Terasology vs VoxeLibre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Terasology | VoxeLibre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Lua |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,896 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2011 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Minecraft | Minecraft |
What are Terasology and VoxeLibre?
Terasology
Terasology is an open-source voxel game and engine offering immersive sandbox worlds with advanced lighting and modular gameplay. It can run dedicated servers for cooperative multiplayer sessions.
- Modular gameplay systems
- Dedicated server mode
- Advanced lighting
- Active modding community
VoxeLibre
VoxeLibre is a free, open-source sandbox voxel game for the Luanti engine featuring crafting, mobs, and exploration. Players can run dedicated multiplayer servers to play cooperatively.
- Crafting and mobs
- Dedicated server mode
- Active mod ecosystem
- Lightweight engine
Terasology vs VoxeLibre: key differences
Terasology is written in Java, while VoxeLibre is built with Lua. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Terasology versus GPL-3.0 for VoxeLibre. VoxeLibre is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Terasology. Terasology is the more established project (first released 2011), while VoxeLibre arrived in 2017. Terasology has the considerably larger community, at 3,896 GitHub stars versus 700.
Why pick each one
Choose Terasology if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose VoxeLibre if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Lua
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Terasology or VoxeLibre better?
Neither is universally better. Terasology has the larger community, while VoxeLibre is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Terasology and VoxeLibre free and open-source?
Yes. Terasology is licensed under Apache-2.0 and VoxeLibre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Terasology and VoxeLibre with Docker?
Terasology: check the project docs for container support. VoxeLibre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Terasology or VoxeLibre?
VoxeLibre has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Terasology. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.