Best Minecraft Realms Alternatives in 2026
The top Minecraft Realms alternatives are Godlike.Host, BisectHosting and Apex Hosting: 13 minecraft bedrock server hosting our editors would look at instead of Minecraft Realms, in our ranking order.
Minecraft Realms: Mojang's own subscription servers, joined natively from Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, phones and PCs. Where it falls short: the $3.99 bedrock realm allows only the owner plus two players online at once.
Switching from Minecraft Realms? For most minecraft bedrock server hosting buyers the best Minecraft Realms alternative is Godlike.Host, built for bedrock groups that want a small 1 GB start. On a budget, PebbleHost starts at $1/mo, against $3.99/mo for Minecraft Realms. Nodecraft offers the most server locations (27 locations).
Why People Look for a Minecraft Realms Alternative
- The $3.99 Bedrock Realm allows only the owner plus two players online at once
- No plugins, server software choice, file access or published locations
- Bedrock Realms can't host Java players; there is no crossplay bridge
- No free plan — 4 of the alternatives below have it
- No java–Bedrock crossplay — 12 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallGodlike.Host9.7
Bedrock groups that want a small 1 GB start
Visit Godlike.Host - Lowest pricePebbleHost8.6
Paid plans from $1/mo
Visit PebbleHost - Best free optionGodlike.Host9.7
Has a free plan (Minecraft Realms has none)
Visit Godlike.Host - Most server locationsNodecraft8.4
27 locations
Visit Nodecraft - Best for java–bedrock crossplayBisectHosting9.3
Java–Bedrock crossplay (Minecraft Realms: no)
Visit BisectHosting
All 13 Minecraft Realms Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Sponsored alternatives to Minecraft Realms Sponsored alternative
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Best forBedrock groups that want a small 1 GB start
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.7 vs 8.8
Godlike.Host — Minecraft Bedrock servers with mods, backups, DDoS protection and 10 data-center locations.
- Add-ons & packs
9.7/10★★★★★Visit Godlike.host -
Best forConsole-heavy Bedrock communities
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.8
Native Bedrock with Endstone, auto-processed add-ons and console join guides for Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.
- Console join
- Add-ons & packs
9.3/10★★★★★Visit BisectHosting -
Best forConsole families on Bedrock Dedicated Server
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.8
Bedrock from $3.99 for 1 GB, one-click Geyser, add-on guides and console joins on Xbox, Switch and PS.
- Console join
- Add-ons & packs
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Apex Hosting -
Best forBedrock owners who want to test pre-release builds
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.8
Bedrock plans from $3.99 for 1 GB with a long list of server software, add-on support and pre-release builds.
- Add-ons & packs
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Shockbyte -
Best forBedrock friends on a zero budget
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Free plan
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Free Bedrock servers with add-on uploads, console joining via BedrockTogether and one-click Geyser.
- Console join
- Add-ons & packs
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Aternos -
Best forPhone and PC Bedrock groups on a tight budget
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
- Paid from: $1/mo vs $3.99/mo
Vanilla Bedrock, NukkitX or PocketMine-MP from $1 per GB, preinstalled at checkout, plus resource packs.
- Add-ons & packs
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit PebbleHost -
Best forBedrock owners who want plugin-capable software
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Vanilla Bedrock, Nukkit or PocketMine on Enterprise hardware from $5.18 for 2 GB, with a behavior-pack guide.
- Add-ons & packs
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Sparked Host -
Best forBedrock players who want a server near them
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Bedrock servers in 27 listed cities with Cloudburst plugins and an add-on guide, from $5.96 for 2 GB.
- Add-ons & packs
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Nodecraft -
Best forBedrock players who want to try Preview builds free
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Free plan
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Free or premium Bedrock servers on vanilla, Preview, PocketMine, Nukkit or CloudBurst, plus a Geyser type.
- Add-ons & packs
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Falix -
Best forBedrock servers that want PocketMine or Nukkit plugins
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Official Bedrock, PocketMine or Nukkit from $5 for 1.5 GB, plus Geyser as a one-click server type.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit ScalaCube -
Best forBedrock owners who want a whole machine to tinker with
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Vanilla Bedrock servers on plans with SFTP, a root shell and daily backups, from $7 for 4 GB.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Server.pro -
Best forFamilies who want Bedrock and Java on one VPS
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Bedrock runs as an instance type on Game Panel VPS plans with root access, from $19.49 a month regular.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Hostinger -
Best forPhone and Windows players joining Java servers
- Better than Minecraft Realms:
- Free plan
- Java–Bedrock crossplay
Every Minehut server accepts Bedrock players automatically over Geyser, but consoles can't connect.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Minehut
Minecraft Realms Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Minecraft Realms?
Godlike.Host: #1 in our Minecraft Bedrock Server Hosting ranking, with an editor score of 9.7 out of 10. Godlike.Host — Minecraft Bedrock servers with mods, backups, DDoS protection and 10 data-center locations.
Is there a free alternative to Minecraft Realms?
Yes. Godlike.Host, Aternos, Falix, ScalaCube and Minehut have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Minecraft Realms?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, PebbleHost starts lowest, at $1/mo.
Why do people look for Minecraft Realms alternatives?
The $3.99 Bedrock Realm allows only the owner plus two players online at once; No plugins, server software choice, file access or published locations; Bedrock Realms can't host Java players; there is no crossplay bridge.
Which Minecraft Realms alternative has the most server locations?
Nodecraft, with 27 locations.
How do I switch from Minecraft Realms?
Back up your world, configs and mods from Minecraft Realms's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Minecraft Realms after a test session.
How to Switch from Minecraft Realms
- Back up your world, configs and mods from Minecraft Realms's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Minecraft Realms after a test session.
Minecraft Realms vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Native Bedrock server | Java–Bedrock crossplay | Console join | Server locations | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Minecraft Realms | No | $3.99/mo | Yes | No | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 1 | Godlike.Host | Yes | $7.99/mo | Yes | 10 locations | 9.7 | ||
| 2 | BisectHosting | No | $5.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 21 locations | 9.3 |
| 3 | Apex Hosting | No | $3.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 locations | 9.1 |
| 4 | Shockbyte | No | $3.99/mo | Yes | Yes | No | 16 locations | 8.9 |
| 5 | Aternos | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 6 | PebbleHost | No | $1/mo | Yes | Yes | No | 7 locations | 8.6 |
| 7 | Sparked Host | No | $5.18/mo | Yes | Yes | 10 locations | 8.4 | |
| 8 | Nodecraft | No | $5.96/mo | Yes | Yes | 27 locations | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Falix | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 locations | 8.2 | ||
| 10 | ScalaCube | $5/mo | Yes | Yes | 14 locations | 8.1 | ||
| 11 | Server.pro | No | $7/mo | Yes | Yes | 9 locations | 7.8 | |
| 12 | Hostinger Minecraft Hosting | No | $19.49/mo | Yes | Yes | 10 locations | 7.7 | |
| 13 | Minehut | Yes | No | Yes | No | 7.2 |
Head-to-Head
- Minecraft Realms vs Godlike.Host
- Minecraft Realms vs BisectHosting
- Minecraft Realms vs Apex Hosting
- Minecraft Realms vs Shockbyte
- Minecraft Realms vs Aternos
- Minecraft Realms vs PebbleHost
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update