Is Minecraft free? Price, trial and the legal free versions
Is Minecraft free? No, the full game costs about 120 PLN in the official Java + Bedrock bundle on minecraft.net. There are only three legal free alternatives: Minecraft Classic in your browser (the 2009 version), Minecraft Trial (a time-limited demo) and Minecraft: Education Edition for schools with a license.
Short answer: is Minecraft free?
No, the full game is not free. As of April 2026, the official price on minecraft.net is about 120 PLN for a bundle that includes both Java Edition (PC) and Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11), the edition that lets you play with friends on phones and consoles. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription fees and no limit on hours played.
That said, Minecraft has three legal, free options that can stand in for buying it in certain situations:
- Minecraft Classic - a free 2009 version that runs in your browser at classic.minecraft.net. Creative mode only, 32 blocks, no saving
- Minecraft: Education Edition - free for teachers at schools with a Microsoft Education license (Office 365 A3/A5)
- Minecraft Trial - a 90-100 minute demo you can download from minecraft.net
On top of that, if you have Xbox Game Pass (about 45-65 PLN a month), you can play the full Minecraft on PC for as long as you keep the subscription. The first month usually costs 4 PLN in a starter promotion, which makes it the cheapest legal way to try the game.
What is free: Classic and Education Edition
Mojang (the owner of Minecraft, part of Microsoft) offers three official free variants of the game. None of them replaces buying the full game, but each has its uses.
Minecraft Classic: the 2009 version in your browser
On classic.minecraft.net Mojang hosts the historical Minecraft Classic version from May 2009. It runs right in the browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), with no login, no account and no files to download. It supports multiplayer for up to 10 people: you just share a link to your world.
Limitations of Minecraft Classic:
- Creative mode only: no Survival, no mobs, no hunger
- Only 32 blocks are available (the full game has over 800)
- No saving: when you close the tab, you lose your progress
- No updates since 2009, so the look is purely retro
- No crafting, no Nether, no End
It is a great option for a kid who wants to "see Minecraft" before you decide to buy, or for anyone who wants to try a historical version. In class it is sometimes used as a demo of building with blocks.
Minecraft: Education Edition for schools
Education Edition is a full version of Minecraft with extra educational features: Code Builder (learning to program), Chemistry Resource Pack (chemistry), a camera, chalkboards and NPCs. It is free for teachers and students, but it requires a Microsoft school license (Office 365 A3, A5 or Education A3/A5).
Schools can apply for a license directly from Microsoft. It is used mainly in computer science, math and history lessons (for example, to rebuild historic monuments).
Minecraft Realms: a separate paid service
To be clear, Realms is a paid subscription for servers hosted by Mojang (about 35 PLN a month for 2 players, 55 PLN for 10 players). It does not replace buying the game: you have to buy Minecraft first, and only then can you optionally buy Realms to get a server for you and your friends.
Minecraft Trial: a demo with a time limit
Minecraft Trial is the official demo, available for free on minecraft.net and in the Microsoft Store on Windows. It lets you play full Survival mode with all the mechanics: fighting mobs, crafting, building, the Nether.
Trial limitations:
- Play time in one world: 100 minutes (Bedrock Edition) or 5 in-game days (Java Edition)
- You can't save your progress once the limit runs out
- No access to the Marketplace (extra packs)
- No online multiplayer, LAN only
- No mods or resource packs
100 minutes is plenty to find out whether you like the game. When the limit runs out you can start Trial again with a new world (as many times as you like), but saving your progress requires buying the full game.
How to start Minecraft Trial
Trial runs through the official Minecraft Launcher. Install the launcher from minecraft.net, sign in with a Microsoft account (free to create) and pick the Trial option. It does not require a credit card or any payment details.
Why you should not use TLauncher or cracked launchers
You will see "free" launchers for Minecraft advertised online, such as TLauncher and TL Legacy. All of them are illegal tools that violate the license terms of Mojang and Microsoft.
Risks of using a crack:
- Legal consequences - copyright infringement and possible civil liability. Legally, it is piracy
- No access to official servers - all premium servers (Hypixel, Hive, CubeCraft and the like) require a verified Microsoft/Mojang account. A cracked account does not work
- Malware and viruses - TLauncher has repeatedly been reported by security researchers as a distributor of malware. Antivirus programs often block it
- No updates and no support - you don't get the official security patches, and bugs don't get fixed
- No Marketplace, premium skins or Realms - all paid services require a verified account
- No cross-play - you can't play with people on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or Bedrock Edition
Both legally and practically, a cracked Minecraft is a waste of time. The alternative (1 month of Game Pass for 4 PLN) gives you the full experience legally. It isn't worth risking your account, your computer's security and your access to most multiplayer servers.
