Folia is Paper's multithreaded server fork that splits the world into regions running on separate threads. This changes how plugins interact with the server, and most traditional Bukkit or Spigot plugins do not work on Folia without modification. Here is what you need to know before installing plugins on a Folia server.
Why most plugins break on Folia
Traditional Minecraft plugins assume the game runs on a single main thread. They call Bukkit API methods that access world state directly, schedule tasks on the main thread, and store player data in ways that are not thread-safe.
Folia removes the single main thread. Instead, each region of the world gets its own thread. A plugin that tries to modify a chunk from the wrong region's thread will crash or produce undefined behavior. This is why Folia compatibility requires explicit code changes from plugin developers.
How to check if a plugin supports Folia
Look for these signs before installing:
- The plugin page on Modrinth, Hangar, or SpigotMC explicitly lists Folia support.
- The plugin's source code uses Folia's region scheduler API instead of BukkitScheduler.
- The developer mentions Folia in the changelog or README.
If none of these are present, assume the plugin does not work on Folia.
Plugins that work on Folia
Several popular plugins have been updated for Folia:
- EssentialsX (Folia branch available).
- LuckPerms (works natively since it uses its own async system).
- PlaceholderAPI (Folia-compatible builds available).
- Some protection plugins like GriefPrevention forks with Folia patches.
- TAB (scoreboard and tablist plugin) has Folia support.
The list grows as more developers adopt Folia's API, but it is still a fraction of the total Bukkit plugin ecosystem.
Plugins that do not work on Folia
Most complex plugins that interact heavily with world state do not support Folia yet:
- WorldEdit (relies on synchronous block operations).
- Citizens (NPC plugin with heavy main-thread assumptions).
- Most economy plugins that were not designed for async access.
- Dynmap and BlueMap (map rendering assumes single-thread world access).
- Older plugins that have not been updated since 2023.
Should you use Folia?
Folia is best for very large survival servers (100+ concurrent players) where chunk-level parallelism provides real TPS benefits. For most servers under 50 players, Paper or Purpur gives better plugin compatibility with excellent performance.
If you need specific plugins that do not support Folia, stay on Paper. The performance difference matters less than having a working server.
The short answer
Most Bukkit/Spigot plugins do not work on Folia without updates. Check the plugin page for explicit Folia support before installing. For most servers, Paper is still the better choice because of its plugin ecosystem.
Space-Node supports Paper, Purpur, and Folia on all Minecraft plans. See the Minecraft hosting page or the performance tier.