[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-en-make-money-minecraft-server-eula":3},"\u003Ch2>A growing server always ends up costing money\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>At first, a Minecraft server with friends is paid for with pocket money. Then the community grows, so does the plan, and one day you add a store plugin "to cover the hosting". That is exactly when many servers step outside the rules without knowing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mojang regulates server monetisation in its Usage Guidelines, which complement the EULA. The rules are not complicated, but they are strict, and a server that ignores them can end up blocked. Here is what is allowed, what is forbidden, and how to build a clean store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cimg src=\"\u002Fstatics\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fmake-money-minecraft-server-eula-1793575310195-95c91e6ddf844fa98f8b9cf2.webp\" alt=\"Taiga village on a Minecraft Java 26.3 server\" width=\"800\" \u002F>\n\n\u003Ch2>The basic rule\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Mojang sums up its position in one sentence, "don't do evil things to players and you should be fine". Behind it, a simple principle, you can make money with your server as long as you do not sell a gameplay advantage and do not pass your server off as an official product.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four obligations apply whatever you sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Clearly state that your server is not official, with a notice such as "NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT SERVICE. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT" on your website, your listings and your store\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Give every buyer an online purchase history\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Show all content and prices before a player joins or signs up\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Stay suitable for all audiences, no gambling, no mature content\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2>What you are allowed to sell\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"md-table md-table--info md-table--striped\">\u003Cdiv class=\"md-table__caption\">Monetisation allowed by Mojang's Usage Guidelines\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cdiv class=\"md-table__scroll\">\u003Ctable>\n\u003Cthead>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>What you sell\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>Allowed\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>Condition\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Fthead>\n\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Access to the server\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Same price for everyone, and every paying player gets access to all the content\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Donations\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>The donor gets nothing only they can use, but you can unlock server-wide rewards when a goal is met\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Cosmetics\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Except capes and anything that visually imitates a cape\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Ranks and perks\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes, carefully\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>They must neither ruin other players' experience nor give a competitive advantage\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>A virtual currency\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>No real-world value, cannot be cashed out or transferred, and must not look like Minecoins\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>In-game advertising\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Yes\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Without hurting gameplay or favouring some players\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cdiv class=\"md-table__footer\">Servers and hosting section of the Minecraft Usage Guidelines, checked on 31 October 2026.\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cp>The debated line is ranks. A rank that gives a coloured prefix, extra home slots, a cosmetic kit or access to a creative world is within the rules. A rank that gives an enchanted sword, more claims in PvP, combat kits or priority access to loot is not. The question to ask for every item, "does a player who does not pay get beaten because of this?". If yes, remove it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>What is forbidden, and still seen everywhere\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Selling items or kits that give an in-game advantage\u003C\u002Fstrong>, the infamous pay-to-win. It is the central ban, and the most circumvented one\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Reserving content for paying players\u003C\u002Fstrong> on a paid-access server. If entry is paid, everyone gets everything, except admin tools\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Selling capes\u003C\u002Fstrong> or cosmetics that imitate their look\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>An in-game currency convertible\u003C\u002Fstrong> into real money, cashable or transferable between servers. Play-to-earn is explicitly excluded, as are mechanics that check whether a player owns an NFT or an out-of-game product\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Paid lotteries, crates and roulettes.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Mojang files gambling under content that harms the brand, whatever the prize\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Hiding or altering game messages\u003C\u002Fstrong>, including the EULA and error messages\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Letting players in without an official account.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Access must be limited to paid copies of the game, an offline-mode server selling ranks stacks two problems\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"markdown-alert markdown-alert-warning\">\u003Cspan class=\"alert-icon\">\u003Csvg xmlns=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.w3.org\u002F2000\u002Fsvg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\">\u003Cpath d=\"M10.29 3.86L1.82 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 0 0 1.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 0 0-3.42 0z\"\u002F>\u003Cline x1=\"12\" y1=\"9\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"13\"\u002F>\u003Cline x1=\"12\" y1=\"17\" x2=\"12.01\" y2=\"17\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fsvg>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdiv class=\"markdown-alert-body\">\u003Cp>If you use content creators to promote your server, they must disclose their relationship with you. Mojang requires compliance with advertising transparency rules, and most countries impose the same on influencers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Ch2>Building a clean store\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Pick a store platform built for Minecraft.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Dedicated solutions handle payment, the purchase history Mojang requires, automatic delivery of items through console commands, and refunds. Do not cobble together a payment button with manual delivery, you will end up forgetting an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Start with cosmetics.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Particles, prefixes, outfits, pets, trails, tags. They sell well on an active server and raise no rule issue. On a survival server, a "supporter" rank with more homes and access to the creative world is a good compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Set up collective donation goals.\u003C\u002Fstrong> It is the cleanest mechanic, explicitly allowed, it unites the community, and it does not create two classes of players. A monthly goal that unlocks double XP for everyone at the weekend works very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Display the purchase rules.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Prices, exact content of each item, refund policy, and the non-affiliation notice. On the store, on the website, and in the server welcome message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Declare your income.\u003C\u002Fstrong> As soon as your server takes money regularly, you are running an activity that must be declared. The status depends on your country and the amounts, but "it is just to pay for hosting" is not a tax category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>What about selling access to the server?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>It is possible, and for some projects it is the healthiest model. A roleplay server or a modpack server with limited slots can ask for a subscription, provided the price is the same for all and every paying player gets access to everything. No rank store on top, no paid priority queue. You must also remain the owner of the server for the whole period you charge for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>What it changes for your hosting\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>A server that sells something must be online when players want to buy. That means regular backups, a scheduled restart rather than crashes, and resource headroom for busy evenings. Our guide on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwinheberg.com\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-much-ram-minecraft-server\">Minecraft server RAM\u003C\u002Fa> helps you size it, and our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwinheberg.com\u002Fen\u002Fgaming\u002Fminecraft\">Minecraft Java plans\u003C\u002Fa> include backups, sub-domains and plan changes as the community grows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An honest store earns less quickly than a pay-to-win kit, but it still earns a year from now 💎\u003C\u002Fp>\n",1793797074239]