A Minecraft Realms alternative
Realms is the simplest way to share a world, and it's made by Mojang. It's also deliberately limited. If you've hit those limits, here's what a regular server gives you instead.
Where Realms runs out
- No plugins or mods on Java Realms. You get vanilla Minecraft, plus Mojang's own minigames and maps.
- 10 friends at once. A Realm is for a small group, not a community.
- Java and Bedrock are separate. A Java Realm and a Bedrock Realm are different products, and the two can't play together.
- A subscription from day one. There's a free trial, then it's a monthly charge whether you play or not.
Mojang changes Realms' plans and prices now and then, so check minecraft.net for the current details.
What a Jump server does differently
- Free to start. 2 GB of memory, no card and no trial that runs out. It sleeps when nobody's on and wakes when someone joins.
- Plugins and mods. Paper plugins, or Fabric, Forge and NeoForge mods, installed from a catalog in the panel.
- As many player slots as you set. Around a dozen players is comfortable on the free 2 GB; paid plans go up to 8 GB.
- Java and Bedrock in one world. Create a Bedrock server and Geyser lets phones, consoles and Windows players join Java players.
- Your own address. Friends join
yourname.play.jumphosting.cloud, or your own domain.
When Realms is still the better pick
Realms is built into the game: friends accept an invite and join from the Realms tab, with no address to type, and consoles can join it without any workarounds. If your group is under 10 people, plays vanilla and is all on one edition, that simplicity is worth a lot.
Moving your Realm to Jump
- In Minecraft, open your Realm's settings and download the world (on Java: Configure Realm → World backups → Download latest).
- Create a free server on Jump and stop it in the panel.
- In Files, use Upload world with the downloaded world, then start the server.
- Send friends your address. Java players add it under Multiplayer; Bedrock players also need the port shown in the panel.
Bedrock Realm worlds are in Bedrock's format and need converting first; see uploading a world.
Questions
Can console players join a Jump server?
Yes, on a Bedrock server, but Xbox, PlayStation and Switch can't type in a server address directly. The usual workaround is BedrockConnect; the joining guide walks through it.
Is a server harder to run than a Realm?
A little: you get a control panel with settings, a console and files. You don't have to touch any of it to play, though.
Is Jump affiliated with Mojang or Realms?
No. Jump is an independent host and isn't an official Minecraft product.