Basalt Launcher vs FTB App

Basalt Launcher is a free, open-source Minecraft launcher written in Rust for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It keeps saves, mods, resource packs, shaders, settings, and launch options separate for each instance. Users can install and switch among Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, and Forge, browse Modrinth and CurseForge with compatibility filtering, dependency resolution, changelogs, and update checks, and create an instance from a Modrinth modpack. Multiple Microsoft accounts are supported with device-code sign-in and silent token refresh. Skin and cape tools allow importing, previewing, saving, and applying cosmetics. Basalt can locate compatible Java runtimes and set global or per-instance overrides. Downloads and installs can be monitored, cancelled, or recovered after interruption. Separate launcher and game logs, adjustable log levels, and launch-argument previews aid diagnosis. Installers are provided for the three desktop systems, though testing coverage varies by platform during beta. Basalt is not an official Mojang or Microsoft product.

FTB App is Feed The Beast’s desktop launcher for finding and managing modpacks, then playing them. It is the officially supported way to get FTB modpacks, and it also connects to CurseForge for discovering and installing its packs. The app supports NeoForge, Fabric, and Forge, and lets users create and share their own modpacks or add, remove, and update mods. Packs stay in separate instances, with automatic updates and controls for Java version, arguments, and RAM. Users can install FTB modpack servers through the app or a Linux command line. The app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux; Windows uses Overwolf, while the other desktop versions use Electron without another background application. It is free to use and contains ads supporting Feed The Beast. Authentication is required to use the app, and playing Minecraft requires a Minecraft account. Its source code is available through GitHub.