What is the Difference Between Minecraft Mods & Plugins?

🌎 UNDERSTANDING MODS AND PLUGINS

When setting up a Minecraft server, understanding the difference between mods and plugins is essential for creating the experience you want. Both offer exciting ways to go beyond vanilla Minecraft, giving players access to unique gameplay features, enhanced mechanics, and creative customizations. However, mods and plugins serve distinct purposes and impact server performance differently. In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between the two, helping you choose the best options for your server and giving you a clear understanding of how they can shape your Minecraft world.

🛠 WHAT ARE MODS?

Minecraft mods are custom extensions that modify the game’s core mechanics by altering its source code. They enhance gameplay by introducing features like new blocks, items, mobs, or even entirely new dimensions. However, because mods modify the game’s code, they can sometimes impact server performance, especially when they involve complex world generation or advanced technical systems.

To function correctly, mods require specific mod loaders such as Forge, NeoForge, or Fabric. Additionally, mods are often bundled into modpacks like BetterMinecraft, SkyFactory, or All the Mods.

Where are mods installed?

Generally, mods need to be installed on both the server and client for everything to work smoothly. However, there are some exceptions. Client side mods such as Iris, Optifine, Oculus, and Distant Horizons only need to be placed in the client's mods folder.

We suggest using CurseForge to download and manage your mods locally, as it allows you to create profiles even without having to use Forge. You can also opt for other loaders like Fabric, NeoForge, or stick with Vanilla if that’s your preference!

You can find mods on well known Minecraft modding platforms like CurseForge and Modrinth.

When adding mods to your server, make sure to place them in the server's mods folder to ensure they work properly. After that, restart the server and double check that you have the same mods installed on your client so you can connect without issues.

👉 Check out our guide on How To Add Mods to Your Minecraft Server!

Examples of Mods

Chunky	Pre-generates chunks on your server, quickly, efficiently, and safely
Alex's Mobs	Adds 89 new mobs to Minecraft.
Xaero's Minimap	Displays a map of the nearby world terrain, players, mobs, entities in the corner of your screen.
Bioms O' Plenty	Adds new biomes, including forests, deserts, and oceans.

How do mods effect server performance?

Installing mods can put extra load on your server, as they require additional memory and processing power. Particularly mods that add complex world generation or advanced systems. The more mods you add, the greater the likelihood of experiencing lag or crashes. To maintain a smooth gaming experience, it's important to monitor performance regularly and adjust settings as needed.

⚡Consider adding the Spark mod to your modded Minecraft server. It's a powerful tool that helps identify and troubleshoot potential bottlenecks!

Do mods need additional configuration?

Once you've added the mods to both your client and server, you usually won't need to tweak anything else to get them working! This is one of the big advantages of using mods, especially when compared to plugins, which often require extra configuration in their files to function properly.

If you want to adjust how a mod works, you can modify its configuration files. To do this, head to the 'Config' folder in your server files and locate the specific mod you want to change. After making your adjustments, don’t forget to save the file (look for the save changes option in the top right corner), then restart your server for the changes to take effect.

🔌 WHAT ARE PLUGINS?

A Minecraft plugin is a third-party extension that enhances or customizes a Minecraft server without modifying the game’s source code. Unlike mods, plugins only need to be installed on the server, allowing players to connect without adding anything to their game. They are relatively lightweight in terms of resource usage but can impact performance if too many are added. Plugins are stored in the server’s "plugins" folder and often come with configuration files for customization. They enable features like custom commands, new game modes/minigames, or advanced permission systems, making them a versatile tool for server admins. To use plugins, the server must run Paper or Purpur.

💡 Paper and Purpur servers can use Geyser and Floodgate for cross-play between Java and Bedrock Editions. Check out our guide on How to Enable Crossplay with Geyser on Your Minecraft Server.

Where are plugins installed?

Plugins should only be installed on the server. Simply place them in the server's 'plugins' folder and restart. Players don’t need to do anything extra on their side to join and play on a server with plugins. Everything they need is already handled on the server.

You can find plugins on well known Minecraft modding platforms like Spigot, Bukkit, CurseForge and Modrinth

👉 Check out our guide on How To Add Plugins to Your Minecraft Server!

Examples of Plugins

EssentialsX	Adds useful server commands, like teleportation, setting homes, and player kits.
SkyWars	Mini-game plugin where players start on separate floating islands and fight to be the last one standing.
Geyser/Floodgate	Tools that enable Minecraft: Bedrock Edition players to join Minecraft: Java Edition servers, creating crossplay between the two.
Citizens	Citizens is the original, best plugin for creating lifelike NPCs in Minecraft Servers (Paper/Spigot).

How do plugins effect my server performance?

Plugins are usually lightweight and have minimal impact on server performance. However, adding too many plugins can affect server speed, especially if they are resource intensive. Server platforms like Paper are optimized to handle multiple plugins without causing significant lag. Many plugins are also compatible across different versions, reducing the need for constant updates. It's important to check plugin installation pages for compatibility and dependencies.

⚡Consider adding the Spark It's a powerful tool that helps identify and troubleshoot potential bottlenecks!

Do plugins need additional configuration?

Plugins differ from mods in that they need extra setup to work correctly. Whether you're adding a minigame, setting up an economy system, or managing player permissions, you’ll need to configure each plugin to fit your server's needs. The good news is that plugin creators often provide detailed guides on installation and setup. Most plugins come with configuration files, allowing you to tweak settings like enabling or disabling features, or adjusting how certain aspects work to better align with your server’s style.

🆚 COMPARING MODS AND PLUGINS

To help you get a quick understanding of how mods and plugins differ, here's a breakdown of key points to keep in mind:

Mods:

Installation: Requires installation on both the server and client sides. All players must have the same mods installed to connect to the server. However, some mods, such as shaders, only need to be installed on the client side.
Customization: Can significantly change the core gameplay by introducing new mechanics, biomes, mobs, items, and more. These are often grouped together in modpacks for a cohesive experience.
Performance Impact: Mods or modpacks can have a considerable effect on server performance, as they may use a significant amount of memory and resources depending on their complexity and requirements.
Compatibility: May need specific versions or mod loaders (Forge, NeoForge, Fabric) for both the server and client to work properly.
Platform: Primarily used on modded servers, such as those running Forge, NeoForge, or Fabric.

Plugins:

Installation: Installed only on the server, plugins don’t require additional files from players. However, they usually need more configuration compared to mods, which are often more plug and play.
Customization: Mainly designed for server management and control, including features like minigames, custom commands, permissions, world management, economy systems, and more.
Performance Impact: Typically lightweight and have a minimal impact on server performance, but too many, especially resource-heavy ones, can cause slowdowns and other server performance issues.
Compatibility: Perfect for players using the standard vanilla Minecraft client. Servers can be configured for cross-play, enabling Bedrock Edition users to join too.
Platform: Commonly used on servers like Paper or Purpur.

🏁 IN CONCLUSION

In this guide, we’ve looked at the main differences between mods and plugins to help you figure out what works best for your server. Mods give you a ton of customization, allowing you to add new gameplay features, mobs, and items, but they need to be installed on both the server and client, and can sometimes impact performance. Plugins, however, are only installed on the server, making them easier for players to join without extra downloads. They’re perfect for adding custom commands, mini-games, or managing permissions, but they do require a bit more setup. Understanding these differences will make it easier to choose the right tools for your server’s needs.

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