The smartest way to run
your Minecraft server
Cloud hosts charge you monthly for hardware that can't match your PC. SpawnBox turns your own machine into a server that's just as easy for friends to join - with better performance, full mod support, and no monthly bill. If it can run Minecraft, it can host Minecraft - even at the same time.
A few years ago, a health scare stopped me in my tracks. I stepped back from a long career in enterprise IT - building systems for some of the biggest companies in the world - and found myself at home with my kids. They needed a Minecraft server. How hard could it be?
Turns out: impossibly hard, unless you already know what you're doing. The tools were scattered, the documentation was written for Linux engineers, and nothing was designed for the people who actually run these servers - parents, teachers, teenagers, friends. I kept thinking: someone should fix this. Then I realized that someone was probably me.
SpawnBox is what happened next. Real-time analytics with 30+ metric streams. A live world map with heatmaps and player tracking. Discord integration with activity feeds, chat bridge, and remote console. An always-on background service that keeps everything running while you sleep, while you're at school, while you play on the same machine. It might be the most ambitious Minecraft server project ever attempted - and it's all designed so that anyone can use it.
It's not done yet. I'm inviting a small group of people to help me get it right before it goes public. That's why you're here.
We're issuing a limited number of both Pro and Free preview codes. We need real feedback on both tiers - how the free experience feels, whether Pro features deliver, and where the line between them should be.
Requires Windows 11 - 8GB+ RAM - SSD recommended
What you're signing up for
What you get
- Full Pro access for free during the preview
- Direct access to the founder via Discord
- Shape the product - your feedback drives what we build
- Founding member status - you were here first
What we're asking
- Join our Discord and stay active
- Report bugs and share feedback when things break
- Enable and test Pro features - Discord bot, backups, DNS, scoreboard
- Accept rough edges and rapid changes between updates
A note about your data
Your Minecraft worlds and servers are safe - we'll never touch your game files. But SpawnBox's own data (analytics, sessions, settings) may reset as we iterate. Backups are built in and we recommend using them.
Telemetry & diagnostics
As a preview member, you're helping us understand what works. Here's what we collect:
We collect
- Which features you use and how often
- Session duration and navigation patterns
- Error reports and crash diagnostics
- Performance baselines (load times, TPS)
- Server setup details (loader, version, installed mods/plugins)
We never collect
- Chat messages or personal conversations
- World file contents or builds
- Player IP addresses or location data
Anonymous usage data is required during preview so we can monitor update quality and catch issues quickly. Cross-device identity (an anonymous code, never your actual account info) is optional and can be toggled in Settings. All data is anonymous regardless. There's also a voluntary "Send Diagnostic Package" option for troubleshooting. Full details in our Privacy Policy.
Performance note
Preview builds run with enhanced logging to help us diagnose issues. You may notice slightly higher memory usage and occasional slower operations. This is temporary.
Everything your server needs
Player analytics, live maps, always-on automation, and more. Core features are free. Cloud features are Pro.
Always-On Background Service
Your server runs 24/7 even when the app is closed - and you can play on the same PC. Auto-start on boot, crash recovery, scheduled restarts, and it survives Windows Updates.
Player & Server Analytics
30+ metric streams charted over time - player counts, deaths, mining, combat, chat, and more. Plus sessions, inventories, a customizable scoreboard with crown system, social graph, and a shareable public web dashboard at your own address (Pro).
Live World Map
Zoomable map with real-time player positions, death markers, chunk heat maps, detected bases, area history, and Overworld/Nether/End switching. Click anywhere for full context.
Guided Setup Wizard
A step-by-step wizard creates your server in minutes. Picks version, server type, mods, world settings, and access control - no command line needed.
Mod Marketplace
Browse and install mods, plugins, and datapacks from Modrinth - free on every tier. One-click installs with automatic dependency resolution, version matching, and modpack export. Supports Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt.
Discord Integration
Activity feeds, live Connect Cards with scoreboard images, bidirectional chat bridge, and remote console. Deep integration that turns your Discord and Minecraft into one community.
Your world, rendered in real time
A zoomable, pannable map that updates as players explore. Death markers show where players fell, chunk heat maps reveal the busiest areas, clustering algorithms detect player bases, and clicking any spot shows its complete area history. Switch between Overworld, Nether, and End with a click.
- Real-time player tracking with health bars
- Death markers, chunk heat maps & detected bases
- Overworld, Nether & End dimension switching
- Click any spot for full area history
Know every player's story
Rich player profiles with session history, play style breakdowns, personal records, and real-time inventory. A social graph reveals who plays together most. Click any player to see their complete journey across your server.
- Detailed player profiles with personal records
- Social graph showing player relationships
- Real-time inventory and advancement tracking
- Session history with play time and activity
Know your server like never before
Mission Control charts 30+ metrics over time - peak concurrent players, deaths, mining output, PvP encounters, chat activity, exploration, and more. A customizable scoreboard ranks every player with a crown system. Per-player sessions, statistics, and a shareable public web dashboard so anyone can see your server's stats in a browser.
- 30+ time-series metrics with interactive charts
- Customizable all-player scoreboard with crown system
- Per-player session history, inventory, and statistics
- Shareable web dashboard at yourserver.mc.spawnbox.app (Pro)
Investigate, protect, manage
Detect suspicious activity with location intelligence that tracks base visits and mining patterns. A full investigation system surfaces anomalies automatically. Plus a built-in mod marketplace with one-click installs from Modrinth, automatic dependency resolution, and version matching.
- Location intelligence: base visits, travel patterns
- Mining and combat anomaly detection
- One-click mod installs from Modrinth marketplace
- Automatic dependency resolution & version matching
How SpawnBox compares
More features for free than any alternative offers at any price.
| SpawnBox Free to start | Realms Mojang hosted | Apex / Shockbyte Cloud hosted | Pterodactyl / AMP Self-hosted panels | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (to start) | Free | $7.99/mo | $5-30/mo | Free |
| Beginner-friendly setup | ||||
| Mod & plugin support | ||||
| One-click mod marketplace | ||||
| Always-on background service | ||||
| Auto-restart on crash | Some | |||
| Player analytics & scoreboard | ||||
| Session tracking & history | ||||
| Live world map | ||||
| 30+ analytics chart streams | ||||
| Anti-cheat & investigation tools | ||||
| Real-time activity timeline | ||||
| Discord integration (5 features) | Pro | |||
| Easy server address for friends | Included | Included | ||
| Scheduled backup automation | Some | |||
| Automatic port forwarding | ||||
| No monthly server hosting cost |
Two tiers. Both free during the preview.
We need real feedback on both experiences - how the free tier feels and whether Pro features deliver.
Free
Everything you need to run a great server
- 1 running server, unlimited created
- Browse & install mods, plugins, datapacks
- Live map, analytics & scoreboard
- Always-on background service & crash recovery
- Daily backups & server address (with mob suffix)
Pro
Cloud features, full control, unlimited everything
- Run 3 servers at once
- Discord bot, chat bridge & remote console
- Clean reserved server address
- Public web dashboard with scoreboard
- Unlimited session history & all metrics
Pro is normally $9.99/month - free for all preview members
What the community is saying
Join the conversation - tell us what excites you about SpawnBox
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Be part of the small group shaping the future of Minecraft server management. Free access, direct founder contact, and your feedback drives what we build.
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