If you are like most Minecraft players, you must have tried using online multiplayer servers. Some of them are good, some are weird, and many of them are straight-up scams. However, the developers have decided to provide the player with some alternate servers that are safer, more entertaining, and loaded with tons of exclusive features. Yes, we are talking about Minecraft Realms. Now, if you are wondering what they are, how they function, and do you have to pay to access Minecraft Realms? We will answer all of your questions in this detailed guide.
In the world of online multiplayer games, Minecraft is truly one of a kind. And the Minecraft Realms only take that experience to the next level. And since you can use Realms on both Minecraft Java or Bedrock editions, no player should be missing out on these servers. Though, if you want more excitement in offline gameplay, installing Forge to use mods in Minecraft is always an option. Not to forget, we also have some amazing Minecraft 1.18 seeds for you to explore as well. That said, let’s understand what are Minecraft Realms and how you can use them.
What are Minecraft Realms?Minecraft Realms on Minecraft Bedrock EditionMinecraft Realms on Minecraft Java EditionMinecraft Realms: Packages and Pricing
Realm Subscription Comparison: ConclusionAre Custom Servers Better than Minecraft Realms?How to Get and Join Minecraft RealmsFrequently Asked Questions
How to Get More Than 10 Players on Realms?Is a Minecraft Realm Worth It?How to Get Minecraft Realms for Free?How Do I Join a Minecraft Realm?Do Realms Work on All Versions of Minecraft?
Realm Subscription Comparison: Conclusion
How to Get More Than 10 Players on Realms?Is a Minecraft Realm Worth It?How to Get Minecraft Realms for Free?How Do I Join a Minecraft Realm?Do Realms Work on All Versions of Minecraft?
What are Minecraft Realms?
Minecraft Realms are dedicated servers provided by Mojang and Microsoft. The developer allows players to subscribe to a realm server and play with up to 10 players safely across all Minecraft platforms. Yeah, the servers support cross-play, allowing players on different platforms and devices to play together. Well, that is as long as you are using the same edition: Java or Bedrock. So, even with their realm servers, Minecraft’s two editions don’t support interoperability.
In a rare occurrence, the Minecraft Bedrock edition gets a better deal here. Realms for Minecraft Bedrock edition are quite special. You get 150+ exclusive marketplace theme packs that get new content every single month if you subscribe to the Realms Plus service. We’ll discuss the differences between Realm and Realm Plus later on.
The bedrock edition also gets a significantly cheaper plan if you only want to play with 3 people on your server. This option doesn’t include the exclusive monthly content but is still as reliable as the Realm Plus plan. Beyond that, Minecraft Realms on Bedrock also has support for limited community-based content to fully customize the server. If nothing else suits you, RTX is still exclusive to Minecraft Bedrock, and it even works on Realms.
Minecraft Java Edition doesn’t offer a choice between the Realms Plus and regular subscription because of the unavailability of an official marketplace. Though, there are still some exclusive benefits for the Java Minecraft Realms. Community-based creations, mods, and a ton of third-party developer support make Java Minecraft the perfect place to take personalization to the next level. You can see the plans and details of Java Realms right here.
Now that we have covered what Realms are and what you can expect from them, it’s time to discuss the costs. Mojang itself is handling the maintenance and hosting of Realm servers, which requires regular work. Keeping that in mind, Minecraft offers a subscription model for Realm servers. You can opt-out of the subscription at any time.
Realm Subscription Comparison: Conclusion
The differences in the Realm server plans for the two Minecraft editions are clear. What you need to keep in mind are the requirements you have. If you want an intimate server with just a couple of friends, a simple Bedrock Realms server is all you need. When your Bedrock circle expands to up to 10 players or if you need more customization options, Bedrock Realms Plus is a viable option.
Minecraft Realms and custom servers both have some benefits of their own. You can use either of them to play Minecraft online with your friends in multiplayer mode. But the experience might be somewhat different. Here’s how.
FEATURESRealmsCustom ServersPricingUSD $3.99 or $7.99Free and multiple Paid optionsCustomizationAs per Requirements As per Requirements PlayersMaximum 10Practically UnlimitedCreation & MaintainanceAutomatic & FreeManual24/7 AvailabilityDefaultNeeds Special ArrangementsNew ContentProvided MonthlyCan be Created or AddedEarning PotentialNoneCan offer paid content and packsFees for Friends/UsersFreeFree
How to Get and Join Minecraft Realms
As Minecraft Realms is a major revenue source for the developer, they have created a streamlined system to get you on board. If you want to get started, the option to purchase Realms servers is right on the opening screen of the Java Edition.
As for the Bedrock edition, you will get the option to purchase a Realm or Realm Plus subscription in the world creation settings. You will see the “Play on Realm” button while editing an existing world or creating a new world.
Choosing the “Play on Realm” option will ask you about the type of realm you need: 2 player or 10 player slots. Additionally, when you reach the payment options screen, you can claim a free 30-day trial if you haven’t used Realms before. Seems easy, right? Well, there’s a catch, though.
Meanwhile, Windows users only need to make sure that Minecraft isn’t blocked by a firewall to make it work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Get More Than 10 Players on Realms?
There is no official way to get more than 10 players on an official realm server. If you have a larger community of online players, getting a custom server is the only option for you. Alternatively, you can join someone’s existing server with your large group.
The worthiness of a Minecraft realm depends upon your requirements. If you want a simpler multiplayer experience with readymade worlds and no worries about maintenance, they are surely a worth investment.
The only way to get Minecraft realms for free is by joining your friends’ realm server. As long as your friend allows, you can enjoy their server and all the exclusive realm content for free.
Each realm owner is given a six-digit sharable code that other players can use to join their servers. Alternatively, on the PC edition, the realm owners can also share a link for other players to join the realms in a single click. Both server code and link are available within the in-game realms option.
Minecraft realm servers work on all modern versions of the game except beta versions, snapshots, and the Minecraft Preview versions. So, if you were planning to experience the Minecraft 1.19 wild update online, you will have to wait for its official release.
Get your Own Minecraft Realms Server
Now, you have all the information you need to decide whether you want to subscribe to Realms. They might not seem like the best deal for everyone, but for the right audience, Minecraft Realms are the perfect option. With monthly themes getting pushed more frequently than ever, the quality of realm content is only improving. Though, if the Minecraft worlds feel a little limited for your friends, you can try using Steam Remote Play to play local multiplayer games online. But coming back to Minecraft, make sure to learn all the Minecraft ores before inviting your friends. Doing so will allow you to find diamonds in Minecraft and other rare ores way before any of them do. With that said, don’t wait around and invite your friends to play on Minecraft realms right away!
