Mojang offers official no-fuss servers at $13/month or less.

Minecraft has a massive community with a huge market for server hosting. As an alternative to unofficial sources, Mojang is now offering worldwide official servers with Minecraft Realms. With a cost between $10-$13/month and 10 maximum players (20 whitelisted), there are more thrifty deals out there. This is a great option for players who want the easiest possible server experience.

Here's a quick rundown, with more info on the main page and the FAQ:

Upsides

• Simple! No need to configure anything
• Interfaces with Minecraft directly
• Performs regular world backups
• Peace of mind using an official server

Downsides

• Only 10 players can play at one time, and only 20 can be invited/"on the list"
• You can't scale the server cost/size based on your use
• The price is relatively high compared to the maximum players
• At the moment, it doesn't allow for modding or texture packs
   

Realms' current* prices as of writing, with discounts already applied:

Monthly Charge, 1 Month: $10.40/month
One-Time Charge, 1 Month: $13.00/month
One-Time Charge, 3 Months: $11.67/month
One-Time Charge, 6 Months: $10.34/month

* Mojang notes that Realms are still in-progress, and they "may have to change these prices later on."

Overall, a very helpful offering that will undoubtedly find a grateful audience.

Colt "ShdwFlm" Casey
Deputy Editor