Minecraft Realms or a server: which one to choose to play together

Realms is Mojang's server service: you pay a subscription, Mojang keeps your world running, and you invite whoever you want. A classic server takes more work, but lets you decide everything. The right choice mostly depends on the size of your group and on what you want to add to the game.

What Realms is

• A world that's always online, even when you're not playing.
• Invitation only: only the players you add can get in.
• Nothing to set up: no address, no port, no update to apply.
• Automatic backups, with the option to roll back.
• Two separate Realms: Realms for Java, and Realms for Bedrock, whose Realms Plus plan includes Marketplace content. A Java Realm doesn't take Bedrock players, and vice versa.

Realms against a server

	Realms	Hosted server	Public server
Setup	a few clicks	an hour, then upkeep	none
Players at once	around ten, depending on the plan	depends on the machine	dozens, even thousands
Plugins	no	yes	the server's
Mods	no	yes	the server's
Java and Bedrock together	no	yes, with Geyser	if the server allows it
Cost	monthly subscription	free to a few euros a month	free
Who decides	you	you	the server's staff

When to pick Realms

Realms is the right choice for a small group of friends or a family who want a shared world without dealing with anything technical. It also works on consoles, where joining your own server takes detours. Finally, it's the most reassuring option for children: nobody gets in without an invitation.

When to prefer a server

Go for a server of your own if you want:

• plugins: land protection, economy, minigames, ranks;
• mods, or a full modpack;
• more players than Realms accepts;
• to mix Java and Bedrock;
• to open up to the public, and appear in a ranking like CubeVote.

To get started: How to create a Minecraft server, Choose a host, or the free option. The Resources and budget calculator estimates the memory and the price for your number of players.

What about joining an existing server?

If what draws you in is mostly people, events and a staff that keeps things lively, there's no need to set anything up: a public server gives you that for free. Come as a group, found your team, and pick the mode in the server ranking. The guide How to play Minecraft with friends sums up every way to play together.

Changing your mind later

Nothing is final: a Realms world can be downloaded and installed on a server of your own, and a server world can be uploaded to a Realm, as long as it depends on neither plugins nor mods. Start simple, and move to a server when the group grows.