Forge vs. Cauldron: What Is the Difference?
When setting up a modded Minecraft server, choosing the right server platform makes a significant difference. Forge and Cauldron each serve different use cases.
What is Forge?
Forge is the most widely used modding platform for Minecraft. It provides a modding API that lets you add mods to the game, and it supports all current Minecraft versions.
Key features:
- Supports a large library of community-developed mods.
- Compatible with current and recent Minecraft versions.
- Does not support Bukkit or Spigot plugins natively.
To install Forge on your server, follow the install Forge guide.
What is Cauldron?
Cauldron is a hybrid server platform built on both Forge and Bukkit. It lets you run Forge mods and Bukkit plugins simultaneously. Cauldron is limited to Minecraft 1.6.4 and 1.7.10, and is no longer actively maintained.
Key features:
- Runs Forge mods and Bukkit plugins at the same time.
- Limited to Minecraft 1.6.4 and 1.7.10.
- No longer actively updated.
To install Cauldron, follow the install Cauldron guide.
Comparison
| Feature | Forge | Cauldron |
|---|---|---|
| Mod support | Full | Full (Forge mods) |
| Plugin support | None natively | Bukkit plugins |
| Minecraft versions | Current and modern | 1.6.4 and 1.7.10 only |
| Active maintenance | Yes | No |
When to choose Forge
- Your server needs mods and runs a current Minecraft version.
- You do not need Bukkit or Spigot plugin support.
When to choose Cauldron
- Your server must run Minecraft 1.6.4 or 1.7.10.
- You need both Forge mods and Bukkit plugins running together.
Alternatives for newer versions
For hybrid setups on current Minecraft versions, consider:
- Mohist: Supports Forge mods and Bukkit/Spigot plugins on newer versions.
- SpongeForge: Combines Forge modding with Sponge plugin support.
- Paper: Optimised for plugin-heavy servers without mod support.