Plugins & mods
Plugins and mods are two different things. Plugins run on Paper and its relatives and your players install nothing. Mods run on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt, and everybody who joins needs the same mods in their own game.
The panel shows the Plugins tab or the Mods tab depending on the server type you run, never both. The articles below walk through both.
Data packs are a third way to change the game. They work on every Java server type, Paper and modded alike, and the World tab installs them from Modrinth in one click.
Plugins & mods articles
- How do I install a modpack?
Open the Mods tab in your panel, search for the pack under Modpacks or under CurseForge and FTB packs, pick a version and press "Install the pack".
- How do I install a plugin?
Open the Plugins tab in your panel, search the plugin catalogue and press "Install".
- How do I add a data pack to my server?
Open World in your server panel and scroll to Data packs.
Picking the right server type first
Decide what your players want before installing anything. A server where everyone joins with the normal game, with extra commands, ranks or minigames, needs Paper or Purpur and plugins. A server with new blocks, machines or dimensions needs Fabric, Forge or NeoForge and mods, and every player needs the same mods.
Switching later is possible and keeps the world, but blocks from mods do not survive a move back to Paper. Picking the type early saves that trip.
Delivery: most servers are handed over instantly and run within seconds of payment, the rest follow within 60 minutes during the day and within 12 hours at night.