Staff+

Staff+ is a free moderation plugin for Minecraft networks, especially those pairing Paper-side staff tools with Velocity-wide enforcement. Its shared punishment system and migration support make it a strong fit for operators consolidating moderation across servers.

Overview

Staff+ comes in separate Paper and Velocity JARs that can share a database, configuration format, and migration system. Both editions support bans, IP bans, mutes, warnings, punishment history, and staff rollback, giving network teams a common moderation toolkit. Storage can use SQLite or MySQL-compatible MySQL and MariaDB.

Configurable staff weights prevent junior moderators from overriding or removing punishments set by senior staff or console. That hierarchy control is useful for teams with clear authority levels, while the separate editions mean operators need to choose the components that match their server setup.

Key features

Proxy enforcement

Velocity checks bans and IP bans before login reaches a backend server and filters chat from muted players across connected servers. This makes it the more complete choice for networks that want punishment enforcement to follow players between servers; Paper alone does not provide that proxy-level reach.

Paper staff utilities

The Paper edition adds vanish, live inventory inspection, spectator follow, flight toggles, and gamemode shortcuts. These tools make Staff+ more than a punishment manager for Paper-based teams, though they are not part of the Velocity edition.

Migration and integrations

The importer can bring in punishment data from Vanilla Minecraft, Essentials and EssentialsX, LiteBans, AdvancedBan, MaxBans, BanManager, and BungeeAdminTools. Discord webhook moderation logs and a Modrinth update notifier round out the integrations. This breadth helps operators move from several common moderation systems, but teams relying on another source should not assume it is supported.

Folia, privacy, and administration

The Paper edition supports Folia-safe regional scheduling and asynchronous teleports. Both editions collect anonymous bStats usage metrics; operators who do not want those statistics collected need to disable them in the bStats configuration. Building the project requires Java 21 or higher and Gradle or its included wrapper, while the MIT License permits use under its terms.

Pricing

Staff+ is free: the Staff+ plan costs nothing under the MIT License. It covers Paper, Purpur, and Folia 1.20–1.21+ and Velocity 3.3.0+. There is no paid tier to trade features for a lower-cost entry point; the main practical requirements are choosing the correct edition and meeting the listed platform versions.

Platforms

Staff+ is self-hosted. Its Paper-family JAR supports Paper, Purpur, and Folia, while a separate JAR serves Velocity proxy deployments. The project requires Java 21 or higher to build.

Who it's for

Staff+ suits Minecraft network operators who want shared punishment records, hierarchical staff controls, and migration from one of its supported moderation systems. Paper operators also get a useful set of in-game staff utilities. Networks that need proxy-wide checks should deploy the Velocity edition as well; operators seeking a single install or unwilling to configure the metrics opt-out may prefer a simpler fit.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Paper and Velocity can share a database and migration system, supporting consistent moderation across a network.
• Pros: The importer covers several established punishment sources, reducing friction when switching.
• Pros: Configurable staff weights protect senior and console punishments from lower-ranking staff.
• Cons: Paper and Velocity ship as separate JARs, so proxy-wide enforcement requires deploying the relevant edition alongside Paper.
• Cons: Both editions collect anonymous bStats metrics by default, requiring an opt-out for operators who prefer not to share usage statistics.

Alternatives

BanManager is another free option, with self-hosted, Linux, API, and web platforms and an open-source project that welcomes contributions.

LibertyBans is a free alternative for operators looking for a self-hosted or API-based option; its free plan requires Java 17 and supports Minecraft server platforms.

ModGUI is a free, MIT-licensed option for Paper 1.21.11 or newer.

StaffUltimate is another free alternative.

Staff Utils is another free alternative.

PunishmentSystem is a free self-hosted alternative.

ChatSentinel is a free self-hosted alternative.

ExtraBan is a free self-hosted option for Paper or a fork, requiring version 26.2+ and Java 25+.

Browse more options in Minecraft Moderation Plugins or explore HR Software.

Verdict

Staff+ is the right choice for operators who want free, shared moderation across Paper and Velocity, with migration support and useful Paper staff utilities. Choose it for its network-aware enforcement and hierarchy controls; look elsewhere if your setup does not match its separate editions and version requirements, or if you do not want to manage the bStats opt-out.