# SimpleCloud Manage your Minecraft network from one dashboard. Scale server groups and keep persistent worlds on your own machines. Free, with no locked features. ## What SimpleCloud does - Create server groups for proxies, lobbies, and minigames. Set minimum and maximum server counts, then scale up and down by free player slots or only scale up to keep servers below a player threshold ready. - Keep worlds, plugins, and configuration on persistent servers for SMP, Citybuild, and build servers. - Add serverhosts to one network and choose which machines each group can use, in preference order. Built-in file sync keeps templates, workflows, and configurator files identical across machines. - Roll out changes with a rolling restart in Slots mode. Servers are replaced one at a time so capacity stays available. - Copy shared files with templates, adjust configuration before startup with configurators, and use YAML workflows for file operations on start, stop, or on demand. - Reference environment variables and secrets in templates, configurators, and workflows. Secrets are encrypted in your browser and decrypted only by your serverhosts. - Open a server's console and file browser, check its performance, or review player activity in the dashboard. Search Modrinth, Spigot, and Hangar for plugins to add to a group. - Manage the same network from your terminal with sc. Check serverhost status and logs, start or stop it, install updates, and set up file sync. - Use Server Connection for joins and fallbacks, Proxy Essentials for MOTD and tablist, Cloud Command for in-game management, and Notify for staff alerts. Add Prefixes, Signs, NPCs, and Placeholders to your servers. - Build Java and Kotlin plugins with the Cloud API for groups, servers, persistent servers, players, and events. Use the REST API for external integrations, metrics, and log streaming. - Run Paper, Purpur, Spigot, or Fabric, with Velocity or BungeeCord for proxies. Use the Custom option for other Java Edition software. - Install the serverhost, CLI, and selected Java versions with one setup command. Serverhosts update automatically. ## Get started - [Create a network](https://dash.simplecloud.app) - [Installation guide](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/manual/setup/installation) - [Documentation](https://simplecloud.app/docs) ## Frequently asked questions ### How is SimpleCloud different from traditional game-server hosting? SimpleCloud gives you one place to orchestrate a Minecraft network across your own machines, rather than renting an isolated server with a traditional control panel. ### How does SimpleCloud compare to other Minecraft cloud systems? With SimpleCloud, you can scale server groups by free player slots or keep servers ready below a player threshold. Choose and prioritize machines per group, sync shared files across them, and roll out changes with rolling restarts in Slots mode. The dashboard gives you a console, file browser, and performance view for each server; the sc CLI manages the same network from your terminal. See [server groups](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/manual/setup/server-groups) and [multiple machines](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/manual/setup/multi-root) for the details. ### Is SimpleCloud free? Yes. SimpleCloud is free and built by volunteers, with no pricing tiers or locked features. ### How do I get started? Sign in at [dash.simplecloud.app](https://dash.simplecloud.app) and create a network. The setup wizard generates a single command. Run it on your machine and the dashboard detects the new serverhost automatically. The whole flow is covered in the [installation guide](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/manual/setup/installation). ### Do I need to host the cloud software myself? You install a serverhost on each machine that runs Minecraft servers; SimpleCloud runs the controller and dashboard, so you have no database, cluster, or controller updates to maintain. See [self-hosting](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/manual/setup/self-hosting) for release plans and documentation. ### Which systems are supported? Serverhosts run on Linux (recommended for production) and macOS (useful for local testing). Windows is not supported yet. The dashboard works in any browser. ### Which Minecraft server software can I use? Paper, Purpur, Spigot, and Fabric are available out of the box, with Velocity and BungeeCord for proxies. You can bring any other Java Edition software via the custom option. ### Can servers run across multiple machines? Yes. Add as many serverhosts as you like to one network, control which groups deploy where, and keep templates in sync across machines with the built-in file sync. ### Is there an API? There is a [Cloud API](https://simplecloud.app/docs/en/developer/overview) for Java and Kotlin plugins covering groups, running servers, persistent servers, players, and events. The REST API supports external integrations, including metrics and log streaming, and has an OpenAPI specification. ### Which parts of SimpleCloud are open source? All SimpleCloud plugins, the Cloud API, and the plugin API are open source in the [simplecloudapp GitHub organization](https://github.com/simplecloudapp). We plan to open source the controller and serverhost later in 2026. There are currently no plans to open source the dashboard or CLI. ### How do I get support? Join the [Community Discord](https://discord.simplecloud.app). The team and community are active there, and the [docs](https://simplecloud.app/docs) cover setup, plugins, and the API in detail. ## About and support - [About SimpleCloud](https://simplecloud.app/about) - [Contact](https://simplecloud.app/contact) - [API compatibility and deprecation policy](https://simplecloud.app/api-policy) ## Developer and agent resources - [Controller OpenAPI specification](https://controller.simplecloud.app/swagger/doc.json) - [Developer documentation index](https://simplecloud.app/docs/_llms/en/developer.md) - [Agent guide](https://simplecloud.app/AGENTS.md) - [Documentation index](https://simplecloud.app/docs/llms.txt) - [Site index](https://simplecloud.app/llms.txt)