There are three ways to play multiplayer in "Minecraft: Java Edition:" through an online server, a LAN server, or a "Minecraft Realms" server.

The Bedrock Edition of Minecraft is playable with friends using peer-to-peer online multiplayer, where you can join your friends’ active sessions for free. But if you want a server that will ...

However, there are also free servers. I will talk a little about these at the end of this guide. Steps to Set Up a Free Minecraft (Java) Server on PC ...