FiveM hosting · decision guide
Honest side-by-side of the two biggest GTA V RP frameworks. Both run on CoalHost as a one-click recipe — txAdmin downloads the framework, MariaDB is pre-baked, your server.cfg is wired on first boot. The only real question is which fits your community.
| Dimension | QBCore Framework | ESX Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 (modern modular RP) | 2018 (mature, biggest ecosystem) |
| Architecture | Shared exports + ox_lib-style modular bridges | Monolithic core with legacy callbacks |
| Script catalog size | Smaller but rapidly growing | Largest in the FiveM ecosystem |
| Tebex / paid script support | Almost every modern paid script | Almost every paid script ever made |
| Documentation | docs.qbcore.org — official, current | Community wikis, fragmented but deep |
| Database overhead | Lighter (oxmysql-first) | Heavier (mysql-async legacy) |
| RAM at 32 active slots | ~8 GB | ~10 GB |
| Learning curve for new admins | Easier — modular, less spaghetti | Steeper — more legacy patterns to know |
| Active maintainers (2026) | Strong, regular releases | Maintained but slower release cadence |
| CoalHost one-click recipe | Yes — pick at signup | Yes — pick at signup |
| Managed MariaDB pre-baked | Yes | Yes |
Pick QBCore if
Pick ESX if
Our honest recommendation
For a brand-new community in 2026, pick QBCore. The modular design (with ox_lib, ox_inventory, ox_target) is the way the FiveM ecosystem is moving, the docs are current, and the smaller RAM footprint means your starter tier holds 30%+ more concurrent players. The only reason to pick ESX in 2026 is if you already have ESX-locked Tebex scripts or your dev team only knows the old patterns.
Either way, you can change your mind. CoalHost hosts both side-by-side on the same panel, and migrating a server between frameworks is a one-evening job — reset world, install the other recipe, drag your resources back in. Daily backups (with MariaDB dump) make rollback safe if it doesn't work out.