If you have a decent cpu and at least 8-16 gb ram, you should be able to run your own server easy. Port forwarding is super easy, just seems complicated at first. Multicraft is a good host for the console if you don't just want to run a cmd prompt for the server. Ive used realms and honestly I think it was pretty shitty for being paid. Lagging on a vanilla server with less than 6 ppl. I can't speak from experience on the free servers but I'm a skeptic so I can't imagine a free server is worth the hassle. Like gemini said, there are shit loads of tutorials online about hosting your own server
