Which is the best FiveM Framework?

Okay, let’s dive deep into the world of FiveM frameworks. Choosing the right foundation for your roleplay server is crucial, and it can feel overwhelming with several mature options available. This post aims to break down the most popular choices: ESX (and its legacy), qbCore, the newer QBOX, and the performance-focused ND Framework.

We’ll look at their philosophies, features, development experience, performance, and community support to help you make an informed decision. Remember, there’s rarely a single “best” framework – it’s about finding the best fit for your project’s needs and your team’s skillset.

The Ever-Evolving Landscape of FiveM Frameworks

FiveM, the multiplayer modification framework for Grand Theft Auto V, provides the canvas, but server frameworks provide the brushes and paint. They offer the core functionalities needed for a roleplay server: identity management, inventory systems, jobs, economies, housing, vehicles, and the fundamental logic connecting everything.

Over the years, different frameworks have emerged, each building upon lessons learned from predecessors or taking entirely new approaches. Let’s explore the main contenders.

1. ESX (EssentialMode Extended) – The Veteran

• Link: ESX Legacy GitHub (Note: Original ESX is largely deprecated in favor of Legacy)

History and Philosophy:

ESX, specifically ESX Legacy today, stands as one of the oldest and most widely adopted frameworks. Born from the original EssentialMode, it aimed to provide a comprehensive set of RP features out-of-the-box. Its philosophy was largely about providing everything needed to start an RP server, leading to a vast ecosystem of scripts. ESX Legacy is a community-driven effort to modernize and maintain the ESX codebase, addressing many issues of the older versions (like v1 final, 1.2, etc.).

Core Features & Strengths:

• Massive Script Ecosystem: Due to its long history and popularity, you can find a pre-made script for almost anything imaginable compatible with ESX (though quality varies wildly). This is its biggest advantage for server owners who prefer ready-made solutions.
• Familiarity: Many FiveM developers cut their teeth on ESX. Finding developers familiar with its structure can be easier.
• Feature Rich (Out-of-the-Box): Legacy includes many standard RP features like jobs, inventory (esx_inventoryhud or others), billing, society management, basic needs (hunger/thirst), etc.
• Active Legacy Development: The ESX Legacy team actively works on improving performance, fixing bugs, and adding features to the core.

Development Experience & Code Structure:

ESX traditionally relies heavily on server-side callbacks and client/server event triggers. Data management often involves direct database queries within resource logic, although Legacy has made strides in centralizing some functions.

• Global Object: The ESX global object (client and server-side) is the primary way to interact with the framework’s functions (e.g., ESX.GetPlayerData(), ESX.ShowNotification()).
• Callbacks: ESX.RegisterServerCallback and TriggerServerCallback are fundamental for client-server data requests.
• Procedural Style: While you can write OOP code, much of the existing ESX ecosystem and core functions follow a more procedural Lua style.

Example: Giving a Player Money (Server-side ESX Legacy)

-- Assuming you have the player's source or identifier (e.g., xPlayer object)
-- Method 1: Using the xPlayer object directly (preferred in newer ESX versions)
RegisterCommand('givemoneyesx', function(source, args, rawCommand)
    local targetPlayerId = tonumber(args[1])
    local amount = tonumber(args[2])

    if targetPlayerId and amount and amount > 0 then
        local xPlayer = ESX.GetPlayerFromId(targetPlayerId)
        if xPlayer then
            xPlayer.addMoney(amount) -- Adds to the default 'money' account
            -- Or specify account: xPlayer.addAccountMoney('bank', amount)
            TriggerClientEvent('esx:showNotification', source, 'Gave $' .. amount .. ' to player ' .. targetPlayerId)
            TriggerClientEvent('esx:showNotification', targetPlayerId, 'You received $' .. amount)
        else
            TriggerClientEvent('esx:showNotification', source, 'Player not found.')
        end
    else
        TriggerClientEvent('esx:showNotification', source, 'Usage: /givemoneyesx [player_id] [amount]')
    end
end, true) -- true makes it admin only (requires ESX permissions setup)

