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QBCore vs ESX vs Qbox: Which FiveM Framework?

Comparing the three main FiveM roleplay frameworks: ecosystem, learning curve and approach. Plus when to pick each one, or go standalone.

By ALN DEV · · 2 min read

Your framework decides which scripts you can use, how your database is structured and how much work your server is to maintain. Switching later is painful, so it is worth choosing on purpose. Here is a balanced look at the three main FiveM roleplay frameworks.

The short version

  • ESX: the oldest and most established, with a huge number of resources and tutorials.
  • QBCore: a popular, modern alternative that is widely used and approachable for new developers.
  • Qbox: a newer framework that evolved from QBCore and is built around the ox libraries. Its ecosystem is smaller but growing.

ESX

ESX has been around the longest, and that history is its main strength: a very large library of free and paid resources, plenty of guides and many developers who know it well. The flip side is that older resources vary a lot in code quality, and mixing very old and very new scripts takes care. Most ESX servers today run ESX Legacy.

QBCore

QBCore became popular because it is easy to read and organised around a clear set of core resources. It has a large community, lots of free and paid scripts and plenty of documentation. If you are starting a new server and want a wide choice of scripts with a gentle learning curve, QBCore is a common pick.

Qbox

Qbox started from QBCore and reworks it around the Overextended (ox) libraries such as ox_lib, ox_inventory and oxmysql, with an emphasis on structure and performance. Many QBCore resources can run on Qbox through a compatibility layer, though not every resource is guaranteed to work. Its ecosystem is smaller than QBCore's or ESX's, so confirm the scripts you need support it before you commit.

How to choose

  1. Already running a server? Stay on your framework unless you have a strong reason. Migrating players, items and scripts is a big project.
  2. Starting fresh and want the widest choice of scripts? QBCore or ESX.
  3. Starting fresh and you like the ox ecosystem? Qbox is worth a look.
  4. Building one small feature? Consider a standalone script that works on any framework.
  5. Check your must-have scripts first. List the five scripts you cannot live without and confirm they support your framework.

What about standalone scripts?

A standalone script does not depend on any framework, so it works on ESX, QBCore, Qbox or a custom setup. Many creators also support several frameworks at once. That is why a listing's compatibility section matters more than the framework logo on the box. Every script in our store lists which frameworks and dependencies it supports.

Search interest in these frameworks moves around from month to month, and a single week tells you very little. Choose based on the scripts you need and the people who will maintain your server, not on a chart.

Once you have chosen, the install guide shows how to add scripts to any of them.

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