10 Minecraft Plugins to Take Your Server to the Next Level

Making a fun and enjoyable Minecraft server for your players is not rocket science. It relies on finding the perfect balance between features and fun. You need to give your player base features that will make things simple while giving them an adventure to follow, as well as giving them features that keep their gameplay interesting and fun.

So what can you do to achieve that?

You can add custom or publicly available plugins to your server to add more features to your server.

But isn't that going to ruin the vanilla experience?

Not if you do it correctly. You have to choose plugins that align with your goals for your server. So in this article, we are going to discuss our top picks for best server plugins in 2025 that will elevate your server to the next level without ruining the vanilla experience.

Our Top 10 Plugin Picks for Your Server

• Claim Chunk
• BlueMap
• QuickShop
• Simple Voice Chat
• Chunky
• TabListPing
• TheGoldEconomy
• Sleeper
• CustomNPCs
• SetHome

1. Claim Chunk

This plugin does exactly what the name says: claiming entire chunks at a time rather than claiming the selected area like other widely used claim region plugins. ClaimChunk plugin allows users to:

• Claim chunks for land protection
• Unclaim chunks when no longer needed
• Change the name of the territory for organization
• Give or remove access to territories for collaboration

This is a simple plugin that does not harm your server performance nor player experience. When a player claims a chunk, there are little particles appearing, which we think is a nice touch. It's perfect for servers where you want to protect your builds from griefers without complex region management.

Author: cjburkey01
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/claimchunk

2. BlueMap

BlueMap is another massively popular plugin that allows you to create a live map of your entire server on a website, which is extremely useful and the best addition for a server that uses a custom world map or servers that run an SMP server.

This allows your users to view where the current players are exactly in your server in real time, as well as look for player bases that are being built or scavenge for structures or biomes of your server easily. What we most like about BlueMap specifically is that it allows users to scroll and zoom in on maps and look extremely close in the map and even get a 3D view of the map.

BlueMap is particularly valuable for community servers where exploration and base-sharing are important aspects of the gameplay experience.

Author: BlueColored
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/bluemap

3. QuickShop

Everyone is used to setting up a server shop where they can buy and sell items using server currencies that don't even fit the nature of Minecraft. So this plugin completely changes that. With QuickShop, any player can set up a shop at their base to either buy or sell items using items in Minecraft as currency.

Users can set what they need in exchange for what they sell and vice versa. For example, users can set up their own little stall where they sell a stack of dirt for 1 gold ingot, and the users have full flexibility to customize their shops as they like.

This plugin works excellently with economy systems and can be a great foundation for server monetization strategies that feel natural to the Minecraft experience.

Author: Ghost_chu
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/quickshop-hikari

4. Simple Voice Chat

Unlike Discord chats, Simple Voice Chat adds the proximity voice chat feature to your server, making it a much more immersive experience for your users. Imagine going on a mining adventure with your friends and getting lost in a mineshaft and trying to find your friends back in which direction you hear them from.

This plugin requires players to install a client-side mod, but the enhanced communication experience is worth it for communities that want deeper immersion. It's particularly popular on roleplay servers and close-knit community servers.

Key Features:

• Proximity-based voice chat
• Adjustable voice distance
• Push-to-talk and voice activation options
• Group chat functionality
• Whisper and shout modes

Author: henkelmax
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/simple-voice-chat

5. Chunky

Chunky is another well-known plugin among many users. This plugin allows you to pre-load an area of chunks on your server so you can massively reduce the time that it takes to load chunks. You can specify the area that you want to pre-load and hit generate to start loading. Once it's completed, your users won't have to wait till the chunks load, making the immersive experience seamless.

This is especially useful when you're setting up your first server and want to ensure smooth exploration from day one.

Author: pop4959
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/chunky

6. TabListPing

This is another simple and lightweight plugin that shows each player's server ping in the tab player list. This is by far the most accurate player ping plugin because it uses ping time rather than pulling pings from the server itself. You don't need any configuration, it's as simple as placing this in your plugins folder.

This plugin is particularly useful for server administrators who want to monitor connection quality and help players troubleshoot connectivity issues. It's also great for competitive servers where ping matters for gameplay.

