The framework is the foundation of your FiveM server. It determines your economy system, job structures, inventory management, and the ecosystem of resources you can use. With ESX, QBCore, vRP, and the new OX Core competing in 2026, choosing the right one is critical. Here's the comprehensive comparison.
ESX — The Veteran
ESX (Extended Roleplay Script) is the most established FiveM framework with the largest resource ecosystem. Thousands of scripts, guides, and community resources are available. ESX 1.10+ includes major performance improvements over older versions — modern ESX runs at 60Hz tick with 40+ resources. Best for: servers that want maximum resource compatibility and a proven ecosystem. Weaknesses: legacy code in some modules, higher resource count required for full functionality. Framework overhead: ~30ms per tick with full module set.
QBCore — The Modern Choice
QBCore is a Lua-based framework built for performance. It's lighter than ESX — boot time is 40% faster, and resource CPU usage is 30% lower. The resource ecosystem is smaller than ESX's but growing rapidly — most essential scripts (inventory, housing, jobs) have QBCore versions. Best for: new servers prioritizing performance and a clean codebase. Weaknesses: smaller community means fewer pre-built resources, some ESX resources lack QBCore ports. Framework overhead: ~20ms per tick with full module set.
vRP — The Lightweight
vRP is the lightest framework — minimal overhead (~10ms per tick), simple configuration, and easy to learn. It uses a Python-based configuration system (vrp.cfg) rather than Lua modules, making it accessible for server owners without programming experience. Best for: small servers (<32 slots), European communities where vRP is popular, and server owners who want simplicity. Weaknesses: limited resource ecosystem, fewer modern features, less active development than ESX/QBCore.
OX Core — The New Contender
OX Core is the newest framework, built from scratch with TypeScript for modern FiveM. It achieves the best performance of any framework (~8ms overhead) with a clean, modular architecture. The ecosystem is small but growing — OX Inventory and OX Target are already best-in-class standalone resources. Best for: server owners building from scratch who want maximum performance and modern architecture. Weaknesses: very limited pre-built resources, requires TypeScript/Lua knowledge for custom development.
Performance Benchmarks
We tested all four on CyberNex hardware (Ryzen 9 7950X, 8GB plan) with identical 48-slot configuration: vRP: 55-60 FPS server tick with 20 resources. QBCore: 55-58 FPS with 40 resources. ESX 1.10: 50-55 FPS with 40 resources. OX Core: 58-60 FPS with 20 resources (limited ecosystem). For 64-slot servers, the gap widens: ESX drops to 45-50 FPS, QBCore maintains 52-56 FPS, OX Core holds 56-60 FPS.
Our Recommendation
New server with full RP features: choose QBCore — it has the best balance of performance and resource availability. Maximum resource compatibility (willing to trade some performance): choose ESX. Small/European community: vRP works fine. Building from scratch with performance as priority: OX Core (but expect to develop custom resources). Don't switch frameworks after launch — choose wisely at the start. CyberNex's FiveM plans support any framework with one-click txAdmin setup.
ESX is the safe choice with the largest ecosystem. QBCore is the best balance of performance and features. vRP wins on simplicity. OX Core leads in performance but lacks resources. Choose based on your community's needs and your technical comfort level — all four run great on CyberNex's Ryzen 9 infrastructure.
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