Best Minecraft Mod Development Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Visual Studio Code is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Blockbench and IntelliJ IDEA. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Blockbench. The lowest first paid tier on this page is IntelliJ IDEA at $8.33/mo.
Minecraft mod development tools can support different parts of a project, from editing code and debugging to managing dependencies and packaging artifacts. Compare supported Minecraft versions, loaders, and platforms, then check whether a visual editor or code debugging suits your workflow. Dependency management and artifact packaging help clarify how tools fit into a build setup; free plans and paid-from pricing add cost context. Visual Studio Code, Blockbench, and IntelliJ IDEA are among the options listed. Use the version and loader details to assess compatibility with the mod you intend to build.
31 Minecraft mod development tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
31ranked
11free plans on this page
$8.33/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Minecraft Mod Development Tools 25 channels on this page · 74 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSupported loadersVisual editorCode debuggingDependency managementMinecraft versionsArtifact packaging Spec sheet Score
01 Visual Studio Code Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.5
02 Blockbench Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 IntelliJ IDEA Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 Architectury Loom Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, Forge, NeoForge, QuiltVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versions1.14.4+Artifact packagingYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 Fabric Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
06 Gradle Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
07 ForgeGradle Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersForge, FMLVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versions1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.19.4Artifact packagingYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 Retrom Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 Eclipse IDE Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 MCreator Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.9
11 Minecraft Forge Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 ModDevGradle Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersNeoForge; Minecraft ForgeVisual editorNoCode debuggingYesDependency managementYesMinecraft versions1.17–1.20.1; 1.21.1; 26.1.2; 26.2; 26.3Artifact packagingYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Recaf Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingYesDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 McDeob Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editorNoCode debuggingNoDependency managementNoMinecraft versions1.7.10-1.13.2 selected legacy releases; 1.14.4+ releases and snapshots; 26.1+Artifact packagingNo 6/8spec lines stated 6.2
15 Minecraft Development MCP Server Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForgeVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versions1.14+, including 1.14–1.21.11 and 26.1+; tested 1.19.4, 1.20.1, 1.21.10, 1.21.11, 26.1-snapshot-8, 26.1-snapshot-9Artifact packagingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
16 CurseForge Gradle Publish Plugin Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, NeoForgeVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
17 mc-publish Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, Forge, Quilt, Rift, NeoForge, ModLoaderVisual editorNoCode debuggingNoDependency managementYesMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingNo 6/8spec lines stated 5.6
18 MixinExtras Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForgeVisual editorNoCode debuggingNoDependency managementNoMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingNo 6/8spec lines stated 5.6
19 Tiny Remapper Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabricVisual editorNoCode debuggingNoDependency managementNoMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.6
20 Mod Publish Plugin Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersFabric, ForgeVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versions1.21.11 and below; 26.1+Artifact packagingnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.5
21 Neo-Loom Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersNeoForge, MinecraftForgeVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versions1.21+, 26.1+Artifact packagingYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.5
22 NeoForge Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.5
23 Ravel Remapper Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersnot statedVisual editorNoCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementnot statedMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.5
24 Quilt Loom Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersQuiltVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.4
25 CurseForgeGradle Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported loadersForge, Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, RiftVisual editornot statedCode debuggingnot statedDependency managementYesMinecraft versionsnot statedArtifact packagingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.2
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which Minecraft mod development tool is ranked first on Specifiction?
Visual Studio Code is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 7.5. Blockbench is second and IntelliJ IDEA third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, IntelliJ IDEA has the lowest first paid tier we found: $8.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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