Minecraft server with mods: Fabric, Forge or NeoForge (2026)

Updated 4 November 2026

A Minecraft server with mods runs on a mod loader (Fabric, Forge or NeoForge) instead of Paper, and every player installs the same mods on their own PC. At ServerSpark you switch the loader yourself in SparkPanel and add mods from Modrinth in one click. A handful of mods runs on 4 GB (€4.19 per month paid per quarter); for 30+ mods or a bigger group take 6 GB (€6.09) or 8 GB (€8.49).

Below: which plan fits how many mods, the steps from order to playing, the mods that break a server, and how your friends get exactly the same mods.

Which plan for how many mods?

Prices include 21% VAT. The 1 GB and 2 GB plans can technically run a mod loader too, but even a small Forge or NeoForge server uses most of 2 GB before anyone joins, so we don't recommend it. You can upgrade later and keep your world. More detail: How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

Fabric, Forge or NeoForge?

The loader is decided by your mods: a mod only runs on the loader it was made for. Open each mod's page on Modrinth and look at which loader and Minecraft version it lists, then pick the combination that all your mods support. Rule of thumb: Fabric for light and performance mods on new versions, NeoForge for big content mods on 1.21.1, Forge for older packs on 1.20.1 and earlier. The full comparison is in Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge.

Your modded server in 5 steps

1. Order a plan on Minecraft server hosting. Choose Germany or Finland as location. The server is created automatically within minutes.
2. Switch the loader. In SparkPanel, click Stop, go to Settings → Server software, choose Fabric, Forge or NeoForge and enter the Minecraft version (for example 1.21.1). Under World, choose start a fresh world (old one kept), tick the confirmation and click Switch.
3. Add your mods. Open the Mods tab, search Modrinth and click install; required extras such as Fabric API are added automatically. Have a mod from somewhere else? Upload the .jar to the mods folder under Files or with SFTP.
4. Start the server and watch the console. The first start of a modded server takes longer than Paper; it is ready when it says Done.
5. Give your friends the same mods (see below) and share the address from Network.

Mods that don't belong on a server

Some mods only change what you see on your own screen. They do nothing on a server, and some stop it from starting. On Modrinth, each mod's page shows whether it is needed on the client, the server or both.

• Client-only, leave off the server: Sodium, Iris and other shader mods, OptiFine, zoom mods, most HUD and minimap mods (unless the minimap also offers a server part).
• Server-side and safe: performance mods such as Lithium and FerriteCore (Fabric), backup and permission mods, and most content mods (new blocks, mobs, dimensions), which players need too.
• Dependencies: many mods need a library mod, such as Fabric API, Architectury or Cloth Config. The Mods tab adds those for you; when you upload by hand, the crash report names what is missing.

Your friends need the same mods

Every player needs the same loader, the same Minecraft version and the same content mods as the server. The easiest way is the free Modrinth App: make a profile with your loader and version, add the mods, then use Export modpack and send the .mrpack file to your friends. They import it in their own Modrinth App with one click. Client-only mods like Sodium can stay in their profile; they don't have to match.

Frequently asked questions