How much RAM / which plan for X players + Y plugins (Paper/Spigot)? — Minecraft

Plugin servers running the Paper/Spigot family are far lighter than modded servers, so you can host a lot on modest RAM. Here's a practical guide to picking the right plan for your player count and plugin load.

Rough sizing guide (plugins)

Small survival/SMP, up to ~10 players, a handful of plugins: 2–3GB.
~10–30 players, moderate plugins: 4GB.
~30–60 players, many plugins (economy, protection, minigames): 6–8GB.
60+ players or a minigame/network hub: 8GB+, and consider Supreme/Ultimate.

Getting the most from your plan

Match your expected player count and plugin load to a band above.
For busy or high-player servers, favour the Supreme/Ultimate tiers.
Install your server software in the Versions tab (one-click).
Keep an eye on real RAM use in the Console after boot and adjust.

Tip: Paper is much more efficient than Vanilla/Spigot — running Paper effectively "buys" you performance for free. Set it up in the Versions tab.

Frequently asked questions

Are plugin servers really that much lighter than modded? Yes — plugins add far less overhead than mods, so the same RAM goes much further.

Which software should I run for a plugin server? Paper (or a Paper fork like Purpur) from the Versions tab, for the best performance with full plugin support.