FiveM Full Server Download: Complete Server Packs Explained (2026)

A FiveM full server download gives you everything you need to launch a roleplay server — scripts, vehicles, interiors, and configuration files — in a single archive. Instead of spending days hunting for compatible resources and debugging load-order issues, you extract one package, run a database import, and you are live.

This guide covers what a complete FiveM server download includes, how to compare the major framework options, step-by-step installation, a post-install checklist covering the things every pack forgets to mention, and where to find the best packs in 2026. If you are building your pack from scratch instead, our free FiveM scripts library has 800+ community-tested resources you can drop into any ESX, QBCore, or QBox server.

What Does a FiveM Full Server Download Include?

A proper full server download is more than a list of resources thrown together. Quality packs include:

Core framework — Either ESX, QBCore, or QBox. The framework is the backbone of your server — every script you add later must be compatible with it.

Essential scripts — At minimum, expect a working job system, police/EMS mechanics, housing, a vehicle shop, an inventory system, and an economy. Premium packs layer in heists, drug production systems, clothing shops, and more.

Custom vehicles — Most complete packs include 10–50 pre-imported vehicles (police cars, civilian vehicles, emergency services) already added to the vehicle shop database.

MLO interiors — At least a police station, hospital, and a few shops. Higher-tier packs include custom city halls, underground parking lots, and unique roleplay locations.

Database SQL file — A pre-built .sql file that creates all required tables and seeds the initial data (items, vehicles, jobs) so your server starts with content rather than an empty database.

server.cfg — A pre-configured server config that loads all resources in the correct order, with clear comments marking what you need to edit.

Documentation — Installation instructions, a list of every included resource, and basic customization guidance.

Server Pack Comparison: ESX vs. QBCore vs. QBox vs. vRP vs. Custom Bundles

The framework choice is the most important decision you make when picking a server download. Here is how the five major pack families compare in 2026:

Dimension	ESX Legacy	QBCore	QBox	vRP	Custom Bundle
Included resources	80–200	60–150	50–120	40–80	20–500+
Target server size	32–256 slots	32–256 slots	64–256 slots	32–128 slots	Any
Install difficulty	Easy	Easy	Moderate	Hard	Varies
Code quality	Legacy improving	Clean, modern	Modern, secure	Legacy	Author-dependent
Script library size	Largest	Large, growing	Growing	Shrinking	N/A
Community support	Largest	Very active	Active	Declining	Pack-specific
Inventory system	ox_inventory / legacy	ox_inventory / qb	ox_inventory native	Custom	Any
License model	MIT-compatible	GPL	GPL	Varies	Commercial
Best for	Maximum compatibility	Modern RP servers	Security-focused RP	Legacy EU servers	Established teams

ESX Legacy packs still dominate the market share for template sales. The trade-off is that you inherit a large ecosystem with mixed code quality — some scripts are excellent, some carry performance debt from 2019.

QBCore packs are the default recommendation for new servers starting in 2026. The code is cleaner, the inventory is better out of the box, and the community documentation is strong.

QBox packs are worth it if you care about security (native ox_inventory integration, stricter permissions) and are comfortable handling a slightly smaller script library.

vRP packs are a shrinking niche. Most established vRP servers have migrated to QBCore or QBox. New servers should avoid vRP unless they specifically need its Lua-first simplicity.

Custom bundles are packs put together by specific creators or agencies. Quality varies wildly — a reputable creator with a track record is great; an anonymous "mega pack" from a file-sharing site is nearly always backdoored.

How to Install a FiveM Full Server Pack

Installing a FiveM server download follows the same pattern regardless of the framework:

Step 1: Set Up Your Server Environment

You need a dedicated server or VPS running Windows Server or Linux. Install the FiveM server artifacts and a database server — MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6+ are the standard choices.

For hosting recommendations, see our FiveM hosting provider comparison.

Step 2: Download the Server Pack

Purchase from a reputable store. Every resource on VertexMods is backdoor-checked before listing — this matters because malicious packs are unfortunately common on file-sharing sites.

Step 3: Extract and Place Files

Extract the archive into your server's resources/ directory (or a subdirectory like resources/[standalone]/). The pack documentation will specify the exact structure.

Step 4: Import the Database

Open your MySQL client (phpMyAdmin, TablePlus, or the CLI) and import the included .sql file into a new database:

CREATE DATABASE fivem;
USE fivem;
SOURCE /path/to/included/database.sql;

Step 5: Configure server.cfg

Open server.cfg and fill in:

• sv_licenseKey — your FiveM server license from keymaster.fivem.net
• Database connection string in the set mysql_connection_string line
• Server name, description, and tags

Step 6: Start the Server

On Windows, run run.cmd. On Linux, run bash run.sh. Watch the console for errors — most first-start issues are database connection problems or missing dependencies.

Step 7: Connect and Verify

Connect via F8 → connect [your-server-ip]:30120 and walk through the new character flow. Test the core systems: spawn a vehicle, try a job, open the phone, test police/EMS.

What's Missing After the Download? The Post-Install Checklist

Every pack ships with reasonable defaults. None of those defaults are production-ready. Before you invite a single real player, work through this checklist — skipping it is how new servers end up with a leaked admin panel on day three.

