AzerothCore vs VCMI
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?
AzerothCore
Open-source MMORPG server framework for World of Warcraft
VS
VCMI
Open-source engine for Heroes of Might and Magic III with multiplayer
| Feature | AzerothCore | VCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,732 | ★ 5,775 |
| First released | 2017 | 2007 |
| Replaces | official WoW servers | Heroes of Might and Magic III original |
Why pick each one
Choose AzerothCore if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.7k GitHub stars
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is AzerothCore or VCMI better?
Neither is universally better. AzerothCore has the larger community, while VCMI is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are AzerothCore and VCMI free and open-source?
Yes. AzerothCore is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and VCMI under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AzerothCore and VCMI with Docker?
AzerothCore: yes. VCMI: check the project docs for container support.