The best plugins for Minecraft SMP servers are EssentialsX for core commands, LuckPerms for permissions, GriefPrevention for land claims, and CoreProtect for rollbacks. For the full SMP experience, add community plugins like Dynmap, ChestShop for player economy, mcMMO for RPG progression, and Simple Voice Chat for proximity communication.
SMP servers have unique needs compared to minigame or creative servers—they're about building a community, protecting player creations, and keeping people engaged long-term.
What Makes SMP Servers Different
Survival Multiplayer servers focus on:
- Long-term progression - Players invest hours building and collecting
- Community interaction - Trading, collaboration, shared experiences
- Player protection - Preventing grief without constant staff intervention
- Engagement features - Reasons to keep playing beyond vanilla survival
The plugins below address these specific needs. For a broader overview of essential server plugins, see our 15 Essential Plugins for Any Minecraft Server guide.
Core SMP Plugins
These plugins form the foundation of any SMP server.
1. EssentialsX
The backbone of SMP functionality.
EssentialsX provides the commands players expect on any survival server—homes, teleportation, kits, and basic economy.
Key SMP Features:
/homeand/sethomefor personal bases/tpaand/tpaherefor player teleportation/spawnand/warpfor navigation- Built-in economy for trading
- Kits for starter items or rewards
/backto return after death
Why It's Essential: Without EssentialsX, players have no way to protect their base location, teleport to friends, or use basic convenience commands that make survival enjoyable.
Download: EssentialsX on GitHub
2. LuckPerms
Control who can do what on your server.
LuckPerms manages permissions, ranks, and groups. It determines which commands each player can use and which areas they can access.
Key SMP Features:
- Create ranks (Member, VIP, Moderator, Admin)
- Web-based editor for easy management
- Permission inheritance between groups
- Temporary ranks for promotions or events
- Per-world permissions if needed
Why It's Essential: You need different permission levels for staff and players. LuckPerms is the modern standard, replacing older plugins like PermissionsEx.
Download: LuckPerms on SpigotMC
3. GriefPrevention
Let players protect their own builds.
GriefPrevention allows players to claim land using a golden shovel. Within their claims, only they (and trusted friends) can build or break blocks.
Key SMP Features:
- Golden shovel claiming system
- Automatic claim on first chest placement
- Trust levels (build, container, access)
- Visual claim boundaries
- Claim blocks earned over playtime
- Subdivision support for towns
Why It's Essential: Without land claims, griefers can destroy hours of player work. GriefPrevention lets players protect themselves without staff intervention, scaling naturally with your community size.
Download: GriefPrevention on SpigotMC
4. CoreProtect
Undo grief and investigate problems.
CoreProtect logs every block change, container access, and item movement. When something goes wrong, you can see who did it and roll it back.
Key SMP Features:
- Log block breaks and placements
- Track container access (who took what)
- Rollback specific players, areas, or timeframes
- Inspect any block to see its history
- Restore accidentally deleted builds
- Minimal performance impact
Why It's Essential: Even with claims, problems happen. CoreProtect lets you investigate disputes, catch griefers who found exploits, and restore damaged builds. It's saved countless SMP communities from drama.
Download: CoreProtect on SpigotMC
Community & Social Plugins
These plugins build community and keep players engaged.
5. Dynmap
A live web map of your world.
Dynmap renders your Minecraft world as an interactive web map that players can view in their browser. See who's online, where they are, and explore the world from above.
Key SMP Features:
- Real-time player positions
- Multiple render styles (flat, 3D, cave)
- Markers for warps, homes, or points of interest
- Chat integration
- Customizable web interface
Why It's Great for SMP: Players love seeing their builds from above and exploring what others have created. It creates a sense of shared world and community pride.
Download: Dynmap on SpigotMC
Alternative: BlueMap offers beautiful 3D renders with lower resource usage.
6. ChestShop
Player-run economy shops.
ChestShop lets players create their own shops using signs and chests. Buy and sell items without needing staff to manage an economy.
Key SMP Features:
- Simple sign-based shop creation
- Works with any economy plugin
- Player-to-player trading
- Admin shops for server-controlled prices
- Protection integration
- Transaction logging
Why It's Great for SMP: A player economy gives people reasons to specialize, trade, and interact. Farmers sell food, builders sell materials, and everyone benefits. It creates natural social interaction.
Download: ChestShop on SpigotMC
7. Simple Voice Chat
Proximity voice communication.
Simple Voice Chat adds spatial voice chat—players can talk to others nearby, with volume decreasing over distance. It transforms how communities interact.
Key SMP Features:
- Proximity-based voice (hear nearby players)
- Group calls for private conversations
- Configurable distance ranges
- Optional recording/streaming mode
- Client-side mod required (Fabric/Forge)
Why It's Great for SMP: Text chat feels impersonal. Voice chat builds real friendships and makes collaboration natural. Working together on builds or exploring caves becomes genuinely social.
Download: Simple Voice Chat on Modrinth
Note: Players need the client mod installed. Most SMP communities find the engagement boost worth it.
8. DiscordSRV
Bridge your server and Discord.
DiscordSRV connects Minecraft chat to Discord channels, letting players communicate across platforms.
Key SMP Features:
- Two-way chat sync
- Player list in Discord
- Console channel for remote monitoring
- Achievement and death announcements
- Role sync with server ranks
- Slash commands for server info
Why It's Great for SMP: Most gaming communities use Discord. DiscordSRV keeps your community connected even when they're not in-game, building relationships beyond Minecraft.