We do not link to cracked launchers or explain how to install them. The minecraft.pl team has supported only legal copies of the game since 2011. If you don't have 120 PLN, use Trial (100 minutes for free) or Game Pass (4 PLN to start).
Where to buy Minecraft legally
The official places to buy the full Minecraft:
Minecraft.net: buying directly
On minecraft.net you buy the Java + Bedrock Edition bundle for about 120 PLN. The purchase is tied to your Microsoft account, which then signs in to the Java launcher (PC/Mac/Linux) and to Bedrock Edition on Windows 10/11. Payment: credit card, PayPal, BLIK (through the Microsoft Store).
Microsoft Store: an alternative to minecraft.net
The exact same game and bundle, available in the Microsoft Store on Windows 10/11. The price is the same, about 120 PLN. Sometimes there are promotions that bring it down to 90-100 PLN (for example around Black Friday).
Consoles: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Store - Minecraft on Xbox One / Series X/S, about 140 PLN
- PlayStation Store - PS4 / PS5, about 130 PLN
- Nintendo eShop - Switch, about 120 PLN
The console versions are Bedrock Edition with full cross-play, so you can play with people on PC, phones and other consoles.
Gift cards in physical stores
If you don't want to enter a credit card online, buy a Microsoft Gift Card in a physical store and top up your Microsoft account. You can find them at:
- Electronics and entertainment retailers - Microsoft cards of 50, 100 and 200 PLN, plus a full range of Xbox / Microsoft cards
- Gas stations and grocery or discount chains - occasionally, Xbox cards of 50 and 100 PLN
Buy a 150 PLN card, redeem it on your Microsoft account, then buy Minecraft (120 PLN), and you have 30 PLN left over for skins or Minecoins.
Xbox Game Pass: the cheapest way to start
Instead of buying the game outright you can get PC Game Pass (about 45 PLN a month) or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (65 PLN a month). Both include the full Minecraft Java + Bedrock. The first month usually costs 4 PLN in a promotion, which is a great way to get a month of unlimited play. When the subscription ends you lose access, so in the long run it is better to buy the game.
Do not buy from suspicious websites, marketplace listings at a suspiciously low price or "G2A keys". These are often stolen accounts that Microsoft bans after a few weeks. See also our guide to changing your Minecraft version and our roundup of legal ways to play for free.
FAQ
Is Minecraft free on a phone?
No. Minecraft Pocket Edition (now Bedrock) costs about 30-35 PLN on Google Play and the App Store. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription. Most free "Minecraft" games on Android (Block Craft, Crafting and Building and so on) are clones, not the original.
How much does the Minecraft Java + Bedrock bundle cost?
As of April 2026 the Java + Bedrock bundle on minecraft.net costs about 120 PLN. One purchase, two editions: Java Edition (PC/Mac/Linux) and Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11). With your Xbox/Microsoft account linked, Bedrock also gives you cross-play with consoles and mobile.
Is Minecraft free through Game Pass?
Not exactly free, but access is much cheaper. PC Game Pass (45 PLN/month) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (65 PLN/month) include Minecraft Java + Bedrock. The first month costs 4 PLN in the starter promotion. When the subscription ends you lose access, because you do not get the game to keep.
Do kids need a Microsoft account?
Yes. Minecraft now requires a Microsoft account (it replaced the old Mojang account). For children under 13 a parent creates the account and turns on supervision through Microsoft Family Safety. See our guide to Minecraft for kids, which covers parental controls.
Does Minecraft have microtransactions?
Yes. Bedrock Edition has the Minecraft Marketplace, a store with add-ons (maps, skins, resource packs, mini-games). You pay with Minecoins, which you buy with real money. Java Edition has no official marketplace: all community mods, maps and skins are free. Microtransactions are optional, and the game plays normally without them.
Is Minecraft worth buying in 2026?
Definitely. For 120 PLN you get a game with 15 years of support, thousands of free servers, a huge mod scene and an active community. The cost per hour is minimal, since most players spend hundreds or thousands of hours in Minecraft.