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Choose a Bedrock Realm if you want a private, always-online world with almost no maintenance. The official US page lists Bedrock Realms at $3.99 USD per recurring month for the owner and two other simultaneous players, while Realms Plus costs $7.99 for the owner and ten. Choose the free-to-download Bedrock Dedicated Server when you are comfortable running server software on compatible Windows or Ubuntu hardware and managing the computer, network, updates, and backups yourself. Self-hosting is a responsibility trade-off—not a proven saving—because hardware, electricity, internet service, and maintenance costs are not calculated by Minecraft.
Before choosing either option, confirm that every player uses Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. Realms cross-play works across Bedrock devices, but not between Bedrock and Java Edition. Official details are on Minecraft’s Realms page and the Bedrock Dedicated Server download page.
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| Decision factor | Bedrock Realm / Realms Plus | Bedrock Dedicated Server |
|---|---|---|
| Who operates it | Minecraft hosts and manages the service. Setup is designed for people without server expertise. | You download and run the official software on compatible Windows or Ubuntu hardware. |
| US price shown by Minecraft | $3.99/month for the owner plus two simultaneous players; $7.99/month for the owner plus ten with Realms Plus. Both are recurring rates and local prices can differ. | The software download is free. Minecraft does not calculate your hardware, electricity, internet, or maintenance costs. |
| Simultaneous players | Standard plan: owner plus two. Realms Plus: owner plus ten. You can invite more people than can join at one time. | No comparable player-limit figure is stated on the cited official download page. |
| Availability | Always online; invited players can play when the owner is offline. | Available only when your server computer, software, and network are running and reachable. |
| Cross-play | Bedrock devices can play together within the Bedrock edition. Java players cannot join this Bedrock Realm. | Windows PC, Xbox, PlayStation, mobile, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 Bedrock clients are listed as supported, connecting with the server’s IP address and port. |
| Backups and world slots | Both plans list backups and three world slots, with one active world. Realms Plus also includes the rotating Marketplace Pass catalog. | World files are created on your computer. The cited page makes no equivalent cloud-backup or retention promise. |
| Console online service | Console multiplayer still requires the relevant platform’s online subscription, purchased separately. | The cited material gives no different console-subscription rule; check the current requirement for your platform. |
The practical choice is therefore about convenience versus control. A Realm removes server administration. A dedicated server gives you local control and avoids a Realm subscription, but puts uptime and maintenance on you.
What a Bedrock Realm provides
A managed, private world
Minecraft describes Realms as private, hosted worlds that remain online without the owner operating a computer. You invite the Microsoft accounts you want to play with, and those members can enter while you are away. The service handles the hosting layer, so you do not need to install server software, open a port on your router, or keep a home machine powered on.
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Two plans with different group sizes
The official US Realms page lists two Bedrock options:
- Bedrock Realms: $3.99 USD per month, recurring, for the owner plus two other players at the same time.
- Realms Plus: $7.99 USD per month, recurring, for the owner plus ten other players at the same time. The plan also includes access to the rotating Marketplace Pass catalog.
The simultaneous-player number is not the same as the invitation list. You can invite more friends than the plan allows to join concurrently; the limit applies to the players online together. The displayed prices are US rates from Minecraft’s current page, not a universal price. Your country, currency, platform storefront, taxes, and billing terms can change the amount.
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Minecraft lists three world slots for both Bedrock plans, with one world active at a time. It also lists backups, which gives you a recovery path if a build or experiment damages the active world. Realms Plus adds content access; it does not turn the service into a larger player-capacity tier beyond the owner plus ten stated on the page.
Trial and expiration rules
The Realms FAQ says an eligible trial lasts 30 days and automatically renews unless you cancel it. Eligibility is not guaranteed for every account. If a subscription expires, Minecraft says the worlds remain downloadable for 18 months. Download the worlds during that window if you want a local copy; do not treat the period as an indefinite archive.
What the Bedrock Dedicated Server is
Official software you operate yourself
Minecraft calls the Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) “the official server software that lets you host a multiplayer world for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.” You download the package, extract it on a compatible computer, launch it, and adjust its configuration files. The server’s files and world data live on your hardware rather than in a Realm managed by Minecraft.