Download: DiscordSRV on SpigotMC
Progression & Engagement Plugins
Keep players coming back with progression systems.
9. mcMMO
RPG skills and leveling.
mcMMO adds skill leveling to Minecraft activities. Mining, farming, combat, and more all earn XP and unlock abilities.
Key SMP Features:
- Skills for every activity (mining, excavation, archery, etc.)
- Abilities that unlock at higher levels
- Leaderboards for competition
- Party system for shared XP
- Configurable XP rates and abilities
- Doesn't break vanilla balance (when configured well)
Why It's Great for SMP: mcMMO gives players long-term goals beyond building. The progression keeps people engaged, and leaderboards create friendly competition.
Download: mcMMO on SpigotMC
10. Jobs Reborn
Get paid for playing.
Jobs Reborn pays players for activities like mining, farming, fishing, and crafting. Players join jobs and earn money doing what they'd do anyway.
Key SMP Features:
- Multiple job types
- Level up jobs for better pay
- Limited job slots per player
- Configurable payment rates
- Integration with economy plugins
- Job-specific bonuses
Why It's Great for SMP: Jobs give meaning to everyday activities and feed into the player economy. Combined with ChestShop, it creates a functioning economic ecosystem.
Download: Jobs Reborn on SpigotMC
Quality of Life Plugins
Small improvements that make survival more enjoyable.
11. Harbor or Single Player Sleep
Skip the night without everyone sleeping.
These plugins let the server skip night when a percentage of players sleep, rather than requiring everyone.
Key Features:
- Configurable sleep percentage
- Exclude AFK players
- Announce who's sleeping
- Phantom prevention options
Why It's Great for SMP: Waiting for everyone to sleep is frustrating. This simple change removes unnecessary friction.
Download: Harbor on SpigotMC
12. Armor Stand Editor
Pose and customize armor stands.
Armor Stand Editor lets players adjust armor stand poses, sizes, and visibility for decorative builds.
Key Features:
- Adjust all armor stand properties
- Copy and paste configurations
- Invisible armor stands
- Small armor stands
- No arms/with arms toggle
Why It's Great for SMP: Armor stands are powerful decoration tools, but vanilla controls are limited. This plugin unlocks their full potential for builders.
Download: Armor Stand Editor on SpigotMC
13. HeadDatabase
Thousands of decorative heads.
HeadDatabase provides access to thousands of custom player heads for decoration—furniture, food, electronics, and more.
Key Features:
- Searchable head database
- Categories for easy browsing
- Free or economy-integrated
- Regular database updates
Why It's Great for SMP: Decorative heads transform builds. Kitchens, offices, and shops come alive with detailed props that vanilla Minecraft doesn't offer.
Download: HeadDatabase on SpigotMC
Server Software Recommendation
For SMP servers, we recommend Paper over Spigot. Paper includes performance optimizations that keep your server running smoothly as your community grows, and all the plugins listed above work on Paper.
For more details on choosing server software, see our Paper vs Spigot vs Fabric vs Forge comparison.
If you're experiencing lag with these plugins, check out our Performance Plugins Guide for optimization options.
RAM Recommendations for SMP
With the plugins listed above, plan for:
- 5-10 players: 4-6GB RAM
- 10-20 players: 6-8GB RAM
- 20-30 players: 8-10GB RAM
- 30+ players: 10-12GB+ RAM
Adding mcMMO, Dynmap, or voice chat increases requirements. See our Minecraft Server RAM Guide for detailed recommendations.
Looking for reliable SMP hosting? Check out Minecraft Server Hosting with one-click plugin installation and scalable plans for growing communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plugins do I need for a Minecraft SMP server?
At minimum, you need EssentialsX (commands), LuckPerms (permissions), GriefPrevention (land claims), and CoreProtect (rollbacks). These four handle the core requirements of any SMP server. Add community plugins like economy and maps based on your server's focus.
What's the best land claim plugin for SMP?
GriefPrevention is the most popular and reliable option. It uses a simple golden shovel system, earns claim blocks over playtime, and handles trust levels well. Alternatives include Lands and Towny for more complex territory systems.
Do I need an economy plugin for my SMP?
Not required, but highly recommended. An economy (through EssentialsX or a dedicated plugin) combined with ChestShop creates natural player interaction and gives activities purpose beyond personal use.
Is mcMMO good for SMP servers?
Yes, mcMMO adds long-term progression that keeps players engaged. Configure it carefully—default settings can feel grindy. Many successful SMPs use mcMMO with adjusted XP rates to complement vanilla gameplay rather than replace it.
Should I add voice chat to my SMP?
If your community is comfortable installing a client mod, Simple Voice Chat dramatically improves social interaction. Proximity voice makes collaboration natural and builds stronger friendships. Not every community wants it, so consider your player base.
How many plugins is too many for an SMP?
Quality matters more than quantity. A well-configured server with 15-20 plugins runs better than a bloated server with 50. Focus on plugins that serve your community's needs and remove ones that aren't being used.
What's the difference between Dynmap and BlueMap?
Both create web maps of your world. Dynmap is older with more features and customization. BlueMap produces more beautiful 3D renders with lower resource usage. Try both and see which fits your server better.
Can I run these plugins on a modded server?
These are Bukkit/Spigot plugins designed for Paper-based servers. They don't work on Forge or Fabric servers natively. Some hybrid solutions exist but have compatibility issues. For modded SMP, look for mod equivalents of these features.
