Minecraft Realms is a subscription-based service that allows you to set up your own world on officially hosted servers. While it might be cheaper to host worlds on your own server, Realms are significantly easier to use and you do not need to have the technical know-how to set up or manage your own server. Realms start at $7.99 USD per month and you also have access to a 30-day trial in case you want to try the feature out.
How to get purchase a Minecraft Realm
Subscribing to Realms or Realms Plus will give you access to one Realm. If you have never purchased Realms Plus before, you qualify for a 30-day trial.
In Minecraft, select Play and choose Create New World.
Choose your world settings and select Create on Realms.
Choose whether you want to Add a 10-player Realm or to Add a 2-player Realm.
Make sure to read the Terms & Conditions and the Privacy Policy and check the “I agree” box.
If you qualify for a free trial, select the Start Trial button. Otherwise, select the Subscribe Now $7.99/Month button.
Purchase the subscription with a compatible payment method
Once your subscription is active, you will be able to start creating your very own game world.
How to create a Realm for the first time in Minecraft
Once you have access to a Realm, you can configure it to your liking. Here’s how:
In Minecraft, click Play.
Click the Create New button and then click the Create New World button.
Choose the game and multiplayer settings for your new world.
After you have completed adjusting your world settings, click the Create on Realms button.
Choose to create a new Realm.
In case you want to play an existing world on your own realm instead of creating one on your own, here’s what you need to do:
In Minecraft, click Play.
Click the Edit button next to the world you want to load.
Adjust any game or multiplayer settings you want to change.
Click the Play on Realm button.
Choose the Realm you want to load your world onto.
You should now be able to load into your own world where you get to choose the rules ranging from difficulty to material drop rates. Do note that you have to keep paying the monthly subscription if you want to play on your Realm. If you intend to take a break from Minecraft, make sure you back up your realm so you can restore it later.