Basalt Launcher vs Shard Launcher
Basalt Launcher
github.comShard Launcher
shard.thomas.mdSide by side
| Figure | Basalt Launcher | Shard Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Minecraft Launchers | 8.6 (#11) | 8.7 (#9) |
| Maker | The maker's GitHub profile describes MegalithOfficial as working on machine learning systems and identifies its owner as a backend developer; it gives no headquarters or founding date. | The homepage credits Thomas Marchand. |
| Mod loader support | multiple | multiple |
| Modpack import | catalog | file |
| Purpose | Basalt is an open-source Minecraft launcher with an artwork-led interface and tools for managing instances, loaders, content, accounts, and launch settings. | Shard is a content-addressed Minecraft launcher focused on reproducibility and reducing duplicate files. |
| Separate instances | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The project directs users to GitHub Issues for reproducible bug reports and feature proposals, and asks them to include logs, operating system, Minecraft version, and loader when relevant. | The FAQ directs users with unanswered questions to open an issue on GitHub. |
Plans
In their own words
Basalt Launcher
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.
Shard Launcher
Shard Launcher has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.