Security hardening (do this first)

1. Rotate every default password. Packs ship with placeholder passwords like changeme for phpMyAdmin, the txAdmin admin account, database users, and sometimes even Discord bot tokens. Change all of them.
2. Lock down server.cfg — set sv_endpointPrivacy true, sv_scriptHookAllowed false, and choose an appropriate sv_pureLevel (most RP servers run level 1).
3. Remove sample admin accounts from the database. Packs often include test admins with known identifiers.
4. Set up a backup cron job before anything else. Losing five hours of player progress on day one is a guaranteed community-killer.
5. Enable rate limiting on your web endpoints if the pack exposes any (some include a web panel on port 40120).

Branding and identity

6. Replace the server name in sv_hostname, sv_projectName, sv_projectDesc, and the pack's phone/loading-screen configs.
7. Replace the loading screen — most packs ship with a generic template. The loading screen is the first thing players see.
8. Replace the Discord bot avatar and status if the pack ships with a bot.
9. Update the pack's default logos across the phone app, HUD, and any custom MLOs that reference a server name.

Admin + staff setup

10. Add your real admin identifiers to the ACE permissions in server.cfg.
11. Configure your Discord whitelist — see our Discord whitelist guide for three different implementation patterns.
12. Set up txAdmin permissions for your moderator team (see txAdmin Discord setup).
13. Write your community rules and add them to the /rules command if the pack includes one.

Economy and balancing

14. Audit the starting money — packs often ship with €5000 starting cash, which is too much for most RP economies.
15. Review job paychecks — balance them against item prices, otherwise new players will hoard or starve.
16. Check vehicle shop prices — they're usually set in USD and need localization.
17. Review drug/illegal script values if present. These are the #1 source of economy exploits.

Legal and compliance

18. Update the privacy policy link in any included phone or web app.
19. Set up GDPR-compliant logging retention if you operate in the EU (player chat logs, admin actions).
20. Confirm asset licenses for every included MLO and vehicle — don't rely on the pack author's claims, verify with the original creators when possible.

Work through this list sequentially. Most servers that fail in their first month fail because they skipped steps 1–5, got exploited within 48 hours, and lost their player base rebuilding.

Common Issues After Install

The checklist above prevents catastrophic issues. Here are the annoying-but-normal issues every pack install runs into:

"SCRIPT ERROR: @some-resource/server.lua" on first boot. Almost always a missing dependency — the pack author assumed you had ox_lib or oxmysql but the archive didn't include it. Install the missing resource from GitHub.

Phone app crashes or shows blank screen. Modern phone scripts (qs-smartphone, lb-phone) need their database migrations run separately. Check the phone's README.md for a phone.sql import step.

Blips missing from the map. The pack's blip sync relies on player data loading before blip creation. Common on slow hosts. Fix by adding a 2-second delay before the blip creation thread fires.

Inventory items show placeholder icons. The inventory items are registered, but the image assets weren't copied to ox_inventory/web/images/. Copy the pack's item-image folder into that path.

Clothes shop crashes when opening. Usually a missing ped_config or a clothing pack the main pack references but doesn't include. Check the shop script's config and disable any missing categories.

Performance drops in city center. Packs with many MLOs often exceed the client's streaming budget. Review the list of active MLOs and unload unused ones via RemoveIpl or the MLO resource's config.

First login is slow (30+ seconds). Usually the framework rebuilding every table index on first query. Wait 24 hours and re-benchmark — it almost always resolves once the DB warms up.

What Makes a Quality FiveM Server Download?

Not every pack is worth the price. Evaluate these before buying:

Framework version: The pack should clearly state which framework version it uses. ESX Legacy 1.9+ or QBCore with active commits in the last 3 months are healthy signals.

Resource list transparency: Reputable sellers list every single resource in the pack. Vague descriptions like "50+ scripts included" without a list are a red flag.

Backdoor checks: Malicious actors inject backdoors into stolen scripts. Only buy from stores that explicitly verify resources. VertexMods scans every upload.

Support and updates: FiveM itself updates frequently, and framework breaking changes happen. A pack without active maintenance becomes a liability within months.

Unique assets vs. recycled free scripts: Some "premium" packs are just free scripts bundled together. A genuine premium pack includes licensed assets, custom MLOs, or bespoke scripts you cannot find elsewhere.

Real changelog: Actively maintained packs publish changelogs. If the "last updated" field on the listing is older than four months, expect compatibility issues.

Free FiveM Server Packs vs. Premium Downloads

Free community packs exist and can be a reasonable starting point for learning. The trade-offs:

	Free Pack	Premium Pack
Cost	€0	€30–€300
Script quality	Variable	Vetted
Backdoor risk	High	Low (if from reputable store)
Support	Community forums	Dedicated support
Updates	Irregular	Regular
Unique assets	Rarely	Often
Time to production	Weeks (debugging)	Days

For a serious server launch, the time saved by a well-maintained premium pack far outweighs the cost. A single developer hour costs more than most server template prices. If you're building a hobby server to learn on, free is fine — expect to spend your first few weeks debugging.

Browse FiveM Server Templates on VertexMods

All FiveM server templates on VertexMods are backdoor-checked, include full installation documentation, and cover ESX, QBCore, and QBox frameworks. Each listing includes a complete resource list so you know exactly what you are downloading before you buy.

For individual scripts to expand your server after setup, browse our full FiveM scripts catalog or free FiveM mods for no-cost additions. Once your pack is installed, work through the related guides:

• How to set up a FiveM server — broader context beyond pack installation
• ESX vs QBCore — framework decision deep-dive
• Best pre-configured FiveM server packs — curated pack recommendations
• txAdmin Discord setup — wire your mod team into your admin panel
• Discord whitelist for FiveM — gate access to your new server
• CFX marketplace explained — where packs and scripts live