How to Create and Manage a Minecraft Realms Server

Key Takeaways

Point	Details
Minecraft Realms is an	Minecraft Realms is an official subscription-based hosting service managed entirely in-game.
Bedrock Edition offers Realms	Bedrock Edition offers Realms Core ($3.99/mo, 2 players) and Realms Plus ($7.99/mo, 10 players with Marketplace Pass).
Java Edition Realms costs	Java Edition Realms costs $7.99/mo for up to 10 players, with auto-renew or prepaid packages.
All players can start	All players can start a 30-day free trial once per account.
Only the Realm owner	Only the Realm owner needs a subscription; invited friends join for free.
Every subscription includes a	Every subscription includes a free separate Realm for previews and snapshots.

What Is Minecraft Realms?

Minecraft Realms is an official subscription-based server hosting service that allows players to create and manage their own private Minecraft servers. Hosted by Mojang Studios, Realms provides a simple way to create servers and allows the owner to manage them from inside the game, without knowledge of hosting on the internet. Realms are not intended for large public servers, but for groups of friends or as a family server.

Minecraft Realms is an official subscription-based server hosting service that allows players to create and manage their own private Minecraft servers. Hosted by Mojang Studios, Realms provides a simple way to create servers and allows the owner to manage them from inside the game, without knowledge of hosting on the internet. Realms are not intended for large public servers, but for groups of friends or as a family server.

Realms Subscription Plans and Pricing

Realms is a subscription-based service. The player's account page on Minecraft.net offers options to extend a current subscription or buy a new one, which can also be done in-game. One player can have multiple active Realms subscriptions.

For Bedrock Edition, there are two subscription tiers: Realms Core (US$3.99 per month) and Realms Plus (US$7.99 per month). Realms Core is limited to 2 players at a time active in a world, while Realms Plus supports up to 10 players and includes access to all Marketplace Pass content. Realms Core can be upgraded to Realms Plus at any time without losing the server.

For Java Edition (Java Realms), both subscription options allow up to 10 players. You can choose a recurring monthly charge that auto-renews every 30 days, or a one-time charge in 30-day, 90-day, or 180-day packages. Both cost US$7.99 per month.

All players are eligible for a 30-day free Realms trial, provided they haven't already used one on their account.

Realms is a subscription-based service. There are two types of subscriptions in Bedrock Edition: Realms Core (US$3.99 per month) and Realms Plus (US$7.99 per month). The main difference is that Realms Core is limited to 2 players at a time active in a world, and Realms Plus is limited to 10 players. There are two types of subscriptions in Java Edition (also known as Java Realms), both with 10 players maximum: a reoccurring monthly charge that automatically renews the subscription every 30 days, or a one-time charge that comes in 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day packages and needs to be renewed manually. Both subscriptions cost US$7.99 per month. All players are able to have a 30-day free Realms trial, providing they have not already had a free trial on their account before.

Requirements for Using Realms

To use Realms, you must have purchased the full version of Minecraft and be signed in with a Microsoft account. A stable internet connection is required. Parental consent is needed for players under certain ages.

Realms is a service that can be used only by players who meet these requirements: The player must have purchased the full version of Minecraft and must be signed in with a Microsoft account. The player must have a stable Internet connection.

How to Set Up Your Realm

Creating a Realm is straightforward. From the main menu, select "Minecraft Realms" and follow the on-screen prompts to start your 30-day free trial or subscribe. You can then invite other players by adding their Minecraft usernames. If you need help finding players, see our guide on how to find the best Minecraft community. Only the owner needs a subscription; invited players join for free.

Managing Players and Worlds

The owner can manage the Realm from inside the game: invite or remove players, reset the world, or replace it with a pre-built map from the Realms library. Realms also supports player-made maps and the Realms Hub. Any Realms subscription includes a free separate server for Minecraft Preview (Bedrock) or Java snapshots, which can be activated from the same menu.

Minecraft Realms also provides additional features such as player-made maps or Realms Hub. Any Realms subscription also includes a free Realms server for Minecraft Preview or Java snapshots, which exists separately from the default Realm but is connected to the same subscription.

Conclusion

Minecraft Realms is the easiest way to play with friends in a private, always-online world without dealing with port forwarding or server configuration. Choose the plan that fits your group size and dive into your next adventure.