Benefits:

• Real-time ping display
• No configuration required
• Minimal performance impact
• Helps identify connection issues
• Useful for server diagnostics

Author: Bobcat00
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/tablistping

7. TheGoldEconomy

This is the perfect plugin if you need to have a working economy in your server but don't want to add other economy plugins since they don't fit the normal Minecraft vibe. Because TheGoldEconomy uses Minecraft gold ingots as the currency, which allows users to deposit, withdraw, and even pay other players using gold, which in our opinion fits perfectly with Minecraft.

And most importantly, this can go hand-in-hand with the previously mentioned QuickShop plugin. Then you can even pay on the shops with gold, making it a complete economy. You can even set limits on how much gold mobs drop to reduce inflation.

This plugin is excellent for servers that want to maintain the vanilla feel while adding economic gameplay elements. Learn more about server economics to understand how player economies can enhance your server.

Author: ConfusedAlex
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/thegoldeconomy

8. Sleeper

Sleeper is an essential plugin that we think all servers should have. When you try to sleep because your base location is filled with mobs and you can't work, so you try to skip the night by sleeping, but then no one else in the server wants to sleep? You can't get half of the server to sleep at once? Well, this is the solution.

With this plugin, you can change the percentage of players that need to sleep in order for a night to pass. You can set it as low as 1 player needs to sleep for that.

Customization Options:

• Adjustable sleep percentage (1-100%)
• Custom messages for sleep voting
• Time-based sleep requirements
• Exemptions for AFK players
• Integration with other time-management plugins

Author: hraponssi
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/sleeper

9. CustomNPCs

So this is also pretty much self-explanatory. You can add custom NPCs in your server with this plugin, and each NPC can have specific interaction-based actions like run server commands, send messages in server chat, play sounds, teleport users, give/remove XP, and give potion effects. There are many other features that these NPCs have which you can learn more about on the official plugin page.

CustomNPCs are perfect for creating immersive server experiences, quest systems, and interactive tutorials for new players. They're especially valuable for roleplay servers and servers with custom game modes.

NPC Capabilities:

• Custom skins and appearances
• Interactive dialogue systems
• Command execution on interaction
• Item trading and shops
• Quest and mission systems
• Teleportation services
• Information and help desks

Author: Foxikle
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/customnpcs

10. SetHome

This is another amazing plugin that you should definitely add to your server. This plugin allows users to set their home location using a command by naming the place, which they can then use to instantly teleport to from anywhere in the map. This allows users to wander anywhere they want without worrying about finding their way back.

SetHome is particularly useful for survival servers where players build bases far from spawn, or for servers with large worlds where travel time could become tedious.

Features:

• Multiple home locations per player
• Custom home names for organization
• Permission-based home limits
• Cross-world teleportation support
• Cooldown and delay options
• Home sharing with other players
• Safe teleportation (avoids lava, void, etc.)

Author: wilmer
Official Plugin page: https://modrinth.com/plugin/sethome

Plugin Installation and Management Tips

Installation Best Practices

When installing these plugins on your server, follow these guidelines:

• Test in Development: Always test new plugins on a development server first
• Read Documentation: Check each plugin's configuration options and requirements
• Check Dependencies: Some plugins require other plugins or specific server software
• Backup First: Always backup your server before installing new plugins
• Monitor Performance: Watch for any performance impacts after installation

Plugin Compatibility

These plugins are designed to work well together, but consider these compatibility factors:

• Server Software: Most work with Paper, Spigot, and Bukkit
• Minecraft Version: Check version compatibility before updating
• Plugin Conflicts: Some plugins may conflict with similar functionality
• Resource Usage: Monitor combined resource usage of multiple plugins

Additional Plugin Categories to Consider

Security and Protection

Beyond the plugins listed, consider these security-focused additions:

• CoreProtect: Block logging and rollback protection
• WorldGuard: Advanced region protection
• LuckPerms: Comprehensive permission management
• LoginSecurity: Password protection for accounts

Performance Optimization

For servers experiencing performance issues:

• ClearLag: Automatic entity and item cleanup
• LimitPillagers: Prevents excessive mob spawning
• FarmLimiter: Controls animal breeding rates
• EntityTrackerFixer: Optimizes entity tracking

Quality of Life Improvements

Additional plugins that enhance player experience:

• EssentialsX: Core server commands and utilities
• WorldEdit: Advanced building and editing tools
• Dynmap: Alternative web-based mapping solution
• DiscordSRV: Discord integration for chat and notifications

Server Resource Considerations

RAM and Storage Impact

While these plugins are lightweight, consider their resource usage:

• BlueMap: Requires additional RAM for map rendering
• Chunky: Uses significant storage for pre-generated chunks
• Simple Voice Chat: Minimal server impact, but requires client-side mod
• CustomNPCs: RAM usage increases with number of NPCs

Choosing the Right Hosting Plan

If you're planning to use multiple plugins, ensure your hosting plan can handle the additional load. Check our guide on choosing the right server plan to understand resource requirements better.

