papermc-docker vs Naev

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-dockerNaev
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0GPL-3.0
LanguageShellC
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesbinary, source
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 941
First released20142009
ReplacesMinecraft RealmsEscape Velocity

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

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

Choose Naev if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in C
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Naev details

Frequently asked questions

Is papermc-docker or Naev better?

Neither is universally better. papermc-docker has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are papermc-docker and Naev free and open-source?

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

Can I run papermc-docker and Naev with Docker?

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

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