Choosing between forge and fabric for your server can be difficult at times, sometimes a mod you want is only on forge, or maybe you plan on having a lot of players and would rather have performance. Both are powerful mod loaders that give you access to countless mods, but they work differently and have their own strengths. Picking the right one depends on what kind of server you want to run!
What is Forge?
Forge has been around for over a decade and is the most widely recognized mod loader in the Minecraft community. It supports an enormous library of mods, especially large and complex ones that add new dimensions, tech systems, or magic mechanics. Many well known mods like Thermal Expansion, Twilight Forest, Create, and my personal favorite: Ice and Fire, are built for Forge.
Forge is also very stable and well supported, making it a strong choice for servers with a heavy focus on content rich mods. Performance can sometimes be an issue with larger Forge modpacks, which can be a downside.
Here is a guide on how to install Forge on your Simple Game Hosting server!
What is Fabric?
Fabric is relatively newer but has quickly become popular, especially among players who prefer lightweight mods and performance improvements. It is known for being fast, flexible, and easy to update. Fabric usually gets support for new Minecraft versions within days of release, which makes it a great choice if you always want to be on the latest version.
While Fabric does not yet have the same number of large scale mods as Forge, it shines in optimization mods and quality of life features. Mods like Lithium, Sodium, and Phosphor dramatically improve server performance, which is important if you want smoother gameplay with less lag.
Here is a guide on how to install Fabric on your Simple Game Hosting server!
Key Differences Between Forge and Fabric:
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Performance: Fabric generally runs better, especially for servers focused on optimizations. Forge is heavier but can handle big content mods.
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Mod Library: Forge has more large and complex mods. Fabric has fewer but excels at performance and utility mods.
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Updates: Fabric updates faster with new Minecraft versions. Forge updates take longer but are usually more stable once released.
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Compatibility: Mods are not cross-compatible. If you pick Forge, you cannot run Fabric mods and vice versa.
Which Should You Choose?
Your decision should come down to the type of server you want to run:
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Pick Forge if you want a heavily modded server with complex systems, big modpacks, and lots of gameplay content. It is the go-to for traditional modding communities.
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Pick Fabric if you prefer performance improvements, lighter weight mods, or want to stay on the newest Minecraft versions as quickly as possible.
Both are excellent in their own ways. If your main goal is stability with rich mods, Forge is the way to go. If you want speed and performance, Fabric is the better fit.