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For most new Minecraft networks, Waterfall is the best default. It is a BungeeCord fork documented by PaperMC as a drop-in replacement focused on stability, features, and scalability. Choose FlameCord instead when built-in antibot and exploit controls are the deciding requirement. Keep BungeeCord when legacy compatibility and the original baseline implementation matter more than added features.
The proxy is only one part of a working network. All three belong to the BungeeCord family, so backend authentication, firewall isolation, Java runtime selection, forwarding settings, and plugin placement affect reliability and security at least as much as the proxy name. There is also no independent, reproducible benchmark in the available evidence proving that one of these projects is universally fastest.
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Quick verdict
| Proxy | Best fit | Main reason to choose it | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| BungeeCord | Legacy networks and compatibility-focused deployments | Original baseline implementation in this comparison | Requires careful hardening because backend servers run with online-mode=false |
| Waterfall | Most new general-purpose networks | PaperMC documents a drop-in BungeeCord replacement focused on stability, features, and scalability | It still inherits the security responsibilities of the BungeeCord architecture |
| FlameCord | Public networks that prioritize antibot and exploit mitigation | Adds documented filtering, rate limiting, reconnect controls, proxy/VPN detection, and other protections | Its performance advantages are project claims rather than independently verified head-to-head results |
If you need a single recommendation without a specialized requirement, use Waterfall with a properly isolated backend network. If automated bot attacks are already a major operational problem, evaluate FlameCord’s controls. Use BungeeCord when changing the baseline implementation could break an established setup or when compatibility is the overriding concern.
What a BungeeCord-family proxy does
A proxy sits between players and multiple Minecraft backend servers. Players connect to the proxy’s public address; the proxy then transfers them between lobby, survival, minigame, or other backend instances without requiring a new public connection for every server. PaperMC describes Waterfall as a BungeeCord fork and characterizes BungeeCord as a proxy used primarily to move players between multiple Minecraft servers.
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That arrangement changes the trust model. The proxy becomes the public entry point and the backend servers become internal services. A backend must accept the identity and connection information forwarded by the proxy, so a backend configured as though it were directly exposed to the internet can either reject legitimate proxied players or create a security weakness. The BungeeCord repository explicitly warns that backend servers must run with authentication disabled, using online-mode=false, for this architecture to work.
Consequently, selecting a proxy is not just a benchmark question. You are selecting a compatibility layer, a connection handoff model, a plugin ecosystem, and a set of operational defaults around a security boundary.
BungeeCord: the compatibility baseline
What it is
BungeeCord is the original implementation represented in this comparison. It is the baseline against which the two forks are positioned. A network already built around BungeeCord configuration and plugins may have fewer surprises by staying with the original project, especially when the network’s priority is preserving existing behavior rather than adding new controls.
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- Established networks whose current configuration and plugin stack already depend on BungeeCord behavior.
- Administrators who want the original reference implementation before deciding whether fork-specific features are necessary.
- Compatibility-first environments where migration risk is more important than additional filtering or tuning claims.
The security responsibility
BungeeCord’s repository warning is significant: backend servers have to run with online-mode=false behind the proxy. That setting is not a recommendation to expose backend servers directly. It means the proxy must be treated as the component responsible for receiving authenticated player connections and forwarding them to protected internal services.
Use firewall rules or equivalent network controls so players cannot bypass the proxy and connect straight to a backend. Protect the forwarding channel with the secret or forwarding mechanism supported by your configuration, and verify that only the proxy can reach the backend listener ports. These measures are operational consequences of the architecture, not optional polish.
Waterfall: the strongest general-purpose default
Why it is the default recommendation
PaperMC describes Waterfall as a BungeeCord fork with three stated priorities: stability, additional features, and scalability. That combination addresses the main reasons administrators move away from a baseline proxy without forcing them into a security-focused product whose central value is antibot filtering.
Waterfall is also documented as a drop-in replacement for BungeeCord. In practical terms, an existing BungeeCord configuration generally migrates without changes. “Drop-in” does not mean every plugin, custom script, or unusual deployment is guaranteed to behave identically; it means the proxy’s configuration model and role are intentionally compatible with BungeeCord-family deployments.
