A website for your Minecraft server or clan

A website for your Minecraft server or clan is the one place where new players see how to get in, what the rules are and where your Discord is. You need a domain name and somewhere to host the site: a free site builder, a simple static site or web hosting with, for example, WordPress. Below you’ll read what to put on it, how to tie everything together and which way of hosting suits you.

Why a website for your server or clan?

Discord is great for chatting, but people who don’t know you yet can only look inside once they’ve joined. A website can be found through search engines and server lists, and the address stays the same, even when a Discord invite expires.

If you charge for anything on your server, a website is the easiest place to sort that out. Under Mojang’s Minecraft Usage Guidelines, you show players the content and pricing on your server before they join, and you give anyone who pays an overview of their purchases.

What do you put on your server’s website?

• The server address and version. Say whether you support Java, Bedrock or both, and give the port for Bedrock.
• How to get in. A short step-by-step guide, including what to do if the whitelist is on.
• The rules. On griefing, language and PvP, and what happens when someone breaks them.
• The team and contact. Who are the admins, and how do you reach them?
• News. A new world, an event or a reset gets announced here.
• A live map of the world, so players can look around before they join.
• Applications. A form for the whitelist, if your server is private.
• Prices and donations, if you have them, following Mojang’s rules.

Mojang is clear about those rules. Access costs the same for everyone, donors get nothing that only they can use, and whatever you sell must not give anyone an advantage in the game. Cosmetic items are fine, except capes.

Choosing a domain name

One domain name covers everything: the website on yourname.com and the server on, say, play.yourname.com. Java players then only type that name if your server runs on port 25565, or if there is an SRV record that passes on the port. You set that SRV record yourself if your domain is with another provider; with a domain from us it isn’t possible yet, so players add the port. Bedrock players enter the port separately. How to set it up is explained in Connect a domain name to your Minecraft server. Tips for the name itself are in How to choose a domain name.

Be careful with the word Minecraft, though. Under Mojang’s guidelines, Minecraft must not be the main part of your name. "Kotoba Miners: A Minecraft server for Redstone builds" is fine, "Minecraft: the ultimate Kotoba server for Redstone" isn’t. You also don’t use the Minecraft logo in your own logo.

Linking your website, server and Discord

• Discord widget. In your Discord server settings you switch on the widget and copy the HTML code for your site. Visitors then see how many members are online and can join right away.
• Live map. With the BlueMap plugin, players see your world as a 3D map in their browser. BlueMap has a web server of its own, and its makers also explain how to serve the map through a regular web server. How to set up BlueMap on your server is explained in A live web map of your world with BlueMap.
• Server status and votes. Some server lists offer a banner showing your server’s status that you can put on your site. That’s also where you’ll find the vote links to share.

Web hosting or a free site builder?

Roughly speaking, there are three ways to get your site online:

For most servers, a static site or a small WordPress site is plenty. If you want a forum or shop later on, start with web hosting right away so you don’t have to move. How to set up a site of your own is explained step by step in How to start a website.

To be honest: web hosting is on CakeHosting’s roadmap, but you can’t order it yet. The Web hosting page shows what’s coming. Until then, any of the other options is a fine start. With a static site or WordPress you can take your files with you later; with a site builder that often isn’t possible.

Mind your privacy and that of your players

An application form collects personal data. So don’t ask for more than you need: a Minecraft name and a Discord name are usually enough. Many players are young. If you rely on consent, keep in mind that according to the Dutch Data Protection Authority, children under 16 can’t give valid consent themselves: a parent or guardian has to. The GDPR lets countries set that age lower, but not below 13. And if you make money from your server, Mojang also asks you to make clear that you’re responsible for your players’ privacy.

That way your website becomes your server’s calling card: a place where new players feel welcome, with the cake ready before they even walk in.