How server ranking works

Stars are a quality and activity score, not simply the current player count. The calculation combines measured availability, community engagement and listing quality.

Activity and reliability

Current online strength, long-term uptime, recent availability and player history contribute. Player-related signals are deliberately limited because player counts can be manipulated.

Community signals

Favorites, comments and votes contribute. Older votes gradually lose weight, and the total vote contribution is capped.

Listing quality

A useful description can add up to 5 stars (1 per 200 meaningful characters). Each screenshot adds 1 star, up to 5. A server that exposes its online player names receives 5 stars, and exposing its plugin list receives another 5, capped at 10 combined. Rules, registration information, useful links and a cover image add smaller amounts.

Standard Java port

A Java Edition server using the standard Minecraft port 25565 receives 10 stars. Java servers using another port receive no port bonus. Bedrock servers are not affected by this rule.

Ownership and updates

A server claimed by a real non-admin owner receives 10 stars. A meaningful recent owner update can add up to 5 more stars. The update bonus drops by 1 star each week and ends after five weeks.

Votifier vote rewards

Both Legacy Votifier (v1) and NuVotifier v2 are supported. An enabled configuration earns 5 stars after its connection and protocol handshake have been verified. Changing the endpoint or credentials requires a new successful test.

Update anti-spam: Pressing Save repeatedly gives nothing. Listing content must actually change, the bonus never stacks, and its ranking date can be renewed at most once every seven days. Admin edits do not earn this bonus.

How an owner can improve a position

Claim the server with your user account.
Enable and verify Legacy Votifier or NuVotifier v2 for vote rewards and 5 ranking stars.
Write an accurate, helpful description and complete the rules and joining information.
Upload current screenshots and a representative cover or server icon.
Allow the server status query to expose online player names and its plugin list.
Keep the listing accurate and update it when something meaningful changes.
Keep the server reliably available and encourage genuine users to favorite, comment and vote.

Fair use

Fake players, scripted updates, vote manipulation and misleading content may be ignored or receive a manual ranking adjustment. Administrators can disable ranking for abusive or invalid listings.