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When Waterfall is a better choice than BungeeCord
- You are starting a network and want the family-compatible option with an explicit focus on stability and scale.
- You want a straightforward migration path from BungeeCord rather than a redesign of your network topology.
- You do not need FlameCord’s specialized antibot and exploit controls as the primary reason for changing proxies.
What Waterfall does not remove
Waterfall does not eliminate the BungeeCord security model. Backend servers still need to be isolated, and the same online-mode=false implication applies to the deployment architecture. A fork can improve proxy behavior while leaving an incorrectly exposed backend vulnerable. Treat the migration as a chance to audit firewall rules, forwarding settings, and direct-connect paths rather than assuming the replacement JAR fixes them automatically.
FlameCord: a security-feature-led fork
What it adds
FlameCord’s README presents it as a Waterfall/BungeeCord fork that adds exploit fixes, antibot features, and performance improvements. Its official site lists a broader set of controls than the baseline proxy documentation, including:
- Connection rate limiting.
- Account filtering and country filtering.
- Nickname blocking.
- Controls for repeated password attempts.
- Reconnect controls.
- Proxy and VPN detection.
- Integration with
iptables.
Those features are most relevant when a public network is dealing with automated joins, credential-guessing attempts, repeated reconnect abuse, or traffic that needs to be filtered before it reaches backend servers. They can reduce the amount of custom protection an administrator has to assemble around a plain BungeeCord-family proxy.
When FlameCord is worth considering
FlameCord is the most logical candidate when the deciding requirement is built-in mitigation rather than a general compatibility upgrade. For example, a public network experiencing bot waves may value account, country, nickname, reconnect, and proxy/VPN controls more than a minimal baseline configuration. The useful question is not whether FlameCord is “faster” in the abstract; it is whether its documented controls address the traffic and abuse patterns your network actually sees.
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FlameCord’s materials claim reduced processing, lower memory use, and faster networking. The README also says it removes unused features and disables exception logs. These are claims made by the project. The available evidence does not include an independent benchmark that holds hardware, Minecraft version, player count, connection pattern, and test methodology constant across all three proxies. Therefore, FlameCord should not be declared objectively fastest on the basis of those claims alone.
Side-by-side decision matrix
| Decision axis | BungeeCord | Waterfall | FlameCord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lineage | Baseline project | BungeeCord fork | Waterfall/BungeeCord fork |
| Best fit | Legacy compatibility and a simple baseline | General-purpose networks needing stability, features, and scale | Public networks prioritizing antibot and exploit mitigation |
| Migration model | Existing baseline | Documented drop-in BungeeCord replacement | BungeeCord-family deployment with FlameCord-specific configuration |
| Security posture | Requires hardening; the repository notes the online-mode=false risk |
Inherits BungeeCord-family deployment concerns | Adds documented antibot and exploit-mitigation features |
| Evidence quality for performance | No neutral comparison benchmark in the available evidence | No neutral comparison benchmark in the available evidence | Performance benefits are project claims; no neutral comparison benchmark was found |
Which is better: BungeeCord or Waterfall?
Waterfall is usually the better choice for a new network because it preserves BungeeCord compatibility while explicitly targeting stability, features, and scalability. The drop-in positioning also reduces the amount of configuration work required when moving an existing BungeeCord deployment.
BungeeCord remains reasonable when the network is already stable, its plugins and scripts are tied to the baseline implementation, and there is no concrete problem that a fork would solve. Migration has a cost even when configuration files are compatible: you still need to test player transfers, permissions, chat, server switching, shutdown behavior, and every proxy-facing plugin.
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Use a simple rule: choose Waterfall for a new or routinely maintained network; stay on BungeeCord when compatibility preservation is the primary requirement and there is no operational reason to change.
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It can be, particularly for a publicly reachable network that wants filtering controls built into the proxy layer. FlameCord documents rate limiting, account and country filters, nickname blocking, password-attempt controls, reconnect controls, proxy/VPN detection, and iptables integration. Those functions target abuse before it consumes backend capacity.
“Worth it” depends on whether those controls match your incident pattern. If your network is private, invitation-only, or not experiencing automated traffic, the extra configuration surface may not justify changing a stable deployment. If bot traffic is a recurring operational issue, a fork that exposes the relevant controls may be preferable to assembling separate mitigations.
