papermc-docker vs NextGBA

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-dockerNextGBA
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0free
LanguageShellTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesdocker, one-click
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 45
First released20142023
ReplacesMinecraft Realms

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

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

Choose NextGBA if…

  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • One-click install on common self-host platforms
  • Written in TypeScript
NextGBA details

Frequently asked questions

Is papermc-docker or NextGBA 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 NextGBA free and open-source?

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

Can I run papermc-docker and NextGBA with Docker?

papermc-docker: yes. NextGBA: yes.

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