SHSelfHostIndex

papermc-docker vs Terraforming Mars

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?
PA papermc-docker Containerized Minecraft Java server image VS TE Terraforming Mars Implementation of Terraforming Mars board game
Featurepapermc-dockerTerraforming Mars
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0GPL-3.0
LanguageShellTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB50 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesbare-metal
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 939
First released20142023
ReplacesMinecraft Realms—

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

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

Choose Terraforming Mars if…

  • Released under the GPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in TypeScript
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Terraforming Mars details

Frequently asked questions

Is papermc-docker or Terraforming Mars 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 Terraforming Mars free and open-source?

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

Can I run papermc-docker and Terraforming Mars with Docker?

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

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