Plugin Configuration Tips

Essential Configuration Steps

After installing these plugins, configure them properly:

1. Set Permissions: Configure who can use each plugin's features
2. Customize Messages: Personalize plugin messages to match your server's theme
3. Adjust Limits: Set appropriate limits for homes, claims, and other features
4. Enable Logging: Turn on logging for important actions and changes
5. Test Functionality: Verify all features work as expected

Common Configuration Mistakes

Avoid these common setup errors:

• Overly Restrictive Permissions: Don't make plugins too difficult to use
• Conflicting Settings: Ensure plugin settings don't contradict each other
• Ignoring Updates: Keep plugins updated for security and compatibility
• No Backup Strategy: Always backup configurations before major changes

Building a Plugin Ecosystem

Creating Synergy Between Plugins

These plugins work best when they complement each other:

• Economy Integration: Combine TheGoldEconomy with QuickShop for complete trading
• Protection Synergy: Use ClaimChunk with CoreProtect for comprehensive protection
• Navigation Suite: Combine SetHome with BlueMap for complete navigation
• Community Features: Pair Simple Voice Chat with CustomNPCs for immersive experiences

Gradual Implementation Strategy

Don't install all plugins at once. Follow this implementation strategy:

1. Phase 1: Essential plugins (ClaimChunk, SetHome, Sleeper)
2. Phase 2: Quality of life (TabListPing, Chunky)
3. Phase 3: Advanced features (BlueMap, Simple Voice Chat)
4. Phase 4: Economy and interaction (QuickShop, TheGoldEconomy, CustomNPCs)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Plugin Not Working

If a plugin isn't functioning properly:

• Check server console for error messages
• Verify plugin compatibility with your server version
• Ensure all dependencies are installed
• Check file permissions in the plugins folder
• Review plugin configuration files for errors

Performance Issues

If plugins are causing lag:

• Monitor server TPS with /tps command
• Use profiling tools to identify resource-heavy plugins
• Adjust plugin settings to reduce resource usage
• Consider upgrading your hosting plan if needed

Keeping Your Plugins Updated

Update Management

Maintain your plugins properly:

• Regular Checks: Check for updates weekly or monthly
• Staged Updates: Test updates on development servers first
• Backup Before Updates: Always backup before major plugin updates
• Read Changelogs: Understand what changes with each update
• Monitor Community: Stay active in plugin communities for support

Version Compatibility

When Minecraft updates:

• Wait for plugin updates before upgrading Minecraft
• Check plugin compatibility matrices
• Have rollback plans ready
• Test thoroughly before going live

Community and Support

Getting Help

When you need assistance with these plugins:

• Official Documentation: Start with the plugin's official docs
• Community Forums: Join Spigot, Paper, or Modrinth communities
• Discord Servers: Many plugins have dedicated Discord servers
• GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features on GitHub
• Hosting Support: Your hosting provider may offer plugin assistance

Contributing Back

Support the plugin community:

• Report bugs and issues you encounter
• Suggest improvements and new features
• Help other users in community forums
• Consider donating to plugin developers
• Share your positive experiences and reviews

Conclusion

That concludes our top plugin picks for any server. With all these plugins that we mentioned combined, your server will become a truly exciting and, most importantly, enjoyable environment for your players. You can always mix and match more plugins and remove the plugins that you don't like. But if you just want a tried and tested list of plugins that you need for your server, give them a try.

Remember that the best plugin setup is one that serves your specific community's needs. Start with the essentials, gather feedback from your players, and gradually add more features as your server grows. These plugins provide a solid foundation for creating an engaging Minecraft server experience while maintaining the core gameplay that makes Minecraft special.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance an existing server, these plugins will help you create a more engaging, functional, and enjoyable environment for your players. Don't forget to ensure your server has the resources to handle these enhancements - check out our hosting plans if you need reliable, high-performance hosting for your plugin-enhanced server.

Enjoy Hosting! Enjoy Minecraft!