Free download does not mean zero cost
There is no software charge listed for the BDS download. Running it can still require a suitable computer, storage, electricity, a broadband connection, router configuration, operating-system maintenance, and time to troubleshoot. Minecraft’s cited pages do not provide a total-cost calculation, so it would be misleading to promise that self-hosting is cheaper than $3.99 or $7.99 per month.
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When it is available
A dedicated server is reachable only while the host computer is powered on, the server process is running, and the network permits incoming connections. A sleeping laptop, a stopped process, a changed local address, or a router rule that no longer points to the host can make the world appear offline. You—not Minecraft—are responsible for arranging uptime.
Edition and platform compatibility
Bedrock and Java are separate ecosystems
Realms cross-play is edition-specific. Minecraft’s FAQ states: “Yes, Realms is cross-platform, but it’s only available within the same game edition.” A Bedrock Realm accepts Bedrock clients; a Java Edition player cannot join it through the same Realm service. Verify the edition shown on every player’s device before paying for a plan or configuring a server.
Devices that can connect to a BDS
Minecraft lists Bedrock users on Windows PC, Xbox, PlayStation, mobile devices, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 as supported clients for the dedicated server. Players connect using the server’s IP address and port. Account controls, home-network settings, and console policies can still affect an individual connection, and the cited download page is not a complete troubleshooting manual.
Console subscription is separate
For console players, Minecraft says the platform’s online multiplayer subscription is sold separately. Paying for a Realm does not replace that platform requirement. The supplied server documentation does not establish a different rule for BDS, so check the current online-service requirement for the specific console and account.
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- Confirm editions and accounts. Make sure the owner and intended members use Bedrock Edition and can sign in to their Microsoft accounts.
- Choose the plan. Select standard Realms for the owner plus two simultaneous players, or Realms Plus for the owner plus ten and the included rotating Marketplace Pass catalog. Review the price shown for your region and storefront.
- Create the Realm in Minecraft. Follow the in-game purchase flow described in Minecraft’s Bedrock Realm setup tutorial. The hosted service creates the Realm without requiring you to run a server computer.
- Select or create a world. Use one of the three available world slots as the active world. Keep other slots for alternate worlds or testing.
- Invite members. Add the accounts you trust. Invitations can exceed the number who may play simultaneously, but only the plan’s stated concurrent capacity can be online together.
- Check console access. If anyone plays on a console, verify that player’s separate platform online subscription is active.
- Plan for cancellation. If you stop renewing, download worlds within the 18-month post-expiry period described in the FAQ.
This process is the right fit when the group wants to start playing rather than administer a service. You do not need to keep your own computer online for invited members to enter.
How to run a Bedrock Dedicated Server
The following is the high-level workflow supported by Minecraft’s official download documentation. Exact menus and filenames can change with a server release, so use the current package’s included files and instructions.
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1. Check the host requirements
Minecraft’s current page specifies Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later or Windows Server 2016 or later. For Linux, it specifies Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later and says other distributions are unsupported. The page lists a broadband connection and a storage range of 180 MB to 1 GB in its system requirements.
RAM guidance on the same page is internally inconsistent: the system-requirements section lists 4 GB, while the FAQ says at least 1 GB for small servers and recommends more memory, storage, and processing for larger worlds or more players. Treat those as Minecraft’s published figures, not as a guaranteed hardware recommendation. Choose hardware only after considering your world, operating system, background services, and expected load.
2. Download and extract the official package
Download the Bedrock Dedicated Server package from Minecraft’s official server page. Extract it to a folder you control. Keep the server files in a location with sufficient free storage and reliable permissions; avoid placing them in a temporary downloads folder that may be cleaned automatically.
3. Launch the server once
Start the server executable supplied for your operating system. The first launch generates the local world and configuration files. Stop it cleanly after generation so you can review and edit the settings before inviting players. The package’s own readme and current documentation are authoritative for the executable name and launch options.
4. Adjust configuration
Open the generated configuration files and set the world name, game mode, difficulty, player permissions, and other options you actually need. Change one setting at a time and retain a copy of the original files. A malformed value can prevent startup, so restore the last known-good copy if the server refuses to launch.
