If you’ve ever scrolled through TikTok clips of massive Minecraft roller coasters, watched a friend take down the Ender Dragon for the first time, or had your kid beg for the game for weeks, you’ve probably asked yourself how much does Minecraft cost. It’s not a simple flat rate, because pricing changes depending on what platform you play on, what edition you buy, and whether you want extra features like private servers or themed content packs. I’ve bought Minecraft on four different platforms over the last 10 years, for myself, my little sister, and a group of college friends, so I know all the hidden costs, bad deals, and easy ways to save money when you buy. This guide breaks down every possible cost you might run into, so you don’t get hit with surprise fees after you check out.
How Much Does Minecraft Cost Across Popular Platforms
Most people don’t realize that Minecraft has slightly different pricing for every platform, even though the core game is almost identical across all versions. The base game is always a one-time purchase, so you won’t have to pay a monthly subscription just to play solo or join public servers, no matter what device you use. Let’s break down the standard full price for each major platform, before any sales or discounts.
For PC players, the standard Java & Bedrock Edition bundle costs $29.99, and it’s the only option for Windows players now. This bundle gives you access to both versions of the game, which is a great deal if you like to mod (Java has way more mod support) or play with friends on other platforms (Bedrock supports cross-play with consoles and mobile). If you play on Mac or Linux, you’ll only get the Java Edition for the same $29.99 price, since Bedrock doesn’t support those operating systems yet.
Console pricing varies a little by brand, but most new-gen console versions cost $29.99 full price. That includes PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Older console versions for PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U are usually cheaper, around $19.99 if you can find a physical copy, but they don’t get the latest game updates anymore, so they’re not worth buying unless you only have an older console. Mobile players get the best base price: the Minecraft Pocket Edition for iOS and Android only costs $6.99 one-time, with full access to the core survival and creative modes. Minecraft’s base game is a one-time purchase on nearly all platforms, so you won’t pay a recurring fee just to play solo.
Hidden Extra Costs You Might Encounter With Minecraft
The base game price is all most players will ever need to pay, but there are a few optional extra costs you might run into if you want more features or content. None of these are required to enjoy the full game, but it’s good to know they exist so you don’t get caught off guard if you see an extra charge on your account later. Here are the most common extra costs for Minecraft players:
I’ve never paid for any of these extra costs in the 10 years I’ve played Minecraft, and I’ve still gotten thousands of hours of fun out of the base game. If you’re on a tight budget, you can completely ignore all of these optional add-ons and still enjoy every part of the survival and creative modes. The only time I’ve ever considered paying for extra content was when my little sister wanted the Frozen skin pack a few years ago, and that $3 purchase kept her happy for months, so it was worth it for us.
Is It Worth Paying for Special Minecraft Bundles?
You’ll often see Minecraft sold as part of bundles with spin-off games or extra content, and it can be hard to tell if they’re a good deal or just a way to get you to spend more money. Bundles usually cost between $39.99 and $59.99, so they’re $10 to $30 more expensive than the base game alone. The value depends entirely on what you want out of the game.
The Java & Bedrock bundle for PC is the best value for most players, since it gives you access to both editions for one low price, no extra cost. Before 2022, you had to buy each edition separately for $29.99 each, so now you get twice the content for the same price as one edition used to cost. If you’re a PC player, this is the only bundle you should even consider, unless you’re interested in the spin-off games.
Bundles that include spin-off games like Minecraft Dungeons, Minecraft Legends, or Minecraft Story Mode are only worth it if you already know you want to play those games. If you buy them separately, each spin-off costs $19.99 to $29.99, so a bundle with the base game and one spin-off usually saves you around $10 to $15 compared to buying them separately. But if you only care about the main Minecraft game, these bundles are a waste of money, because you’ll never touch the spin-off content. I bought the base game and Minecraft Dungeons bundle a couple years ago when it was on sale, and I played Dungeons for maybe 10 hours before I got bored and went back to the main game, so it wasn’t worth the extra $15 I paid for it.
Holiday sales are the best time to buy bundles, because you can often get them for 30% to 50% off the regular price. If you’re interested in a bundle, wait for Black Friday, Christmas, or summer sales, and you’ll get a way better deal than buying it full price.
Tips to Save Money When Buying Minecraft
You don’t have to pay full price for Minecraft if you’re willing to wait a little bit or look for legitimate deals. I’ve bought the game for as little as $15 during sales, and I’ve helped a dozen friends get discounted copies over the years. Here are my best tips to save money without risking getting scammed.
Wait for official platform sales: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Steam all run sales on Minecraft multiple times a year, usually cutting 15% to 25% off the base price. Sales happen around every major holiday, and sometimes even during random weekend sales, so if you can wait a month or two, you’ll almost definitely find a discount. I bought my Switch copy of Minecraft during a Nintendo summer sale for $19.99, which was $10 off the regular price.
Avoid untrusted third-party key sellers, no matter how cheap their prices are. A lot of sites sell Minecraft keys for $10 or less, but most of those keys are stolen, bought with stolen credit cards, or already used. I made this mistake back in college, I bought a $8 key from a random site, and it got revoked a month later, so I had to buy the game again full price. It ended up costing me more than if I’d just bought it from the official store in the first place. Only buy keys from verified trusted sellers, and even then, make sure you check reviews first.
If you’re buying for multiple people in your household, take advantage of family sharing features. On Xbox, PC, and Switch, you can share your Minecraft copy with other accounts on the same device, so you don’t have to buy multiple copies for your kids or roommates. I share my PC copy of Minecraft with my little sister, so she can play on her account on our home computer without us having to buy a second copy. That saved us $30 right there.
Check for student or educator discounts if you qualify. A lot of schools offer free access to Minecraft Education Edition, and some even offer 10% to 15% off the base game for students. All you need is a valid school email address to check if you qualify for these discounts.
At the end of the day, how much does Minecraft cost depends entirely on what platform you play on and what extra features you want. Most casual players can get the full base game for between $7 and $30, with no extra fees required to play for hundreds or even thousands of hours. If you want to splurge on extra content, private servers, or spin-off games, you can easily spend more, but it’s never required to enjoy everything the game has to offer. Don’t stress too much about getting the perfect bundle or extra content right away. Start with the base game, play it for a few weeks, and only buy extra add-ons if you find yourself wanting more. Minecraft has some of the best value for money of any game on the market right now, so even if you pay full price, you’ll get way more than your money’s worth.