Minecraft Realms vs Server Hosting: Cost and Limits

Published November 2, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026

If you play Java Edition with a few friends and want mods, plugins or a modpack, rent a server. If you want zero setup, or you play on Bedrock or console, Realms is the better fit. Here's the comparison with numbers.

The short version

Realms facts are from Minecraft.net's Realms page and the Minecraft Wiki: Java Realms is US$7.99 a month, you play with up to 10 other players, and "mods and plugins cannot be installed." Packyard facts are from our pricing page.

Where Realms wins

• Nothing to set up. Open the game, click the Realm, play. No panel, address or versions to learn.
• Invites that just work. Friends join from the game's friends list rather than typing an address.
• Cross-play on Bedrock. Realms can run on Bedrock and consoles. Packyard is Java Edition only.
• Run by Mojang. Updates land with the game.

Where renting your own server wins

• Mods and modpacks. Realms can't run them. A rented server can run Fabric, NeoForge or Forge, or a one-click pack like Cobblemon or Create+. See the modded hosting page for what we install.
• Plugins. Paper servers take plugins (on Packyard you can install free ones from Hangar in one click) for claims, homes, whitelist rules and more.
• Cost for a small group. For friends who only need vanilla-ish play, a 3 or 4 GB server at $5 to $6 undercuts $7.99. Prices differ by host, so compare price per GB.
• Control of the files. Upload worlds, edit server.properties, and use SFTP.
• A real address. Players can type one address into the server list. On Packyard it's yourserver.play.packyard.ca and it doesn't change when we move the hardware (how that works). Self-hosting at home instead? Your home IP will change from time to time; here's how to keep one address for friends.
• Helpers. Add a friend as a sub-user to run the console and files without seeing your billing.

What you give up

Renting means being the admin. You pick the RAM, the software and the version, and you decide who may join (turn on the whitelist unless the server is public). Realms handles all that. If you hate admin work, say so before you rent.

How to decide

1. Do you want mods or plugins? Yes: rent. No: either works.
2. Bedrock or console players? Realms.
3. More than ten players, or an always-on public server? Rent.
4. Just you and two friends, vanilla, and you value zero setup? Realms.

Moving later

You're not locked in. Download your Realm in the game and upload it to a rented server. We have the full steps: move your Realms world to your own server.

Try it

Packyard is $1.50 per GB per month with a $5 minimum, in USD plus applicable taxes. Backups, SFTP, sub-users and a permanent address are included. Available in the US and Canada (not Quebec); servers run in US West.

Start a Minecraft server from $5 or see the hosting page.

Minecraft and Minecraft Realms are trademarks of Mojang/Microsoft. Packyard is not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.

FAQ

Can I add mods to Minecraft Realms?

No. Realms doesn't support mods or plugins. A rented server does.

How much does a Minecraft Realm cost?

Java Edition Realms is US$7.99 a month per the Minecraft Wiki and Minecraft.net.

How many people can join a Realm?

You plus up to 10 other players at once on Java Realms.

Is a rented server cheaper than Realms?

For a small vanilla or Paper server, usually: Packyard's 3 GB plan is $5. A big modpack needs more RAM and costs more than Realms.

Can I move my Realm to a server later?

Yes, by downloading it from Realms and uploading the world folder. See our Realms move guide.

More guides and posts on the Packyard blog.