Minecraft Server Hosting vs Minecraft Realms
Short answer: Minecraft Realms is Mojang's own subscription server: the easiest way to play with up to 10 friends online at once, with nothing to set up, but no plugins or mods on Java Edition and little control over the server. A Minecraft server host costs about the same or more, but lets you choose the server software, install plugins and modpacks, run older versions and host more players. Pick Realms for a simple private world; pick a host for anything custom.
Side by side
| Minecraft Realms | Server hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Mojang / Microsoft | A hosting company |
| Setup | Built into the game | A control panel; a few minutes |
| Players online | Up to 10 friends at once | Limited by the plan's resources, not a fixed number |
| Plugins (Paper, Spigot) | Not on Java Realms | Yes |
| Mods and modpacks | Not on Java Realms | Yes: Forge, NeoForge, Fabric and others |
| Bedrock add-ons | Marketplace content with Realms Plus | Behaviour and resource packs |
| Game version | Latest release only | Any version, including older ones |
| Server settings | A small set of options | Full access to files and configuration |
| Public server | Invite-only | Can be public or private |
| World backups | Included | Depends on host; usually included |
| Java and Bedrock together | No — separate Realms | Possible with Geyser |
When Realms is the better choice
- You want to play with a few friends and don't want to manage anything.
- You play vanilla and don't need plugins or mods.
- Everyone is on the same edition (Java or Bedrock).
- You want the simplest invite process, from inside the game.
When a server host is the better choice
- Plugins. Land claims, economy, permissions, minigames and anti-grief need Paper or Spigot plugins.
- Mods and modpacks. Realms on Java can't run Forge, NeoForge or Fabric mods.
- More players. A host isn't capped at 10 players online.
- Older or specific versions. Some modpacks and communities stay on older Minecraft releases.
- Cross-play. With Geyser, Bedrock players can join a Java server.
- A public server. Realms is invite-only.
- Full control. Edit any setting, upload worlds and access files over SFTP.
Cost
Realms is a monthly subscription from Microsoft; check minecraft.net for the current price in your country. Shared Minecraft hosting is usually priced by RAM. A small server for a group of friends typically costs about the same as Realms, and larger servers cost more. See How Much Does Minecraft Server Hosting Cost?.
Can you move a Realms world to a server?
Yes. Download the world from your Realm in the game's Realms settings, then upload the world folder to your server. Beacon's guide How to Switch to Beacon Hosting from Another Host covers moving a world across.
Beacon as an alternative to Realms
Beacon hosts Minecraft Java and Bedrock servers on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processors with NVMe storage, in London and Mumbai. Every plan includes backups, DDoS protection and unmetered player slots, and you can run Paper, Fabric, Forge, modpacks or vanilla. Plans start at 1 GB, and selected plans have a 2-day free trial. See every plan and its current price on the facts page.
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