papermc-docker vs Unciv

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-dockerUnciv
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0MPL-2.0
LanguageShellKotlin
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetesbare-metal, binary, docker
GitHub stars★ 14,076★ 11,071
First released20142018
ReplacesMinecraft RealmsCivilization V

Why pick each one

Choose papermc-docker if…

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

Choose Unciv if…

  • Released under the MPL-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Mature project with 11.1k GitHub stars
Unciv details

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Can I run papermc-docker and Unciv with Docker?

papermc-docker: yes. Unciv: yes.

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