ESX vs QBCore vs Ox Core: Which FiveM Framework in 2026?
Choosing a framework is the first and most consequential decision when building a FiveM server. Here's our comprehensive comparison of the three main contenders in 2026.
ESX Framework — The Pioneer
**Price:** Free | **GitHub Stars:** 3,000+ | **Servers:** 12,000+ | **Since:** 2017
ESX is the original FiveM roleplay framework. It pioneered the concepts of jobs, society accounts, and an integrated economy. In 2026, ESX Legacy continues to be maintained by a dedicated non-profit organization.
**Strengths:**
Largest ecosystem — thousands of scripts available
Most tutorials, guides, and YouTube content
Battle-tested over 7+ years
Simple architecture easy to understand
Huge community for support
**Weaknesses:**
Older architecture with some legacy patterns
Can feel bloated compared to modern alternatives
Performance can lag behind QBCore and Ox
Some outdated scripts in the ecosystem
**Best for:** Servers that want maximum script compatibility and the easiest time finding resources.
QBCore Framework — The Popular Choice
**Price:** Free | **GitHub Stars:** 5,000+ | **Servers:** 5,000+ | **Since:** 2021
QBCore exploded in popularity thanks to excellent documentation, modern Lua patterns, and a complete ecosystem of 60+ free, integrated scripts. It provides everything you need out of the box.
**Strengths:**
Complete ecosystem included (60+ scripts)
Excellent documentation
Modern, clean code patterns
Active development and community
Great performance out of the box
Easy migration from ESX
**Weaknesses:**
Smaller third-party ecosystem than ESX
Less flexibility due to tightly integrated design
Some scripts are QBCore-only
**Best for:** New servers that want a complete, modern setup with minimal configuration.
Overextended (Ox) — The Modern Standard
**Price:** Free | **Community:** Growing rapidly | **Since:** 2021
Ox isn't a traditional "framework" — it's a collection of best-in-class libraries (ox_lib, ox_inventory, ox_target, ox_core) that work together or independently. It's becoming the de facto standard for modern FiveM development.
**Strengths:**
Best code quality and architecture
Framework-agnostic — works with ESX, QBCore, or standalone
ox_lib is used by virtually every modern script
Best performance of any option
TypeScript support
Community Ox ensures long-term maintenance
**Weaknesses:**
Not a complete framework — you still need ESX or QBCore base
Steeper learning curve
Smaller complete ecosystem (growing fast)
Less beginner content available
**Best for:** Developers who want the best tools and don't mind more setup. The future of FiveM development.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ESX | QBCore | Ox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Easy | Medium |
| Performance | Good | Great | Best |
| Script Ecosystem | Largest | Large | Growing |
| Code Quality | Mixed | Good | Excellent |
| Documentation | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Active Development | Moderate | Active | Very Active |
| TypeScript Support | No | No | Yes |
Our Recommendation
**For beginners:** Start with **QBCore**. It has everything you need and great docs.
**For experienced developers:** Use **Ox libraries** on top of QBCore or ESX. You get the best of both worlds.
**For maximum compatibility:** **ESX** still has the largest ecosystem and most available scripts.
**The trend:** The community is moving towards Ox-compatible development. Most new premium scripts support ox_lib, ox_target, and ox_inventory regardless of the base framework.