papermc-docker vs OpenArena

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-dockerOpenArena
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0GPL-2.0
LanguageShellC
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesbare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 249
First released20142005
ReplacesMinecraft RealmsQuake III Arena

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

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

Choose OpenArena if…

  • Tiny dedicated server
  • Easy to host
OpenArena details

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Can I run papermc-docker and OpenArena with Docker?

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

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