Minecraft Realms: Price, Plans and How to Set Up (2026)
Want a private world where your friends can build with you even when you are offline? That is exactly what Minecraft Realms does. It is the official server service from Mojang, so there is no port forwarding, no hosting panel and no tech skills needed. This guide explains what it is, how much each plan costs, how to set one up on mobile and PC, how to invite friends, and whether it is worth paying for compared to other ways of playing online.
The steps below work on the latest Minecraft APK, Bedrock Edition and Java Edition.
What Is Minecraft Realms?
Minecraft Realms is a subscription service that gives you your own personal server hosted by Mojang and Microsoft. Your world stays online 24 hours a day, so invited friends can join and play anytime, even when you are not in the game. Only the owner pays. Everyone you invite plays for free.
A Realm is private by default. Nobody can join unless you send them an invite or share a link. That makes it a popular choice for families, small friend groups and anyone who wants a safe survival world without strangers.
Minecraft Realms Plans and Prices
There are three plans. Two are for Bedrock Edition and one is for Java Edition. Prices below are the official US prices listed on Minecraft.net and can differ by country and currency.
| Plan | Edition | Price per month | Players online at once |
|---|---|---|---|
| Realms | Bedrock | $3.99 | You + 2 friends |
| Realms Plus | Bedrock | $7.99 | You + 10 friends |
| Realms for Java | Java | $7.99 | You + 10 friends |
All plans include three world slots, free backups and up to 10,000 invited friends. Only one world slot can be active at a time, but you can switch between them whenever you want.
What Realms Plus Adds
Realms Plus includes everything in the basic Bedrock plan plus the Marketplace Pass catalog, a rotating library of worlds, skin packs, texture packs, mash ups and add-ons. New content is added every month. If you already pay for Marketplace items one by one, Realms Plus can save money.
Free Trial
New subscribers can try Realms free for 30 days on Bedrock and Java. After the trial, the subscription renews every month at the current price unless you cancel it.
Minecraft Realms Features
- Always online: your world runs on official servers around the clock.
- Friends play free: only the Realm owner needs a subscription.
- Automatic backups: restore an older copy of your world if something goes wrong.
- Three world slots: keep a survival world, a creative world and a minigame map ready.
- Cross platform on Bedrock: players on Android, iPhone, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch can join the same Bedrock Realm.
- Realms Stories: a Bedrock feed that shows member activity and highlights from your world.
- Marketplace content: add Marketplace worlds and add-ons on Bedrock Realms.
How to Create a Realm on Mobile and Bedrock
Setting up a Realm on Android, iPhone or any Bedrock device takes about two minutes.
- Open Minecraft and tap Play.
- Tap Create New, then choose Create New Realm.
- Pick a 2 player Realm or a 10 player Realm (Realms Plus).
- Accept the terms and tap Start Free Trial if you qualify, or buy the subscription.
- Name your Realm, choose a world type and tap Create.
To move an existing world to your Realm, open the Realm settings, pick an empty slot and choose Replace World. Select the world from your device and confirm. Make a copy first, because the upload replaces whatever is in that slot. Our guide on how to back up Minecraft worlds shows how to keep a safe copy.
How to Create a Realm on Java Edition
- Open the Java Edition launcher and start the game.
- Click Realms on the main menu.
- Click Start your free trial or buy a Realms for Java subscription on Minecraft.net.
- Click the empty Realm, then choose Configure.
- Pick a slot and select New World, Upload World or a ready made template such as an adventure map or minigame.
Java Realms run on Windows, Mac and Linux. They usually update to the newest Java release shortly after it launches.
How to Invite Friends to Your Realm
There are two easy ways to bring friends into your world.
- Invite link (Bedrock): open Realm settings, go to Members and tap Share Link. Anyone with the link can join, so only share it with people you trust. You can refresh the link to stop old invites from working.
- Invite by name: open the members list, search for your friend’s gamertag or Java username and send an invite. They accept it from the Realms menu or their notifications.
You can make members operators, kick or ban players, and close the Realm at any time to keep everyone out.
Minecraft Realms vs Other Ways to Play Online
Realms is not the only way to play with friends. Here is how it compares with the main alternatives.
| Option | Cost | Always online | Mods and plugins | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Realms | $3.99 to $7.99 a month | Yes | No (Bedrock add-ons only) | Families, small groups |
| LAN or local play | Free | No, host must be online | Yes | Friends in one house |
| Self hosted server | Free, uses your PC | Only when PC is on | Yes | Tech savvy players |
| Paid server host | Varies by host | Yes | Yes | Large or modded servers |
| Public servers | Free | Yes | Set by server | Minigames with strangers |
If you love minigames with hundreds of players, public servers are better. Our list of Minecraft minigames covers the most popular ones.
Limits You Should Know
- No crossplay between editions: a Java player cannot join a Bedrock Realm, and Bedrock players cannot join a Java Realm.
- Player cap: the most you can have online together is 11 people, including the owner.
- No mods or plugins: Java Realms do not support Forge, Fabric or plugin servers. Bedrock Realms only allow Marketplace and approved add-ons. If you want mods, see our guide to installing Minecraft mods on Android for single player.
- Console subscriptions: on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch you also need that console’s online membership to play.
- One active world: only one of the three slots runs at a time.
What Happens When Your Subscription Ends?
If you cancel or stop paying, your Realm closes and friends can no longer join. Your worlds are not deleted right away. According to Mojang, you can download them for up to 18 months after the subscription expires, and resubscribing within that time restores the Realm.
Is Minecraft Realms Worth It?
Minecraft Realms is worth it if you want a simple, safe and always online world for a small group, especially kids and families. The basic Bedrock plan is cheap for three players, and Realms Plus is good value if you also use Marketplace content. It is not the best choice if you want mods, plugins, big player counts or crossplay between Java and Bedrock. In those cases, a paid server host or your own server gives you more control.
For full plan details and regional pricing, visit the official Realms page on Minecraft.net.
How much does Minecraft Realms cost?
In the US, Bedrock Realms costs $3.99 a month for 3 players, Realms Plus costs $7.99 for 11 players, and Realms for Java costs $7.99 for 11 players.
Is Minecraft Realms free?
There is a 30 day free trial for new subscribers. After that, only the owner pays and invited friends play free.
Can Java and Bedrock players play together on Realms?
No. Java Realms and Bedrock Realms are separate, so players can only join a Realm from the same edition.
Do friends need a subscription to join my Realm?
No. Only the Realm owner pays. Friends just need the game and an invite.
Can you use mods on Minecraft Realms?
Java Realms do not support mods or plugins. Bedrock Realms support Marketplace content and approved add-ons only.
Final Thoughts
Realms is the easiest way to keep a private world online for your friends. Pick the $3.99 Bedrock plan for a small group, Realms Plus for bigger groups and Marketplace content, or Realms for Java if your friends play on PC. Try the 30 day free trial first, invite your friends, and start building together. New to the game? Read how to play Minecraft before you start.
