ServerRoles vs ThunderPerms
ServerRoles
github.com
ThunderPerms
hangar.papermc.ioSide by side
| Figure | ServerRoles | ThunderPerms |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · Minecraft Permissions Plugins | 6.5 (#7) | 6.4 (#9) |
| Integrations | Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders, usable by compatible plugins such as TAB, DeluxeChat, Essentials, HolographicDisplays, DecentHolograms, and scoreboard plugins. | ThunderPerms applies Bukkit PermissionAttachment entries for standard permission checks and supports the AugmentedThunder plugin suite, StormEconomy, StormParty, and StormFactions. |
| License | The repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed. | The Hangar listing identifies the license as Apache 2.0. |
| Purpose | ServerRoles is a lightweight role-based permission and prefix management plugin for Paper and Purpur 1.21.11 servers running Java 21 or later. | ThunderPerms is a lightweight permissions plugin for Paper servers that manages users, groups, inheritance, wildcard permissions, temporary and world-scoped grants, backups, audits, and storage diagnostics. |
| Storage | Role data can be stored in YAML, SQLite, or MySQL, with YAML as the default backend. | YAML is the default storage backend, with optional SQLite, MySQL, and MariaDB support. |
In their own words
ServerRoles
ServerRoles is a free role-based permissions and prefix management plugin for Paper or Purpur servers. Administrators use `/role` commands to configure display names, prefixes, hex colors, priorities, permissions, inheritance, and operator status. Roles can be assigned for a duration using day, hour, and minute values, then revert to the default role when they expire. Expiry checks run when players join and every five minutes, so a role may remain active for up to five minutes beyond its set duration. Permissions can be inherited or negated with a leading hyphen, and a configurable feature can add role prefixes and colors to chat. YAML is the default storage option, with SQLite and MySQL also supported. Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders, and other plugins can query or change roles through the developer API. Requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later. The project is GPL-3.0 licensed; installation uses a release JAR in the server's `plugins/` folder.
ThunderPerms
ThunderPerms is a free permissions plugin for self-hosted Paper servers. It manages UUID-based player permissions, groups, memberships, inheritance, true and false nodes, wildcard nodes, temporary grants, and world-scoped permissions. Group inheritance includes cycle prevention and weights for priority. Expired temporary permissions and memberships are removed automatically. YAML is the default storage backend, with optional SQLite, MySQL, and MariaDB support. Administrators can check and explain permissions, verify or repair data, inspect status, and create backups. Audit logs record permission, group, repair, and backup actions. The API supports permission checks, detailed reasons, user and group inspection, assignments, known groups, and storage health. Safeguards include protected default and built-in administrator groups, path protections against directory traversal, credential redaction, and safer default TLS settings for MySQL and MariaDB. Integrations include the AugmentedThunder suite, StormEconomy, StormParty, and StormFactions. The listed license is Apache 2.0, with Paper and Minecraft version 26.1.2 specified.