Minecraft Realms vs hosting your own server
Compare Bedrock and Java Realms with running your own free crossplay server on Schokr: cost, player limits, plugins and control.
Updated · 2 min read
Realms is Mojang's paid, hands-off server service. Running your own server on Schokr is free and gives you full control, including plugins and crossplay between Java and Bedrock, at the cost of doing a little setup yourself.
The short comparison
| Realms | Your own server on Schokr | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Monthly subscription | Free package, no trial or expiry |
| Crossplay Java and Bedrock | No, Java Realms and Bedrock Realms are separate | Yes, with GeyserMC and Floodgate |
| Plugins | No | Yes, any Paper plugin |
| Player cap | Small fixed limit | Set by you and your resources |
| Joining | Invite only, built into the game menu | Server address and port |
| Console players | Join easily from the Realms menu | Need a workaround to add servers |
| Backups and file access | Limited | File manager, backups and snapshots |
| Uptime control | Always on | Always on, servers do not sleep when idle |
When Realms makes sense
- Everyone plays on console and you want zero setup.
- You only need a small private world with friends.
- You do not want to manage updates or plugins.
When your own server makes sense
- You have friends on both Java and Bedrock and want them in the same world.
- You want plugins: land claims, homes, economy, permissions, minigames.
- You want more players or more control over settings like view distance and game rules.
- You do not want to pay a monthly fee.
How Bedrock players join your own server
Your Schokr server runs Paper (Java), and Geyser lets Bedrock clients connect. PC and mobile Bedrock players add the server in the Servers tab with your address and Bedrock port. Console players can join with a workaround such as a friends-list broadcaster or a DNS redirect. See connecting from Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.
Moving a Realm world to your server
You can download a Realm's world from the Realms settings and upload it to your server with the file manager.
- A Java Realm world can be used directly: upload the world folder and set
level-nameinserver.propertiesto match. - A Bedrock Realm world is a Bedrock world, which a Java server cannot load as-is. It needs converting to Java format with a third-party converter first, and some blocks or entities may not convert perfectly. Keep the original.
To get started, see can I host a Bedrock server on Schokr.