Do not treat antibot settings as a substitute for network isolation. A proxy filter cannot protect a backend that remains directly reachable on the public internet, and it does not remove the need to validate forwarding and authentication behavior.
Java and runtime requirements
Waterfall
Waterfall requires Java 8 or newer, while PaperMC recommends Java 11 or higher. The practical choice for a new deployment is therefore Java 11 or a newer runtime supported by the rest of your network. Using the minimum requirement may preserve compatibility with an older environment, but it does not follow the project’s current recommendation.
BungeeCord and FlameCord
The supplied project information does not establish a single Java requirement for BungeeCord or FlameCord that can be stated alongside Waterfall’s documented requirement. Check the release documentation for the exact build you intend to run, then use one deliberately selected runtime for the proxy process and verify that your backend server software and plugins support it.
Why runtime choice matters
A proxy can appear unreliable when the underlying issue is an unsupported or inconsistent Java runtime. Record the Java version used by the proxy, confirm the process starts without compatibility warnings, and test a complete player journey: initial login, server transfer, reconnect, and clean shutdown. Do this before attributing crashes or connection failures to the proxy implementation.
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Migration and installation workflow
Moving from BungeeCord to Waterfall
- Inventory the current deployment. Save the existing proxy configuration, plugin list, startup script, Java version, listener address, backend addresses, forwarding settings, and firewall rules.
- Stage the replacement separately. Copy the existing configuration into a test directory and run the Waterfall JAR there rather than replacing the production process immediately.
- Check configuration compatibility. Waterfall is documented as a drop-in BungeeCord replacement, so existing configuration generally migrates without changes. Review every setting instead of assuming a custom or obsolete option is harmless.
- Test proxy-facing plugins. Connect with a test account, switch between every backend, exercise chat and permissions, and verify that reconnect and server selection behave as expected.
- Verify the security boundary. Confirm that backend ports are not publicly reachable and that only the proxy can connect to them.
- Schedule the cutover. Stop the old process cleanly, start Waterfall with the tested Java runtime, and monitor login, transfer, and disconnect behavior before declaring the migration complete.
Installing FlameCord
- Prepare the proxy directory. Use a dedicated server folder with the Java runtime selected for your deployment.
- Place the FlameCord JAR in the server folder. FlameCord’s installation guidance describes this JAR-based setup.
- Start it once to generate files. Stop the process after the initial start if you need to edit generated configuration before allowing players to connect.
- Configure
flamecord.yml. Set the listener, backend definitions, forwarding behavior, and the antibot controls appropriate to your traffic pattern. - Apply network restrictions. Keep backend listeners private and integrate any documented
iptablesrules only after understanding which addresses and ports they affect. - Test protections gradually. Validate legitimate logins, reconnects, country or account filters, nickname rules, and proxy/VPN detection with test accounts before enabling aggressive thresholds on a live network.
Keeping a rollback path
Keep the previous proxy JAR, configuration backup, startup command, and firewall state until the replacement has passed a full maintenance window. A rollback is useful only if you know which files changed and can restore the old process without exposing backend ports during the transition.
Plugin placement and protocol compatibility
Proxy plugins and backend plugins do different jobs. A plugin that handles proxy routing belongs with the proxy implementation; gameplay, world, and protocol behavior belongs on the backend server software. Mixing those roles can create confusing failures in which a plugin appears installed but never receives the events it expects.
FlameCord’s compatibility guidance specifically places ViaVersion on backend Spigot, Paper, or Purpur servers rather than on the proxy. Follow that placement guidance when supporting clients that use a different protocol version from the backend. Install the plugin on each backend that needs it, then test a client connection and a server transfer instead of assuming that a single proxy installation changes every backend.
For any proxy migration, make a list of plugins that interact with player identity, permissions, chat, server switching, reconnects, or forwarding. Test those first because they depend most directly on proxy behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Security: treat the proxy as a boundary
Why online-mode=false changes the risk
The BungeeCord repository’s warning exists because backend servers cannot independently perform the normal authentication step in this architecture. They trust the proxy to supply the player’s connection information. If an attacker can reach a backend directly, that trust relationship can be abused or bypassed.
Hardening checklist
- Expose the proxy listener publicly, not the backend listener ports.
