How to make money with a Minecraft server

You can earn money from a Minecraft server, and Mojang openly allows it, but only within its Usage Guidelines. The short version: sell things that look nice or make life easier, never things that help someone beat other players.

What the rules say, in plain words

Every public server is bound by the Minecraft EULA and the Minecraft Usage Guidelines published on minecraft.net. Mojang updated the commercial rules in recent years, and they have changed before. What follows is our plain summary, not legal advice. Read the official page yourself before you sell anything, because the wording is what counts and it can change at any time.

• Running a server as a business is allowed. The older rule that money had to go back into running costs is gone.
• No competitive gameplay advantages for money. The key test is whether something you sell is designed to give a player a competitive advantage over others or spoil their experience. Better weapons, stronger armour, extra health or anything that wins fights is out.
• You may charge for access, but the price must be the same for everyone.
• Cosmetics are fine, with one notable exception: nothing that is or looks like a Minecraft cape.
• In-game currency must have no real-world value, can't be cashed out, and must not look like or be named like Minecoins or other official currency.
• Donations are allowed, as long as the donor doesn't get something only they can use.
• Paid promotion must be disclosed. If you pay creators to promote your server, they have to say so, following advertising rules such as those of the US FTC.
• Keep it suitable for all ages and don't do anything that harms the Minecraft brand. Gambling-style mechanics for real money are a clear risk here.
• Don't present yourself as official. Your server name, logo and store must not suggest you are Mojang or Microsoft.

Mojang says it decides how the rules are interpreted, and servers that break them can be blocked. Treat the grey areas carefully: if you have to argue that something "isn't really" an advantage, it probably is.

When to open a store

A store on a server with five regular players mostly looks greedy. Many owners wait until there is a steady community first, and launch the store with a short post that explains what it pays for. Ask your regulars what they would actually like to buy: they will often suggest cosmetics you hadn't thought of, and they will tell you if a perk feels unfair.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are the safest thing to sell and often the most popular. Ideas that work well:

• Particle trails, hats and pets that follow you
• Chat colours, name colours and custom tags
• Kill effects, win messages and arrow trails on minigame servers
• Custom item skins via a resource pack, as long as the item works exactly the same

Make them look good in screenshots. Players buy what they see others wearing at spawn.

Ranks with non-gameplay perks

Ranks are what most players expect to find in a store. The rank itself is fine, it is what you put in it that matters. Good perks are social and cosmetic: a prefix, a coloured name, a few cosmetics, access to a supporter-only Discord channel, a priority queue slot when the server is full. Convenience perks such as extra homes or a few more claim blocks sit closer to the line, so think about whether they help in competition on your game mode.

Avoid selling /fly in survival worlds, kits with gear, money multipliers, extra hearts on a Lifesteal server or anything a free player can't match. Players notice, and pay-to-win is one of the main reasons people leave a server, as we cover in how to spot fake Minecraft servers.

Timed ranks are easy to run with LuckPerms, which can expire a rank after 30 days by itself.

Donations and supporter goals

Some communities, especially small SMP servers, cover costs with plain donations. Be clear about what the money is for. A public monthly goal ("this month's hosting is covered 60%") is honest and motivates people more than a vague donate button. Thank supporters publicly if they want, and remember the rule above: a donation shouldn't unlock something only the donor can use.

Server store platforms

Building your own payment system is a lot of work and risk. Most servers use a store platform instead. Tebex is a common option: it hosts the store page, takes the payment, and runs commands on your server when someone buys, for example adding a LuckPerms group. Other platforms exist too. When comparing, look at:

• The fees they take per payment and which payment methods they support
• Whether they handle sales tax or VAT for you, or leave it to you
• How chargebacks and fraud are handled
• Whether the platform checks stores against the Minecraft rules

Read each platform's current terms yourself, as fees and features change.

Partnerships, sponsors and website ads

• Hosting partnerships: some hosts give a discount or free server in return for a mention. Read what they expect before you agree.
• Creator partnerships: YouTubers and streamers can bring a wave of players. If money or free items change hands, they must disclose it.
• Ads on your website or wiki: a small source of income once you have regular visitors. Keep them away from in-game chat spam, which drives players off.

Pricing without guesswork

There is no correct price for a rank, so don't copy another server's store. Start with a small number of clear options rather than ten ranks nobody can tell apart. A cheap entry item lets younger players support you too. Watch what sells and what nobody buys, and change one thing at a time. Avoid permanent "sales" and countdown timers: players learn quickly that the full price never applies, and it makes the whole store feel less honest.

Things to stay away from

• Paid loot boxes or crates with random rewards. Even with cosmetic-only prizes, they look like gambling to many parents and some countries regulate them. Selling the exact item is simpler and safer.
• Pressure on young players. No "buy now or lose your rank" messages, no chat spam about the store.
• Selling unfair items "just this once" for a launch or an event. Once players see it, the trust is gone.
• Using Mojang's logos or official names on your store in a way that suggests a partnership.

Costs and budgeting

Before you think about profit, know what the server costs each month. Typical items:

Keep a simple spreadsheet of money in and out. Have a few months of hosting set aside, so a slow month doesn't take the server offline. Most small servers don't make a profit, and that is normal: covering costs is already a good result.

Be transparent

Players are more willing to pay when they trust you. Show every perk clearly on the store page, use the same prices for everyone, and never change what someone already paid for without warning. If a rank is permanent, keep it permanent, including after a reset or a move to a new host. Tell people when a sale ends instead of running fake "last chance" timers.

Refunds and chargebacks

Write a clear refund policy and link it on the store. Decide in advance what happens when a player is banned after buying a rank, or when the server closes. A chargeback is when a buyer asks their bank or payment provider to reverse a payment. They cost you the payment plus a fee, so keep records of purchases and deliveries, and handle complaints quickly before they turn into one. Many stores remove purchased perks when a chargeback goes through; if you do that, say so in your terms.

Young players sometimes buy with a parent's card. Be polite and reasonable when a parent gets in touch.

Taxes

Money from a server is usually income, and in many countries it has to be declared. Rules differ a lot between countries and depend on your age, how much you earn and whether you are registered as a business. Ask a local accountant rather than guessing.

Players first, money second

A store only earns if people are online. Put your effort into the server itself first, then grow it: read how to get more players, and add your server to CraftRank so new players can find it.