5. Keep world data backed up
BDS stores world files locally, and Minecraft’s download page does not promise Realm-style cloud backups or an 18-month recovery window. Stop the server before copying world data, keep multiple dated copies on separate storage, and periodically test that a backup can be restored. A backup that has never been restored is only an assumption.
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6. Make the network reachable
Give players the IP address and port that the running server listens on. On a home network, that can involve a stable local address and a router forwarding rule to the host computer. Firewall software must permit the server process. The exact port and networking steps depend on the package version and your router, so follow the current BDS documentation and your platform’s network guidance rather than copying an unrelated Java-server tutorial.
7. Test from a client device
Join from a Bedrock client on the same network first. This isolates server configuration from internet routing. Then test from an external connection if remote friends will play. Confirm that the displayed world, permissions, and player access are correct before sharing the address broadly.
8. Operate it as an ongoing service
Apply server updates, monitor available storage, review logs, and restart after configuration changes. Decide who can access the host computer and who can change permissions. If the computer reboots, the server may remain offline until the process is started again unless you have deliberately configured an appropriate startup method.
Which option fits your group?
Choose standard Bedrock Realms for a small, low-maintenance group
Select the $3.99 US monthly tier when no more than the owner and two other players need to be online at once, and the priority is immediate availability. It is the simplest option for families or a few friends who do not want to expose a home network, maintain a computer, or learn server administration.
Choose Realms Plus for up to ten simultaneous players
Realms Plus is the appropriate Realm tier when the group needs the owner plus ten players concurrently or wants the rotating Marketplace Pass catalog. The extra capacity and content are the reasons to pay the higher recurring US rate; it does not remove the separate console online-subscription requirement.
Choose BDS when you want control and accept responsibility
Self-hosting makes sense for a technically comfortable owner who already has compatible Windows or Ubuntu hardware, can configure the network, and wants direct control over files and server operation. It is also useful when the group prefers local backups and does not want a Realm subscription. The trade-off is that uptime, security, updates, recovery, and all operating costs become your job. The official pages do not establish a player limit that lets you compare BDS directly with either Realm tier.
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Do not choose by price alone
Compare the recurring Realm charge with your actual self-hosting situation: equipment you already own, electricity, broadband limits, backup storage, and the value of your administration time. A free download can still be the more expensive or frustrating choice if you must buy hardware or cannot keep the server reachable.
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Buying before checking the edition
Symptom: a Java player cannot connect. Fix: verify that every participant launches Bedrock Edition. Realms do not bridge the two editions.
Assuming an invited player can always join
Symptom: a member is invited but cannot enter while the plan is full. Fix: count simultaneous players, not invitations. Standard Realms allow the owner plus two; Realms Plus allows the owner plus ten.
Expecting the Realm price to include console online access
Symptom: a console account still cannot use multiplayer after the Realm is purchased. Fix: check and obtain the console platform’s separate online subscription where required.
Leaving a self-hosted computer asleep or offline
Symptom: friends see a connection failure when you are away. Fix: keep the host awake and the server process running during play periods, and verify firewall, router, and address settings.
Using the RAM figures as a promise
Symptom: a world performs poorly despite meeting a listed minimum. Fix: remember that Minecraft publishes both a 4 GB system-requirements figure and a FAQ statement of at least 1 GB for small servers, with more recommended for larger worlds or groups. Treat workload, background applications, storage, and processing capacity as part of the decision.
Canceling without downloading the world
Symptom: a former Realm owner wants a world after the subscription has ended. Fix: download the world during Minecraft’s stated 18-month post-expiry period and keep your own backups.
A simple decision checklist
- Are all players on Bedrock Edition?
- How many people must be online at the same time: up to three total, up to eleven total, or an unknown number?
- Must the world be playable when the owner is offline?
- Does anyone want to manage an operating system, server process, firewall, router, updates, and backups?
- Do you already have compatible Windows or Ubuntu hardware and broadband service?
- Are console players prepared for their platform’s separate online subscription?
- Have you accounted for local currency, taxes, and storefront differences rather than treating the US Realm price as universal?
If the answers favor simplicity, continuous availability, and a defined small-group size, choose the corresponding Realm tier. If they favor control and technical responsibility, download BDS and treat it as a service you operate—not as a one-click replacement for a Realm.
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