papermc-docker vs MTA:SA

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
Featurepapermc-dockerMTA:SA
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0GPL-3.0
LanguageShellC++
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesbare-metal
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 1,822
First released20142023
ReplacesMinecraft Realms

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

  • Extremely easy Minecraft hosting
  • Excellent documentation
papermc-docker details

Choose MTA:SA if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
  • Written in C++
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
MTA:SA details

Frequently asked questions

Is papermc-docker or MTA:SA better?

papermc-docker is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider MTA:SA if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are papermc-docker and MTA:SA free and open-source?

Yes. papermc-docker is licensed under Apache-2.0 and MTA:SA under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run papermc-docker and MTA:SA with Docker?

papermc-docker: yes. MTA:SA: check the project docs for container support.

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