What you need
- Multimeter for macOS 13 or later, $19.99 once.
- The server’s address, like
play.example.com. It must be reachable from the internet.
Set it up
- Add a Web Address meter with this address and the key path
players.online:Web addresshttps://api.mcsrvstat.us/3/play.example.com - Refresh every 5 minutes. Set the range to the server’s max players.
Multimeter settings
In Customize This Meter… (from the meter’s menu):
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | Web Address |
| Web address | https://api.mcsrvstat.us/3/SERVER |
| Key path | players.online |
| Refresh every | 5 minutes |
| Range | 0 to max players, like 20 |
| Label | MC |
| Face | Hearts, XP Bar or Columns |
Tested: Run on October 29, 2026: 2b2t.org had 1,323 players online.
More on this source, including every format it reads, in the Web Address guide.
Limits
- mcsrvstat.us caches each server for a few minutes, so faster refreshes repeat the same number.
- A server on your home network that isn’t reachable from outside can’t be checked this way.
Variations
Bedrock servers
Use https://api.mcsrvstat.us/bedrock/3/SERVER with the same key path.
Up or down
Key path online: true counts as 1 and false as 0. Alerts on Low values with critical at 0.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No number found in the response | The key path doesn’t match the reply. | Run curl -s with the address and read the JSON. Dots walk into objects, numbers pick array items (items.0.count). |
| Couldn’t reach the address | No network, a typo in the host, or the service is down. | Open the address in your browser. Multimeter tries again at the next refresh. |
| No number found | The server is offline or hides its player count, so players is missing. | Use the online key path to see whether it answered at all. |
Questions
Do I need a plugin on the server?
No. The standard server list ping that the Minecraft client uses is enough.