-- Method 2: Triggering an event (more common in older scripts, still works)
-- This is less common now for core actions like money, but illustrates the event pattern
-- TriggerServerEvent('esx:addInventoryItem', targetPlayerId, 'money', amount) -- Example if money were an item

Performance:

Older ESX versions (pre-Legacy) were notorious for performance issues, often stemming from inefficient database calls, poorly optimized loops, and the sheer weight of accumulated scripts. ESX Legacy has significantly improved this, optimizing core functions and database interactions. However, performance still heavily depends on the quality of the third-party scripts you install. A poorly coded script can cripple any framework.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Legacy Baggage: While improved, some older design patterns can still make development feel less modern compared to newer frameworks.
• Script Quality Variance: The vast number of scripts means many are outdated, insecure, or poorly optimized. Careful vetting is required.
• Database Bottlenecks: If not careful, frequent synchronous database calls (though reduced in Legacy) can still become a bottleneck under heavy load.

Target Audience:

Server owners who want the widest possible selection of pre-made scripts, communities with existing ESX development knowledge, or those migrating from older ESX versions.

2. qbCore Framework – The Structured Approach

• Link: qbCore Framework

History and Philosophy:

qbCore (or QBCore) emerged as a popular alternative to ESX, focusing on a more structured, organized, and (arguably) modern development approach. It was created by KASHARKO and is now maintained by the qbCore community and lead developers like AJ. Its philosophy centers around providing a solid, performance-conscious core with well-defined functions and encouraging a more standardized way of developing resources. It aims for optimization and ease of use for developers familiar with its structure.

Core Features & Strengths:

• Organized Structure: qbCore promotes a clear folder structure and naming conventions, making projects easier to navigate.
• Performance Focus: From its inception, qbCore aimed to be lighter and faster than older ESX versions, often using optimized loops, state bags, and fewer synchronous database calls.
• Integrated Core Features: Comes with a robust set of core features often considered essential for RP (inventory, multi-characters, jobs, gangs, housing shells, vehicles, evidence, etc.), often designed to work cohesively.
• Player Object & Functions: Provides a comprehensive Player object server-side and QBCore.Functions.GetPlayerData() client-side, encapsulating player data and common actions.
• Active Development & Community: Has a very active development team and a large, helpful community (primarily on Discord).

Development Experience & Code Structure:

qbCore emphasizes using its provided functions and events. It leans more towards accessing player data through the Player object rather than direct database lookups in scripts. It makes extensive use of state bags for synchronizing data.

• Global Object: QBCore (client and server) and the Player object (server-side) are central.
• Functions: QBCore.Functions provides many utility functions (notifications, callbacks, player data access, etc.). The Player.Functions table contains methods to modify the specific player object (e.g., Player.Functions.AddMoney, Player.Functions.AddItem).
• Events: Standard client/server events are used, often following naming conventions like QBCore:Client:Notify or QBCore:Server:UpdatePlayer.
• Callbacks: Uses a similar callback system to ESX (QBCore.Functions.CreateCallback, QBCore.Functions.TriggerCallback).

Example: Giving a Player Money (Server-side qbCore)

-- Method 1: Using Player Functions (Recommended)
QBCore.Commands.Add("givemoneyqb", "Give money to a player (Admin Only)", {{name="id", help="Player Server ID"}, {name="moneytype", help="Type of money (cash, bank)"}, {name="amount", help="Amount to give"}}, true, function(source, args)
    local targetPlayer = QBCore.Functions.GetPlayer(tonumber(args[1]))
    local moneyType = string.lower(args[2])
    local amount = tonumber(args[3])

    if not targetPlayer then
        TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', source, "Player not online.", "error")
        return
    end

    if not amount or amount <= 0 then
        TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', source, "Invalid amount.", "error")
        return
    end

    if moneyType ~= "cash" and moneyType ~= "bank" then
        TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', source, "Invalid money type (use 'cash' or 'bank').", "error")
        return
    end

