hit a performance ceiling in vanilla. It is the sensible default for a server that will still exist in a year.
Stay on vanilla only for a deliberate reason: a tiny private world, or a preference for untouched mechanics and no third-party layer between you and Mojang.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Paper allowed by Mojang?
Yes. Paper is a third-party server implementation, like Spigot and Purpur, and running it does not violate the Minecraft EULA. The restrictions in the EULA concern how you monetise gameplay, not which server software you choose.
Does Paper cost anything?
No. Paper is free and open source, and installing it on a host costs nothing beyond your hosting plan. On PufferHost it is available on the free tier.
Can I go back to vanilla after using Paper?
Yes. Change the software selection back and restart. Paper does not alter your world files, so the process is reversible, though you will lose access to plugins and Paper’s config files.
