QBCore vs Qbox vs ESX: Best FiveM Framework in 2026

QBCore, Qbox and ESX are the three main FiveM roleplay frameworks, and all three are free. Pick ESX Legacy for the biggest library of older scripts, Qbox for a modern base built on the ox libraries that still runs almost all QBCore scripts, and QBCore if you are buying scripts made only for it. For a new server in 2026, Qbox or ESX is usually the better start.

What is a FiveM framework?

A FiveM framework is the core resource that turns a plain GTA V server into a roleplay server. It stores characters in a MySQL database and handles money, jobs, inventories, gangs and permissions, and almost every roleplay script you add is written to work with one framework. That is why the choice matters: switching frameworks later means replacing most of your scripts.

All three can be deployed in a few clicks with a txAdmin recipe, so trying each one costs you an afternoon rather than a week.

QBCore vs Qbox vs ESX at a glance

	ESX Legacy	QBCore	Qbox
First released	Original ESX earlier, Legacy fork in 2021	2021	Fork of QBCore, started 27 September 2022
Latest release	1.15.2 (September 2026)	Rolling updates on GitHub	v1.24.0 (August 2026)
Built on	Its own core plus optional ox libraries	Its own qb resources	ox_lib, ox_inventory, oxmysql
Inventory	Default ESX inventory, ox_inventory common	qb-inventory	ox_inventory
Runs QBCore scripts	No, needs ESX versions	Yes	Almost all, through its compatibility layer
Script library	Largest, many older free scripts	Very large, many paid scripts	Smaller native list, plus most QBCore scripts
Learning curve	Simple, lots of old tutorials	Moderate	Moderate, more modern Lua
Best for	Classic roleplay, beginners, huge script choice	Servers built on QBCore only paid packs	New servers that want a clean modern base

Release versions are from each project's GitHub releases page: esx_core published 1.15.2 on 6 September 2026 and qbx_core published v1.24.0 on 22 August 2026.

ESX Legacy: the biggest script library

ESX is the oldest of the three, and ESX Legacy is the maintained version of it run by the esx-framework organisation. Its strength is history: years of free scripts, tutorials and forum answers were written for ESX, so whatever job or feature you want, there is probably an ESX version.

Pros: the largest script catalog, simple code that beginners can read, active releases through 2026.
Cons: the oldest scripts can be poorly optimised or abandoned, and quality varies a lot between sources. Check when a script was last updated before you install it.
Admin: groups are stored on the player, and the console command setgroup [id] admin gives a player admin rights. Our FiveM admin guide has the full steps.

QBCore: the standard for paid roleplay packs

QBCore arrived in 2021 and quickly became the most common base for new roleplay servers, with player metadata, gangs and a more integrated set of core scripts. A huge number of paid Tebex scripts are sold in QBCore versions.

Pros: very large script market, familiar to most FiveM developers and staff, recipe deploys a complete server.
Cons: part of the community has moved to Qbox for new development, and some scripts from the early QBCore days carry the performance problems of that era.
Admin: permissions are ace groups (qbcore.god, qbcore.admin, qbcore.mod) set in server.cfg.

Choose QBCore if a paid pack you already own or want only supports QBCore and has not been tested on Qbox.

Qbox: QBCore, rebuilt on the ox libraries

Qbox began as a fork of QBCore on 27 September 2022, and its documentation says almost all QBCore scripts work on it with few issues. Under the hood it uses ox_lib, ox_inventory and oxmysql, the widely used libraries from the Overextended developers.

Pros: cleaner, modern code, ox_inventory and ox_lib out of the box, runs nearly the whole QBCore catalog, actively released.
Cons: a few QBCore scripts that reach deep into qb-inventory or old internals need small changes, and the native Qbox script list is smaller.
Admin: the recipe adds you as master admin and keeps extra permissions in permissions.cfg.

If you are starting from zero and do not have a strong reason for one of the others, Qbox gives you the most modern base without giving up the QBCore script market.

Which FiveM framework performs best?

The framework itself is rarely what makes a server lag. Performance comes down to the scripts you add, how often they loop and how many database queries they run. Qbox and recent ESX releases both lean on oxmysql and ox_lib, which are well optimised, but one badly written job script can cost more than the framework does. Watch resource times in txAdmin and our FiveM lag and hitch warning fix shows how to find the culprit.

For sizing, the framework makes little difference: plan for about 8 GB of RAM for a typical roleplay server up to 32 players, and 12 to 16 GB once you add many custom cars and MLO maps.

Which framework should I choose?

Answer these in order and stop at the first yes:

Do you already own paid scripts for one framework? Use that framework.
Are you migrating an existing server? Stay on what you have. Switching means rewriting characters, jobs and inventories.
Do you want the widest choice of older free scripts? Choose ESX Legacy.
Starting fresh and want a modern, maintained base? Choose Qbox.

Whichever you pick, deploy it with a txAdmin recipe rather than by hand. The recipe downloads the framework, creates the database tables and writes a working server.cfg.

Can I switch frameworks later?

Technically yes, but it is close to starting over. Character data, inventories, vehicles and jobs are stored differently in each framework, and most scripts are written for one. The exception is QBCore to Qbox: because Qbox keeps compatibility, many servers have moved across while keeping most of their scripts, after testing on a copy of the server first.

Running any framework on GamezServers

On our FiveM servers, open txAdmin from the panel, enter the PIN and pick the CFX Default, QBCore, Qbox or ESX recipe. Your license key and MySQL database are filled in for you, so the recipe runs without editing connection strings. Take a one click backup before adding scripts, and see the FiveM roleplay server guide for jobs, voice and whitelisting once the framework is up.

FAQ

Is Qbox better than QBCore?

For a new server, Qbox is usually the better pick: it is built on the ox libraries, actively released and runs almost all QBCore scripts. QBCore still makes sense if a paid pack you need only supports QBCore.

Is ESX or QBCore better for beginners?

ESX Legacy has the simplest code and the most old tutorials, which helps beginners. QBCore and Qbox have more built in features, so they need less adding up front.

Are QBCore, Qbox and ESX free?

Yes. All three are free and open source on GitHub. Only some third party scripts made for them are paid.

Do ESX scripts work on QBCore or Qbox?

No, not without converting them. ESX and QBCore use different functions for players, money and jobs, so a script needs a version made for your framework or a bridge that supports both.

How much RAM does a QBCore or ESX server need?

Plan for 8 GB for a typical roleplay server with a few dozen scripts. Heavy servers with many cars and MLO maps need 12 to 16 GB.