    -- Use the Player Functions to add money
    targetPlayer.Functions.AddMoney(moneyType, amount, "admin-gave-money") -- The last argument is an optional reason for logs
    TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', source, "Gave $" .. amount .. " (" .. moneyType .. ") to player " .. targetPlayer.PlayerData.charinfo.firstname .. " " .. targetPlayer.PlayerData.charinfo.lastname .. " (ID: " .. targetPlayer.PlayerData.citizenid .. ")", "success")
    TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', targetPlayer.PlayerData.source, "You received $" .. amount .. " (" .. moneyType .. ").", "success")

end, "admin") -- Restrict command to the 'admin' ACE group

-- Method 2: Alternative (less common for direct money, more for items maybe)
-- Could involve triggering an event that the inventory system listens for,
-- but for core things like money, Player Functions are standard.
-- Example: TriggerServerEvent('QBCore:Server:AddItem', targetPlayer.PlayerData.source, "money_bag", amount) -- If money was an item

Performance:

Generally considered performant, especially compared to older ESX. Its focus on optimized core functions and leveraging FiveM features like state bags helps reduce server load. As with any framework, performance heavily depends on the quality and quantity of added scripts. Poorly written NUI or frequent, heavy event triggers in custom scripts can still cause issues.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Learning Curve: Developers coming from ESX might need time to adjust to the qbCore way of doing things (Player object, specific functions, structure).
• Script Ecosystem: While growing rapidly, the number of publicly available, high-quality qbCore scripts is still smaller than the vast ESX library. Many popular scripts are often converted or require conversion from ESX.
• Opinionated Design: qbCore has specific ways it expects things to be done. While this promotes consistency, it can feel restrictive to developers who prefer more freedom or different patterns.

Target Audience:

Server owners looking for a structured, performance-oriented framework with a good set of core features. Teams who value organization and are willing to adapt to the qbCore development patterns. It’s often favored by servers aiming for higher player counts where performance is critical.

3. QBOX – The Modern Evolution

• Link: QBOX Framework GitHub (Note: Name might vary slightly, check the Qbox-Project org)

History and Philosophy:

QBOX is a relatively newer framework that builds upon the concepts of qbCore but aims for even greater modularity, performance, and modern development practices. It’s often seen as a successor or a more refined version of qbCore’s ideas, developed by some individuals previously associated with qbCore and other experienced developers. The philosophy emphasizes clean code, testability, better state management, and leveraging modern Lua features and FiveM capabilities.

Core Features & Strengths:

• Modularity: Designed with a strong emphasis on decoupling resources. Core functionalities are often broken down into smaller, independent packages.
• Performance: Continues the focus on performance, often refining qbCore’s approaches and potentially using different state management or eventing strategies.
• Modern Practices: Encourages OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) where appropriate, utilizes newer Lua features, and may integrate better with build tools or TypeScript (depending on community resources).
• Improved Developer Experience (Potentially): Aims to provide clearer APIs, better documentation (though sometimes newer frameworks lag here initially), and potentially faster development cycles once familiar.
• Active Development: Being newer, it typically has a very active core development team pushing updates and features.

Development Experience & Code Structure:

QBOX often introduces slightly different APIs and patterns compared to qbCore, even if the underlying concepts are similar. It might rely more heavily on dependency injection, object-oriented patterns, or specific library choices.

• API Structure: Expect potentially different naming conventions and function signatures compared to qbCore. May have more class-based structures.
• State Management: Might employ different strategies for state synchronization than qbCore, potentially offering more granular control or different performance characteristics.
• Eventing: While still using FiveM events, the conventions or core event handlers might differ.

Example: Giving a Player Money (Server-side QBOX – Hypothetical Example)

Disclaimer: QBOX API specifics can evolve. This is a plausible example based on its philosophy, but always consult the official QBOX documentation.

