BlueMap vs Pl3xMap

BlueMap reads Minecraft Java Edition world files and turns them into 3D surface maps that people can view in a browser. It can run as a Spigot/Paper or Sponge plugin, a Fabric or Forge mod, or a standalone command-line tool without a Minecraft server. The CLI documentation also covers Docker use. Plugin and mod installations render asynchronously relative to the Minecraft server thread, and the render-thread count is configurable. After the first conversion, BlueMap tracks world changes and processes only changed chunks. Maps can be stored in files or an SQL server. Configuration files can add or remove maps, with settings for display names and web app ordering. An API lets third-party plugins, mods, resource packs, and external tools integrate features. BlueMap is free: the listed plan is free. Server plugin and mod use requires Java 25 or later; the standalone CLI documentation lists Java 21 or later. BlueMap does not support Bedrock worlds. Its integrated webserver has no SSL or built-in authentication; the FAQ suggests using an external webserver for those functions.

Pl3xMap is a free, MIT-licensed world map viewer for Minecraft servers, using the game's vanilla rendering style. It presents a top-down 2D map designed for navigation, with live updates, dimension maps, and markers or waypoints. Player markers can show yaw rotation, health and armor. Built-in render types include basic, night, biomes, inhabited and flowermap, and the browser interface uses Leaflet. The project lists CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur and Fabric as supported server platforms; Fabric requires Fabric API. Additional compatibility listings include Bukkit, Folia, Forge and Quilt. Pl3xMap installs as a jar in the server's plugins or mods directory and includes an internal web server that defaults to port 8080. Some server hosts restrict ports, so setup may depend on what the host permits. Integrations can hide vanished players, show world borders, or display public homes and warps. Addons can show claim areas, banners, signs, loaded mobs and player death spots, though addon support is not guaranteed. Developers can import the Pl3xMap API through Gradle or Maven; the project directs users to Discord for help.