If you’ve opened the Minecraft menu, you’ve probably seen the “Realms” tab and wondered whether it’s worth paying for — or whether you’d be better off setting up your own server at home. Both get you a persistent world you and your friends can jump into anytime, but they work very differently. Here’s how they actually compare.
What Is Minecraft Realms?
Realms is Mojang’s official, built-in server hosting service. You subscribe monthly, and Mojang handles everything — no port forwarding, no command line, no server files to manage. You just create a world and invite friends directly through the game.
Current pricing (Java Edition): $7.99/month, supporting up to 10 players. Bedrock Edition: starts at $3.99/month for smaller groups, with a $7.99/month “Plus” tier for more features.
What Is Self-Hosting?
Self-hosting means running the server software yourself, either on a spare PC, an old laptop, or a small dedicated machine like a mini PC. You control everything: the hardware, the settings, the mods, and the uptime schedule.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Minecraft Realms | Self-Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup difficulty | Very easy, a few clicks | Moderate — one-time setup |
| Monthly cost | $7.99/mo (Java) | ~$0 after hardware |
| Player limit | Up to 10 | Limited only by your hardware |
| Mod support | None | Full support (Forge, Fabric, etc.) |
| World control | Limited, some size caps | Full control |
| Crossplay | Yes, built-in | Possible with extra setup (e.g. GeyserMC) |
| Uptime | Always on, Mojang-managed | Only when your server is running |
| Data ownership | Tied to your Mojang account | Fully yours, stored locally |
Where Realms Wins
- Zero technical setup. If you don’t want to touch Docker, port forwarding, or server configs, Realms just works.
- Reliable uptime without your own hardware running 24/7. Mojang hosts it, so you don’t need to keep a PC on at home.
- Built-in crossplay between Java and Bedrock editions without extra tools.
Realms makes the most sense for players who want the absolute simplest path to a persistent world and don’t mind the cost or the limitations.
Where Self-Hosting Wins
- No mod support on Realms is a dealbreaker for a lot of players — self-hosting gives you full Forge/Fabric support, so you can run any modpack you want.
- No recurring subscription. Once you have the hardware, ongoing cost is close to zero (just electricity).
- No player cap tied to a subscription tier — your only limit is your hardware’s capacity.
- Full control over backups, world files, and configuration — you’re not locked into what Mojang allows.
Self-hosting makes sense if you’re comfortable with a bit of setup, want mods, or plan to keep the server running long-term where the cost savings add up.
Cost Over Time
Realms adds up quickly for a long-running world — $7.99/month comes out to roughly $96/year. A basic mini PC capable of running a smooth Minecraft server typically costs somewhere in the $150-250 range as a one-time purchase, meaning it can pay for itself within a year or two if you’re planning to keep the world going long-term, on top of letting you host other games on the same hardware.
The Bottom Line
If you want something that works in five minutes with zero technical setup and don’t mind paying monthly, Realms is the easier choice. If you want mods, more players, and no recurring cost — and don’t mind a one-time setup — self-hosting wins on almost every front except convenience.
Ready to set up your own server instead? Check out our step-by-step guide to hosting a Minecraft server at home.
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