-- QBOX might use a service locator or dependency injection pattern
-- Or it might still have a global object like QBX or similar.
-- Assuming a similar command structure and player object concept for brevity:

QBX.Commands.Add("givemoneyqbx", "Give money to a player (Admin Only)", {{name="id", help="Player Server ID"}, {name="account", help="Account name (e.g., 'cash', 'bank')"}, {name="amount", help="Amount to give"}}, true, function(source, args)
    local targetPlayerId = tonumber(args[1])
    local accountName = string.lower(args[2])
    local amount = tonumber(args[3])

    -- QBOX might have a dedicated Player Service or Manager
    local PlayerService = exports.qbx_core:GetModule("PlayerService") -- Example of module access
    local targetPlayer = PlayerService:GetPlayer(targetPlayerId)

    if not targetPlayer then
        -- Assuming a notification system exists, possibly via a NotificationService
        local Notify = exports.qbx_core:GetModule("Notify")
        Notify.Send(source, "Player not online.", "error")
        return
    end

    if not amount or amount <= 0 then
        local Notify = exports.qbx_core:GetModule("Notify")
        Notify.Send(source, "Invalid amount.", "error")
        return
    end

    -- Accessing player finances might be through a dedicated component or service
    local success, reason = targetPlayer:AddMoney(accountName, amount, "admin_grant") -- Method might be directly on the player object

    local Notify = exports.qbx_core:GetModule("Notify")
    if success then
        Notify.Send(source, string.format("Gave $%d (%s) to %s", amount, accountName, targetPlayer:GetName()), "success") -- Assuming GetName() exists
        Notify.Send(targetPlayer:GetSource(), string.format("You received $%d (%s)", amount, accountName), "success") -- Assuming GetSource() exists
    else
        Notify.Send(source, string.format("Failed to give money: %s", reason or "Unknown error"), "error")
    end

end, "admin")

Performance:

Aims to be highly performant, potentially exceeding qbCore by refining its methods, further optimizing state management, and encouraging better coding practices through its structure. Benchmark claims often position it favorably, but real-world performance depends on the full server setup.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Newness: Being newer means a smaller community (though growing) and potentially less comprehensive documentation or fewer readily available tutorials compared to ESX or qbCore.
• Script Ecosystem: The library of publicly available, QBOX-specific scripts is the smallest of the three discussed so far. Conversion from ESX or qbCore is often necessary.
• API Stability: As a newer framework, core APIs might change more frequently than in more established frameworks, requiring developers to stay updated.
• Learning Curve: Requires adapting to potentially new patterns, especially if using more OOP or modular designs.

Target Audience:

Developers and server owners looking for the latest in framework design, prioritizing performance, modularity, and clean code. Teams comfortable with potentially smaller initial script availability and willing to invest time in learning a newer system. Often appeals to those seeking a “fresh start” with modern practices.

4. ND Framework (Next-Generation Framework)

• Link: ND Framework GitHub

History and Philosophy:

ND Framework is another contender in the space, often highlighting performance and a different take on core mechanics. Developed by a separate team (Notably Anders), it positions itself as a next-generation framework. Its philosophy seems centered around extreme optimization, potentially rethinking how core systems like inventory or player data are handled to minimize overhead. It often emphasizes minimizing client-side execution and leveraging server-side authority.

Core Features & Strengths:

• Performance: This is ND’s primary selling point. It often claims significant performance improvements over other frameworks through optimized code, unique approaches to state management, and potentially different core loop structures.
• Unique Core Systems: May feature fundamentally different takes on inventory (e.g., metadata-driven), player data handling, or job systems, designed for efficiency.
• Security Focus: Often emphasizes secure event handling and server-authoritative design.
• Modern Development: Likely encourages modern Lua practices and potentially offers tools or structures for better project management.

Development Experience & Code Structure:

Developing for ND Framework might require a significant mindset shift compared to ESX or even qbCore/QBOX. Its unique systems mean unique APIs and ways of interacting with the core.

• Proprietary APIs: Expect ND-specific functions and objects for most core interactions (player data, inventory, notifications, etc.).
• Optimization-Driven Design: Code structure and patterns will likely be heavily influenced by the framework’s performance goals. This might mean less abstraction in some areas if it hinders performance, or more complex patterns in others if they provide efficiency gains.
• State Management: Likely employs a highly optimized state management system, potentially different from standard state bags or the methods used in qbCore/QBOX.

