Do You Need a Realm to Play Minecraft With Friends?
Explore whether you need a Realm to play Minecraft with friends. Compare Realms, LAN, and third party servers; learn setup steps, costs, and tips for choosing the best option for your group.
Minecraft Realms is a hosted, official server service that lets you run a private world for you and your friends.
What a Realm is and why it exists
Minecraft Realms is a hosted, official server service from Mojang that runs a private world for you and your friends, with automatic backups and simple invites. Realms are designed to remove the technical headaches of setting up your own server, giving you straightforward invite controls, reliable hosting, and cross device compatibility. The Craft Guide team notes that Realms are particularly appealing to families and groups who want a stable, privacy focused space where moderation and access controls are handled by the platform. Behind the scenes, Realms uses the edition you choose, and the experience is built to feel seamless across devices. Realms also simplifies world rotation, backups, and restoration, so you can roll back to a previous state if something goes wrong. According to Craft Guide, this reliability can be a deciding factor for new players who want to avoid network fiddling and plugin management.
Do you need a realm to play with friends?
In answer to the question do you need a realm to play minecraft with friends, you do not strictly need a Realm to play with others. You can host a game via LAN on a local network, join a public or private third party server, or run a small private server on your own hardware. Realms remain one convenient option among several, offering an always on world with built in invites, automated backups, and curated settings. The Craft Guide team finds that many players appreciate the simplicity of Realms for quick play sessions, while others prefer the flexibility of a self hosted server for customization. Each option has trade offs around cost, control, and maintenance, so your choice should match how you and your friends play together.
Realms versus LAN play: Pros and cons
LAN play is excellent for players on the same local network who want instant access without internet dependency, but it requires one computer to host and won’t work across long distances. Realms eliminate the hosting burden and work across devices and networks, yet you pay a subscription and rely on Mojang's infrastructure. Third party servers can offer more customization, plugins, and large communities, but demand more setup, ongoing maintenance, and potentially higher costs. The Craft Guide analysis shows that players gravitate toward Realms for simplicity and reliability, while more technically inclined groups opt for self hosted or rented servers for control and scale.
Realms vs third party servers: Price, control, and reliability
Realms operates on a subscription model with predictable monthly costs and minimal technical overhead. Third party servers vary widely in price and control: some include auto backups, plugin support, and dedicated hardware, while others are basic hosting plans. Reliability depends on provider setup, network routes, and administrator skills. If you want a hands off experience with automatic backups and a clean invite workflow, Realms is often the easiest path. If you need heavy modding, larger player counts, or advanced admin tools, a private server from a hosting provider may suit you better.
How to set up a Realm in Bedrock and Java editions
Setting up a Realm starts in the Minecraft launcher. Choose Realms from the main menu, pick the edition you play (Bedrock or Java), and create a new Realm. You can then invite friends by sharing the invitation link or adding usernames. Realms automatically applies the edition rules, so friends on compatible devices can join without manual port forwarding. If you are new to Minecraft, take advantage of the guided setup prompts and the built in tutorials. Craft Guide suggests keeping a simple world seed, clear rules, and an organized file structure to minimize headaches when friends join for the first time.
Cross edition considerations and cross play limits
Realms are edition specific. Java Edition Realms host Java worlds, while Bedrock Realms host Bedrock worlds, and cross play between editions is not supported. Be mindful of platform differences such as inventory behavior, redstone mechanics, and controls when inviting friends who own different editions. If you need cross play, you’ll typically choose a third party server that supports both editions where possible, or have everyone stick to the same edition to avoid friction. Craft Guide notes that planning ahead pays off when coordinating invites and mods or resource packs.
Backups, privacy, and moderation in Realms
One advantage of Realms is the built in backups and privacy controls. Realms backs up your world automatically, and you can restore to previous states if something goes wrong. Invitations are controlled by you, so you decide who can join. Realms also includes moderation settings and reporting mechanisms that make it easier to keep the group friendly. If privacy and peace of mind are priorities for your circle, Realms can be a compelling option. Craft Guide emphasizes the value of predictable, managed environments for players who want to avoid dealing with an unfamiliar server admin.
Alternatives if Realms isn’t the right fit
If Realms doesn’t fit your needs, you have several good alternatives. LAN play works well for casual, in the same room sessions. A private third party server or rented hosting can give you more control, plugins, and larger communities, with variable costs and maintenance responsibilities. Hosting your own server on a home PC is also possible, but it requires port forwarding knowledge and reliable internet bandwidth. For many groups, a hybrid approach—use Realms for quick shareable worlds and a separate modded server for long term experiments—offers the best of both worlds. Craft Guide suggests weighing control, cost, and convenience before deciding.
The Craft Guide verdict
The Craft Guide team recommends considering your playstyle and group size when deciding between Realms and alternatives. Realms shines for private, stable, beginner friendly multiplayer with minimal setup, backups, and simple invites. If you value maximum customization, mod support, or large communities, a private server is often the better long term choice. Craft Guide’s verdict is that most groups benefit from starting with Realms to test the waters, then migrating to a more open hosting solution if needs grow.
People Also Ask
Do I need a Realm to play Minecraft with friends?
No. You can play with friends via LAN, a third‑party server, or a Realm. Realms are just one convenient option that hides the technical hosting work.
No. You can play with friends using LAN, a third party server, or a Realm. Realms are one convenient option.
What is the main difference between Realms and a third party server?
Realms are official, hosted, and easy to use with automatic backups and invites. Third party servers offer more customization, plugins, and control but require more setup and maintenance.
Realms are official and easy, with backups; third party servers offer more customization but need more setup.
Can Java and Bedrock players play on the same Realm?
No. Realms are edition specific. Java Realms host Java worlds and Bedrock Realms host Bedrock worlds; cross edition play is not supported.
No. Realms are edition specific, so Java players can’t join Bedrock realms and vice versa.
How do I invite friends to my Realm?
Open your Realm, go to the Invite section, and add your friends by username or sharing an invitation link. Invites grant access without exposing your IP.
Open the Realm, go to Invite, and add friends by username or share a link.
Are Realms backups automatic?
Yes. Realms includes automatic backups, and you can restore to previous states if needed. This helps recover from accidental changes or griefing.
Yes, Realms backs up automatically and you can restore earlier states.
What should I consider before choosing Realms?
Consider group size, desired control, budget, and whether you want a simple private space or a highly customizable server with mods.
Think about group size, control needs, budget, and whether you want mods.
The Essentials
- Realms offer a simple, official multiplayer option with automatic backups
- You do not strictly need a Realm to play with friends
- Choose Realms for ease, or third‑party servers for control
- Edition differences matter for cross‑play and invites
- Plan ahead with invites, backups, and clear group rules