Minecraft Plugins, Mods, Modpacks & Datapacks: What’s the Difference?
Read Time: 6m Written By: Carl S.
Starting a Minecraft server (or just spicing up your game) can feel overwhelming.
Everywhere you look, people are talking about plugins, mods, datapacks, and modpacks, and if you’re new, it’s a jungle of confusing terms.
➡️ “Can I install plugins on Forge?”
➡️ “Are modpacks just mods?”
➡️ “What’s even a datapack?”
Let’s clear the confusion. Here’s a beginner-friendly breakdown of all four, so you’ll finally know what’s what and which one you actually need.
What Are Minecraft Plugins?
Plugins are like apps for your Minecraft server.
They add features (commands, shops, minigames)
They don’t change Minecraft’s code, they just expand what your server can do
And most importantly: Players don’t need to install anything to join your plugin server
Examples of Plugins:
mcMMO – Adds an RPG-like leveling system to Minecraft servers, where you gain experience and unlock special abilities by doing activities like mining, fishing, or sword fighting.
WorldEdit – Lets admins and builders copy, paste, and shape entire chunks of land instantly. Want to make a giant mountain or flatten an area in seconds? WorldEdit makes massive building projects easy.
Image Source: Reddit
Citizens – Allows you to create NPCs (non-player characters) in your world that can look like villagers or people. These NPCs can talk, give quests, run shops, or just stand around to make servers feel more alive and interactive.
📍 Where Plugins Run:
On Bukkit, Spigot, Paper (and forks like Purpur).
⚠️ What Plugins Can’t Do:
They can’t add new blocks or mobs, they mostly tweak mechanics or add commands.
Bonus: 20 Cool Minecraft Plugins for Your Server
What Are Minecraft Mods?
Mods go much deeper, they actually change Minecraft’s code.
They can add new blocks, mobs, weapons, and even entire dimensions
Players must install the same mods on their computer to join your server
📌 Examples of Mods:
Alex's Mobs – Adds over 80 new animals and creatures to Minecraft, ranging from real-life animals like crocodiles to mythical beings like the Endergrade. Each creature has unique behaviors and drops, making the world feel more alive and exciting to explore.
3D Skin Layers – Makes player skins look more realistic by adding a slight 3D effect to details like hats, jackets, or goggles.
BetterNether – Completely overhauls the Nether, turning it from a mostly empty, red wasteland into a vibrant world with new biomes, plants, mobs, and structures.
📍 Where Mods Run:
On Forge or Fabric servers.
⚠️ Key Difference:
Mods aren’t plug-and-play. Players can’t just join, they need the exact same mod setup as the server.
Bonus: Best Mods to Play Survival Minecraft
What Are Minecraft Modpacks?
Modpacks are simply collections of mods bundled together.
They include dozens (sometimes hundreds) of mods
Often come with a launcher (like CurseForge) that installs everything for you
📌 Examples of Modpacks:
RLCraft – Known for being one of the hardest Minecraft experiences ever made, adding dangerous creatures, survival mechanics like thirst and temperature, and hundreds of other mods. It transforms Minecraft into a brutally challenging survival adventure.
All The Mods 10 – A comprehensive modpack that's packed with hundreds of different mods for magic, tech, farming, exploration, and more. A “try everything” pack.
Pixelmon – This modpack combines Minecraft with Pokemon, allowing players to catch and train Pokemon, explore new biomes, and engage in battles.
📍 Where Modpacks Run:
Mostly on Forge (some on Fabric).
⚠️ Important:
Modpacks are not separate tools, they are just curated sets of mods that all work together.
Bonus: Best Minecraft Modpacks in 2025
What Are Minecraft Datapacks?
Datapacks are Minecraft’s built-in way to tweak the game.
✅ They work in Vanilla Minecraft, no server type needed
✅ You just drop them into a datapacks folder in your world
✅ They can add new advancements, tweak crafting recipes, or change loot tables
📌 Examples of Datapacks:
Terralith – Redesigns Minecraft’s Overworld terrain to create stunning new landscapes. With over 85 unique biomes, the world feels fresh and breathtaking without adding any new blocks.
BlazeandCave's Advancements Pack – Adds over 1,000 new achievements (advancements) for players to complete. It gives you challenges for almost everything in the game, from defeating bosses to quirky little tasks you never thought to try.
Villages Revamped – Makes villages look and feel more like real towns. The buildings are better designed, the layouts make sense, and villages feel like places you’d actually want to live or explore.
📍 Where Datapacks Run:
On any server or single-player world: Vanilla, Paper, even Forge.
⚠️ What Datapacks Can’t Do:
They can’t add new blocks or mobs (they work within Minecraft’s existing framework).
Bonus: 10 Must Have Datapacks for Minecraft
Comparison table of add-ons
Type | What it does | What players need | Runs on (server type) |
|---|---|---|---|
Plugins | Adds small features like commands, shops, land protection or minigames. | Nothing | Bukkit, Spigot or Paper servers |
Mods | Adds entirely new content: blocks, mobs, weapons, magic systems or even new dimensions. | Must install the same mods | Forge or Fabric servers |
Modpacks | Combines dozens (or hundreds) of mods into a ready-made package. | Must install the same modpack | Forge servers |
Datapacks | Adjusts recipes, loot tables, and advancements or adds little quality of life changes (like one player sleeps skips the night). | Nothing | Any server even Vanilla |
How WiseHosting Makes Managing Add-Ons Easy
Plugins, mods, datapacks, modpacks, it’s a lot to keep track of.
And here’s the catch: not every server type supports every add‑on.
👉 Try to install a plugin on Vanilla? It won’t work.
👉 Load up a modpack on Paper? Instant crash.
That’s why WiseHosting makes things simple.
One‑Click Server Switching
Tired of guessing if you need Paper, Forge, or Fabric? WiseHosting lets you swap server types instantly.
Supports Every Add‑On with One-Click Install
Plugins, mods, datapacks, modpacks – WiseHosting handles them all. You pick the content, we make sure it runs smoothly.
Smart Warnings Before Things Break
Install a mod on the wrong server type? WiseHosting warns you right away, saving you hours of “Why won’t this work?” frustration.
Final Thoughts
Minecraft has a huge ecosystem of add-ons, but each serves a different purpose:
Plugins = Apps for your server (no player install needed)
Mods = Game-changers (new blocks, mobs, and code changes)
Modpacks = Bundles of mods curated to work together
Datapacks = Vanilla-friendly tweaks
👉 The easiest way to decide:
Want commands and minigames? → Plugins.
Want new mobs and worlds? → Mods or Modpacks.
Want lightweight tweaks? → Datapacks.
Do you want to launch your Minecraft server with plugins, mods or modpacks? Get started with WiseHosting today!
Use code SAVE20 to get 20% OFF on your first month!
If you need any assistance with the server or encounter any problems, do not hesitate contacting our support team here.