Example: Giving a Player Money (Server-side ND Framework – Highly Hypothetical Example)

Disclaimer: ND Framework’s specific API is less widely documented publicly than ESX/qbCore. This is a very speculative example based on its likely design principles. Always check official ND documentation.

-- ND might use a global ND object or specific modules/exports
-- Accessing player data might be different, potentially through unique identifiers or objects

RegisterCommand('givemoneynd', function(source, args, rawCommand)
    local targetNetId = tonumber(args[1]) -- ND might prefer NetID or its own player identifier
    local amount = tonumber(args[2])
    local accountType = args[3] or 'cash' -- Assuming account types exist

    if not targetNetId or not amount or amount <= 0 then
        -- Assuming an ND notification system
        exports.ND_Core:Notify(source, "Invalid arguments.", "error")
        return
    end

    -- Get the ND Player object (method will be specific to ND)
    local NDPlayer = exports.ND_Core:GetPlayerByNetId(targetNetId) -- Purely hypothetical function

    if NDPlayer then
        -- Interacting with player economy might be through a dedicated Economy module or direct player methods
        local success = NDPlayer:AddBalance(accountType, amount) -- Hypothetical method

        if success then
            exports.ND_Core:Notify(source, string.format("Gave $%d (%s) to player %d", amount, accountType, targetNetId), "success")
            exports.ND_Core:Notify(targetNetId, string.format("You received $%d (%s)", amount, accountType), "success")
        else
            exports.ND_Core:Notify(source, "Failed to give money (check account type or player state).", "error")
        end
    else
        exports.ND_Core:Notify(source, "Player not found.", "error")
    end

end, true) -- Assuming an admin restriction mechanism exists

Performance:

Claims suggest ND Framework offers top-tier performance, potentially outperforming others in specific benchmarks due to its ground-up focus on optimization. Real-world results still depend on server configuration and custom scripts, but the core is designed to be lightweight.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Steep Learning Curve: Its unique approach likely means developers need significant time to learn its specific APIs and design patterns, especially if coming from ESX/qbCore.
• Smallest Ecosystem: Compared to ESX and qbCore, the number of publicly available, ND-compatible scripts is likely the smallest. Significant custom development or conversion effort is almost guaranteed.
• Documentation/Community: As a less widely adopted framework (compared to ESX/qbCore), finding extensive documentation, tutorials, and widespread community support might be more challenging. Support might be concentrated in specific Discords or forums.
• Compatibility: Scripts designed for other frameworks will almost certainly not work without substantial modification.

Target Audience:

Experienced developers and server owners who prioritize raw performance above all else and are willing to invest heavily in custom development or script conversion. Teams comfortable working within a potentially less documented and smaller ecosystem, focusing on building a highly optimized, unique server.

Comparison Table

Side-by-Side Code Example: Registering a Simple Command

Let’s look at a basic “hello world” command to see the structural differences.

ESX Legacy (Server-side):

ESX = nil
TriggerEvent('esx:getSharedObject', function(obj) ESX = obj end)

RegisterCommand('hellome_esx', function(source, args, rawCommand)
    local xPlayer = ESX.GetPlayerFromId(source)
    local playerName = xPlayer.getName() -- Or xPlayer.name depending on exact version/config

    TriggerClientEvent('esx:showNotification', source, 'Hello, ' .. playerName .. '!')
    print('Player ' .. source .. ' (' .. playerName .. ') used /hellome_esx')
end, false) -- false = command is available to everyone

qbCore (Server-side):

QBCore = exports['qb-core']:GetCoreObject()

QBCore.Commands.Add('hellome_qb', 'Says hello to the player.', {}, false, function(source, args)
    -- Player object is automatically available via the source in many qbCore callbacks/events
    local Player = QBCore.Functions.GetPlayer(source)

    if Player then
        local playerName = Player.PlayerData.charinfo.firstname .. " " .. Player.PlayerData.charinfo.lastname
        TriggerClientEvent('QBCore:Notify', source, 'Hello, ' .. playerName .. '!', 'primary') -- Use QBCore notification system
        print('Player ' .. source .. ' (' .. playerName .. ') used /hellome_qb')
    end
end) -- No ACE permission specified = available to everyone

