Oct 30, 2026
SMP stands for Survival Multiplayer. It is the classic way to play Minecraft with other people: one shared world, normal survival rules, and a community that builds, trades and sometimes fights together. Unlike minigame networks, an SMP is about long-term progress, so choosing the right one matters. This guide shows what to look for and where to start.
What makes an SMP different
On a minigame server you join a lobby and play short rounds. On an SMP you spawn in a persistent world and keep your base, items and reputation for weeks or months. Most SMPs add small changes on top of vanilla survival, such as land claims, an economy, a player market, custom enchantments or seasonal events.
Some SMPs are small private communities with a whitelist. Others are large public servers with hundreds of players online. Both can be great, but they feel very different.
How to pick a good SMP
- Check the version. Make sure the server runs a version you can launch. Many modern SMPs support the newest Java release, and some also accept Bedrock players.
- Look at the player count over time. A server that has players online in different time zones is alive. A server that is full only for one hour is probably popular with one small group.
- Read the rules. Good servers have clear rules on griefing, stealing and cheating, and explain how staff act on reports.
- Find out how land is protected. Claims or protection plugins save you from losing a base to a stranger. If a server has no protection, it is closer to anarchy, and that is a different experience.
- Look for a lifespan. Servers that reset the map every few weeks are good for a quick fresh start, but not for long builds. Persistent worlds reward patience.
- Test the economy. If the server has shops or a market, check that early game is not locked behind real money.
Well-known SMP servers to try
DonutSMP is one of the most searched SMP names right now. The address is donutsmp.net. It is a fast-paced server with an in-game economy and a lot of PvP, so expect a competitive atmosphere rather than a quiet builder's world. You can read its details and vote on its MineList page.
Hypixel is mostly known for minigames, but its SkyBlock mode is a long-term survival-style experience with its own big community. If you want a polished place to start, take a look at the Hypixel page.
EarthMC is a different take on survival. Players build nations on a map of the real Earth and take part in politics, trade and wars. See EarthMC if you like roleplay and large-scale cooperation.
For more options, browse the SMP category, which is sorted by votes this month, and the survival category for classic worlds without special mechanics. If you like a twist, try lifesteal servers, where killing a player steals a heart, or oneblock servers, where you start with a single block.
Your first days on a new SMP
1. Read the rules and the welcome message before you move.
2. Learn the claim commands before you build anything valuable. Most servers explain them in a book at spawn or on the website.
3. Do not share your password or accept offers that sound too good. Staff will never ask for your password.
4. Join the community Discord if there is one. That is where you find friends, trades and news about resets.
5. Start a small base away from spawn and expand later.
Red flags
- The server asks you for money before you can play normally.
- Staff cannot explain how griefing is handled.
- The address works, but the player count is always exactly the same number.
- The server promises unrealistic rewards for votes.
Vote for the ones you like
When you find a server you enjoy, vote for it on MineList. Voting costs nothing, takes a few seconds and helps healthy communities rise in the monthly ranking. You can read how voting works and vote once per server per day.
If you run an SMP yourself, add your server so players searching for survival communities can find you.