Software Alternatives & Startups

PaperMC VS CloudLinux

Compare PaperMC VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

PaperMC

Paper is a fork of the Spigot server implementation (which is itself a fork of CraftBukkit). Paper strives to bring improved performance, more features, and more APIs for developers to build awesome plugins with.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, PaperMC seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 179 times since March 2021.

social mentions
179 vs 0
Group Chat & Notifications popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

PaperMC
CloudLinux
Website papermc.io cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

PaperMC 6 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Performance
    PaperMC provides significant performance improvements over vanilla Minecraft, allowing for smoother gameplay and higher player counts on servers.
  • Optimizations
    It includes various optimizations and patches that aren't available in the default Minecraft server, making it more efficient in terms of resource usage.
  • Customizability
    PaperMC allows for extensive customization through configuration files, giving server admins more control over gameplay mechanics and server behavior.
  • Plugin Support
    It has a robust ecosystem of plugins that extend the server's capabilities, allowing for the addition of features like economies, mini-games, and moderation tools.
  • Active Community
    PaperMC has an active community that contributes to its continuous development, ensuring that the server stays up-to-date with the latest Minecraft releases and issues are promptly addressed.
  • Compatibility
    It is compatible with most Bukkit and Spigot plugins, which makes it easy to migrate from other server solutions.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    The extensive customization and configuration options can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve.
  • Updates
    While updates are frequent, they may sometimes introduce changes that require existing plugins to be updated as well, which can cause temporary incompatibilities.
  • Resource Intensive
    Although optimized, PaperMC can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful machine to handle large numbers of players or complex plugins.
  • Potential for Bugs
    Due to the many customizations and modifications, there is a potential for bugs or unexpected behaviors, particularly with certain plugins.
  • Dependence on Plugins
    Servers often become highly dependent on various plugins, and any issues with these plugins can directly affect server performance and player experience.
  • Licensing Restrictions
    Some plugins and modifications may have licensing restrictions that could limit their use or distribution, potentially complicating server management.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

PaperMC
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • PaperMC is generally regarded as a good and reliable choice for running a high-performance Minecraft server. Its compatibility with a variety of plugins and focus on performance make it a favorable platform for server administrators looking to offer an optimized playing experience.

Why this product is good

  • PaperMC is a popular Minecraft server software that offers improved performance and more configuration options compared to the default server software, SpigotMC. It optimizes server operations, manages resources more efficiently, and provides various enhancements that help reduce server lag. Furthermore, PaperMC supports a wide range of plugins, giving server administrators the flexibility to customize their server experience significantly.

Recommended for

    PaperMC is particularly recommended for server administrators who want better performance and customizability, those who plan to host a large number of players, or server operators looking for a robust platform that supports numerous plugins without compromising performance.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

PaperMC 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

How stable is PaperMC and how does it preform!

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
PaperMC
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
92% 92%
8% 8%

User comments

Share your experience with using PaperMC and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

PaperMC 179 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to PaperMC and CloudLinux

When comparing PaperMC and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.