QBOX (Server-side – Plausible Example):

-- Assuming QBX is the core object or obtained via exports
QBX = exports.qbx_core:GetCoreObject() -- Example, check actual export name

QBX.Commands.Add('hellome_qbx', 'Says hello to the player.', {}, false, function(source, args, user) -- Might pass a user object directly
    -- Access player data through the provided 'user' object or by getting it via source
    local player = user or QBX.Players.Get(source) -- Example: Plural 'Players' or similar structure

    if player then
        -- Accessing player name might be via a method or direct property
        local playerName = player:GetData('firstname') .. " " .. player:GetData('lastname') -- Example: Using a GetData method
        -- Or: local playerName = player.charinfo.firstname .. " " .. player.charinfo.lastname

        -- Trigger a notification, potentially via a module
        local Notify = QBX.Modules.Notify -- Example module access
        Notify.Send(source, 'Hello, ' .. playerName .. '!', 'inform') -- Example notification call
        print('Player ' .. source .. ' (' .. playerName .. ') used /hellome_qbx')
    end
end)

ND Framework (Server-side – Highly Hypothetical Example):

-- Assuming ND is the core object or obtained via exports
ND = exports.ND_Core:GetCoreObject() -- Example

-- Command registration might be different
ND.Commands.Register('hellome_nd', {
    description = 'Says hello to the player.',
    restricted = false, -- Example restriction flag
    execute = function(source, args)
        -- Getting player data might be via a specific ND function
        local NDPlayer = ND.GetPlayer(source) -- Hypothetical

        if NDPlayer then
            -- Accessing data might be different, perhaps optimized accessors
            local playerName = NDPlayer:GetName() -- Hypothetical method

            -- Trigger notification via ND system
            ND.Notify(source, 'Hello, ' .. playerName .. '!', 'info') -- Hypothetical
            print('Player ' .. source .. ' (' .. playerName .. ') used /hellome_nd')
        end
    end
})

These examples highlight the different ways frameworks expose their core functions (global objects vs. modules), handle player data access, and integrate with subsystems like notifications and commands.

Performance Deep Dive

Performance is often a major deciding factor. Here’s a more nuanced look:

• ESX Legacy: Vastly improved over older ESX. The core is reasonably optimized. The biggest performance variable is the quality and quantity of third-party scripts. A server bloated with poorly coded ESX scripts will perform poorly.
• qbCore: Generally faster core than ESX Legacy due to design choices made from the start (e.g., optimized loops, use of state bags, less reliance on synchronous DB calls in addons). Performance still degrades if you add many complex or poorly optimized custom scripts.
• QBOX: Aims to refine qbCore’s performance further. Its modularity can help, as you only load what you need. Optimizations in state management and core loops are key selling points. Likely very performant, but still susceptible to bad addon scripts.
• ND Framework: Built with performance as arguably the highest priority. Expects to have the leanest core operations. Its unique systems (inventory, etc.) are likely designed specifically to minimize server/client communication and processing time. The trade-off is complexity and ecosystem size.

Key Performance Factors:

1. Database Interaction: How often and how efficiently does the framework (and its scripts) talk to the database? Synchronous calls block execution and can be major bottlenecks. Frameworks encouraging asynchronous operations or caching data (like player objects) generally perform better.
2. Event Handling: How many client/server events are firing? Are they sending large amounts of data? Overuse of events, especially those triggering complex logic or NUI updates frequently, impacts performance.
3. Code Optimization: Are loops efficient? Is data being processed unnecessarily? Is client-side code minimized where possible? This applies to both the core framework and addon scripts.
4. State Management: How is player and world data synchronized between server and client? Efficient state management (like FiveM’s state bags, used heavily by qbCore/QBOX/likely ND) is usually better than constant event spam.
5. NUI (UI) Performance: Complex user interfaces using JavaScript can be resource-intensive on the client-side, impacting FPS. Frameworks themselves don’t dictate NUI quality, but the associated core HUDs/inventories play a role.

