Minecraft Realms review
Mojang's own subscription servers, joined natively from Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, phones and PCs.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Minecraft Realms is Mojang's own server subscription, built into the game rather than rented from a host. A Bedrock Realm is available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, phones, tablets and Windows, and players on all of them join natively by invitation, which removes the console workarounds third-party servers need. Mojang's add-ons FAQ says add-ons work in Realms worlds, and Realms Plus includes a rotating Marketplace Pass catalogue of creator content.
Bedrock pricing is simple. Realms for Bedrock Edition costs $3.99 a month and allows the owner plus two players online at once, while Realms Plus costs $7.99 a month, raises that to the owner plus ten, and adds the Marketplace Pass. Up to 10,000 people can be invited, and invited members don't need their own subscription. Worlds are saved automatically, each Realm has three world slots, and after a subscription ends the worlds can be downloaded for 18 months. New subscribers get a 30-day trial that renews automatically unless cancelled.
Realms is a convenience product, not a server you control. There are no plugins, no choice of server software, no file access and no published RAM or locations, Bedrock and Java Realms can't share a world, and console multiplayer still requires each platform's online subscription. Groups larger than eleven, or anyone who wants PocketMine plugins, Geyser crossplay or a public server, should rent from a host. For a family or a small group of friends on consoles who want to press play and nothing else, it is the easiest option available.
Minecraft Realms pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Consoles, phones and PCs join natively, with no DNS tricks or relay apps
- Invited members play for free; only the owner subscribes
- Worlds are saved automatically and stay downloadable for 18 months after cancelling
- Where it doesn't
- 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
Minecraft Realms fact sheet, pricing and score →
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