- Restrict backend firewall rules to the proxy’s private address or network.
- Use the forwarding secret or equivalent authentication mechanism supported by the proxy and backend configuration.
- Check that server discovery, status queries, and administrative ports are not unintentionally bound to a public interface.
- After every network change, test a direct backend connection from an external location and confirm it is refused.
- Review logs for unexpected source addresses and repeated connection attempts.
These steps are operational guidance derived from the proxy architecture. They are necessary whether you choose BungeeCord, Waterfall, or FlameCord; antibot features do not replace backend isolation.
Which proxy is fastest?
The available evidence cannot establish a universal winner. FlameCord’s official materials claim reduced processing, lower memory usage, and faster networking, but no independent, reproducible head-to-head test was identified with declared hardware, Minecraft version, player load, connection mix, and methodology. Without those controls, a “fastest proxy” label would be stronger than the evidence supports.
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Performance is also workload-dependent. A network with many server transfers, frequent reconnects, or hostile connection attempts may benefit from different behavior than a quiet private network. Compare candidates using your own representative workload:
- Record the Java version, CPU model, memory allocation, Minecraft version, backend software, and plugin set.
- Use the same proxy host, listener settings, backend addresses, and firewall policy for each candidate.
- Measure normal login time, server-switch time, reconnect success, proxy CPU use, memory use, and error rates.
- Run separate tests for ordinary player traffic and controlled connection bursts; do not mix the results into one unexplained number.
- Keep the test duration and player population consistent, and record configuration changes between runs.
This approach will not produce a universal ranking, but it can show which proxy behaves best for your network’s actual traffic and security requirements.
Choosing by network scenario
New general-purpose network
Start with Waterfall. Its BungeeCord compatibility and PaperMC’s stated stability, feature, and scalability goals make it the least specialized default. Build the network with private backends and test the complete transfer path before adding more plugins.
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Existing BungeeCord network with no current problem
Staying on BungeeCord is defensible. The value of migration is lower when the current implementation is stable and the network does not need additional filtering or operational features. If you do migrate, use Waterfall’s documented drop-in path and retain a rollback copy.
Public network facing bot activity
Evaluate FlameCord first because its documented feature set directly addresses rate abuse, account and country filtering, nickname blocking, password attempts, reconnects, proxy/VPN traffic, and firewall integration. Test thresholds with legitimate users before applying strict filters globally.
Network with strict legacy plugin constraints
Use the implementation that your plugin authors and current configuration explicitly support. A fork may be compatible at the configuration level while a particular plugin still depends on an implementation detail. Stage the change and test every proxy-facing plugin before production cutover.
Operational checklist before opening the network
- Choose the proxy according to the primary requirement: general-purpose stability, legacy compatibility, or antibot controls.
- Run the proxy on a deliberately selected Java version; for Waterfall, Java 11 or newer follows PaperMC’s recommendation even though Java 8 is the minimum requirement.
- Configure backend servers for proxy operation and account for the
online-mode=falsesecurity implication. - Block direct public access to backend ports.
- Configure and verify forwarding secrets or equivalent protection.
- Place protocol-compatibility software where the project guidance requires it; FlameCord’s guidance places ViaVersion on backend Spigot, Paper, or Purpur servers.
- Test initial login, every server transfer, reconnect, disconnect, and shutdown.
- For FlameCord, test each antibot control with legitimate and deliberately invalid cases before enabling strict production thresholds.
- Record the previous JAR, configuration, startup command, and firewall state for rollback.
- Measure your own workload if performance is a deciding factor; do not infer a universal speed ranking from vendor claims.
Final recommendation
Waterfall is the best all-round choice for most new BungeeCord-family networks: it is explicitly designed as a stable, feature-oriented, scalable fork and is documented as a drop-in BungeeCord replacement. FlameCord is the stronger specialized choice when built-in antibot and exploit mitigation are central to the network’s risk profile. BungeeCord remains the compatibility baseline for legacy deployments that are working and do not need those additions.
Whichever proxy you select, the decisive implementation details are the same: use an appropriate Java runtime, put plugins on the component they support, protect backends that run with online-mode=false, and validate behavior under your own traffic. Those practices matter more than an unsupported claim that one project is always the fastest.
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