In essence: While QBOX and ND claim (and likely deliver) higher core performance ceilings, a well-managed qbCore or even ESX Legacy server with carefully chosen, optimized scripts can still perform very well. Conversely, throwing dozens of unoptimized scripts onto QBOX or ND will negate their core advantages.

Community and Ecosystem

• ESX: Largest legacy, tons of forums, Discord servers, and publicly released scripts (use with caution regarding quality/security). Finding help is easy, but finding good help or well-maintained scripts requires effort.
• qbCore: Very large and active official Discord. Strong community support. A good number of high-quality public and paid scripts are available, and many ESX scripts get converted. Documentation is generally good and centralized.
• QBOX: Smaller but rapidly growing community, primarily centered around its official Discord. Support is active but might be less widespread than qbCore. Script ecosystem is developing; expect more conversions or custom development needed initially.
• ND Framework: Smallest community of the four, likely concentrated in specific Discords. Support will be more niche. Requires significant self-sufficiency or direct interaction with the developers/close community. Script availability is the most limited.

Making Your Choice: Which Framework is Right for You?

There’s no single right answer. Consider these factors:

1. Your Technical Skill:
   • Beginner/Less Code-Focused: ESX (due to script availability) or qbCore (good structure, lots of tutorials) might be easier starting points.
   • Comfortable Developer: qbCore or QBOX offer good structure and performance.
   • Experienced Developer Focused on Max Performance/Unique Systems: QBOX or ND Framework might be appealing, provided you’re ready for custom development/learning new APIs.
2. Project Goals:
   • Quick Setup with Many Features: ESX’s vast script library is tempting.
   • Balanced Performance and Features: qbCore is a very popular middle ground.
   • Cutting-Edge Performance & Modularity: QBOX is designed for this.
   • Absolute Peak Performance (at cost of ecosystem/complexity): ND Framework targets this.
3. Time and Resources:
   • Limited Time/Budget: ESX (find free/cheap scripts) or qbCore (good core features, decent script base) might work. Be wary of script quality with ESX.
   • Willing to Invest in Development: qbCore, QBOX, or ND become viable. QBOX/ND will likely require more custom development initially.
4. Existing Knowledge: If your team already knows ESX or qbCore well, sticking with it or migrating (e.g., ESX -> qbCore, qbCore -> QBOX) might be smoother than a complete switch to something unfamiliar like ND.
5. Server Vision: Do you need highly specific, custom features? The framework matters less than your ability to build them. However, a well-structured framework (qbCore, QBOX, ND) can make complex custom development easier and more maintainable in the long run.

Conclusion

The FiveM framework landscape offers mature and powerful options catering to different needs:

• ESX Legacy: The veteran with an unparalleled script ecosystem, modernized for better performance but retaining some older patterns. Ideal if pre-made scripts are your priority.
• qbCore: The popular challenger, offering a great balance of structure, performance, core features, and a large, active community. A solid choice for many servers.
• QBOX: The evolution, pushing for more modularity, modern practices, and performance, building on qbCore’s foundation. Great for developers wanting a clean, performant, and forward-looking base, assuming they accept a smaller initial ecosystem.
• ND Framework: The performance specialist, potentially offering the highest optimization but demanding the most technical expertise and custom development due to its unique systems and smaller community/ecosystem.

Our bias at qbCore.net is clear, but fairness is key. We believe qbCore offers an excellent blend of usability, performance, features, and community support that makes it a fantastic choice for a wide range of RP servers. However, ESX still holds value for its script library, and QBOX/ND present compelling options for those prioritizing absolute peak performance or specific architectural choices.

Do your research, perhaps set up test servers with different frameworks, read their documentation, join their communities, and choose the foundation that best aligns with your vision, your skills, and your resources. Good luck building your world!