Choosing your framework is the most consequential decision in FiveM server development. It determines your resource ecosystem, development patterns, and community. Let's compare honestly.
Quick Overview
ESX (EssentialMode Extended)
- Oldest and most established framework
- Largest resource library
- Multiple versions (Legacy, v1 Final, latest)
- French origin, global community
QBCore
- Modern framework by Kakarot
- Clean codebase and clear conventions
- Growing rapidly
- Strong English-speaking community
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ESX | QBCore |
|---|---|---|
| Job system | Built-in, extensive | Built-in, modernized |
| Inventory | Multiple options (ox_inventory, etc.) | Built-in + options |
| Phone system | Various third-party | qb-phone (integrated) |
| Housing | Multiple options | qb-houses |
| Vehicle system | es_extended vehicles | qb-vehicleshop |
| Banking | esx_banking variants | qb-banking |
| Multicharacter | esx_multicharacter | qb-multicharacter |
Code Style
ESX Event Pattern
-- Client requesting data
TriggerServerEvent('esx:getPlayerData')
-- Server handler
RegisterServerEvent('esx:getPlayerData')
AddEventHandler('esx:getPlayerData', function()
local xPlayer = ESX.GetPlayerFromId(source)
TriggerClientEvent('esx:playerData', source, xPlayer.getData())
end)
QBCore Export Pattern
-- Client getting data (more direct)
local PlayerData = QBCore.Functions.GetPlayerData()
-- Server with callbacks
QBCore.Functions.CreateCallback('myresource:getData', function(source, cb)
local Player = QBCore.Functions.GetPlayer(source)
cb(Player.PlayerData)
end)
QBCore generally uses more exports and callbacks, while ESX relies more on events. The QBCore approach is considered more organized but requires understanding the callback pattern.
Performance
Both frameworks perform similarly when properly configured. The bottleneck is almost always resource quality, not the framework itself.
ESX considerations:
- Legacy versions have known performance issues (fixed in v1 Final and later)
- Older ESX resources may use inefficient patterns
- The massive resource library includes both excellent and terrible code
QBCore considerations:
- Core framework is well-optimized
- More consistent resource quality (smaller, curated ecosystem)
- Default phone and menu systems can be heavy
At 64+ players on Space-Node's FiveM hosting, both frameworks run well. The hardware handles either framework's overhead with room to spare.
Community and Support
ESX
- Enormous community (largest FiveM framework)
- Thousands of free resources
- Documentation varies in quality
- Help available but signal-to-noise ratio can be low
QBCore
- Rapidly growing community
- Curated resource ecosystem
- Better documentation overall
- Active Discord with knowledgeable developers
Which to Choose
Choose ESX if:
- You want the largest selection of free resources
- Your development team has ESX experience
- You're converting an existing ESX server
- You want a proven, battle-tested framework
Choose QBCore if:
- Starting a new server from scratch
- You prefer cleaner code conventions
- Your target audience expects QBCore features
- You want a more opinionated, consistent framework
Consider ox_core if:
- You're an experienced developer
- You want the most performant base
- You're comfortable building more yourself
- Modern TypeScript/Lua development appeals to you
Honest Assessment
Neither framework is objectively "better." The best framework is the one your development team knows. A well-developed ESX server performs identically to a well-developed QBCore server. The framework provides structure - it's the resources built on top that determine player experience.
Pick one, commit to it, and focus on building great features for your players.
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