BepInEx vs MelonLoader
BepInEx
github.comMelonLoader
github.comSide by side
| Figure | BepInEx | MelonLoader |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Mod Loaders | 9.0 (#1) | 8.7 (#3) |
| Configuration | BepInEx includes a built-in configuration system for the framework and plugins. | After first launch, Loader.cfg exposes loader, console, logging, Mono debugger and Unity/Il2Cpp settings. |
| Licence | The GitHub repository identifies the BepInEx project licence as LGPL-2.1. | The repository and installer are licensed under Apache License 2.0. |
| License | The project is open source under the LGPL-2.1 license. | The repository states MelonLoader is licensed under Apache License, Version 2.0. |
| Logging | BepInEx provides built-in logging for framework and plugin messages. | Runtime logs are written under MelonLoader/Logs in the game installation directory. |
| Maker identity | The project presents itself as BepInEx, expanded as Bepis Injector Extensible, and credits contributors through its public GitHub repository. | The project is maintained by the LavaGang GitHub organization and contributors. |
| Purpose | BepInEx is a plugin and modding framework for Unity Mono, Unity IL2CPP, and .NET Framework games, including XNA, FNA, and MonoGame. | MelonLoader describes itself as a universal mod loader for Unity games compatible with both Il2Cpp and Mono. |
| What it does | BepInEx is a plugin and modding framework for Unity Mono, Unity IL2CPP and .NET Framework games, including XNA, FNA and MonoGame. | MelonLoader injects into Unity games using either Mono or Il2Cpp and loads community assemblies. |
Plans
In their own words
BepInEx
BepInEx is a plugin and modding framework for Unity Mono and IL2CPP games, as well as .NET Framework games such as those built with XNA, FNA, and MonoGame. It provides configuration and logging, runtime method patching, and in-memory assembly patching. Runtime patching uses Harmony, including HarmonyX and MonoMod; in-memory patching uses Mono.Cecil with UnityDoorstop. The installation guide lists Windows, Linux, and macOS, though supported operating system versions and architectures depend on the build and game. Setup is manual: download the appropriate build and put its contents in the game’s root folder. Official binaries are available as stable and bleeding edge builds; the documentation recommends stable in most cases and notes that bleeding edge builds tend to be buggier. The project is open source under LGPL-2.1 and links to guides for users and developers. Compatibility has limits: stable releases are available only for Unity Mono, BepInEx 6 documentation remains a work in progress, and BepInEx 5 plugins do not yet work with the 6.0.0 pre-release.
MelonLoader
MelonLoader is a free mod loader for Unity games using Mono or Il2Cpp. It injects mods and supports plugins, load-order control, and dependency handling. Mods and plugins are placed in separate folders in the game installation directory, and game logs are written to a MelonLoader/Logs folder. The project provides an installer guide and manual installation instructions for a release archive. For Il2Cpp games, the listed requirement is the.NET 6.0 Desktop Runtime; the repository says it is installed automatically on Windows. Windows startup loading uses a proxy DLL, a method the project identifies as Windows-only. Linux instructions cover WINE, Steam Proton, and native use, while Android and Oculus Quest support is marked as work in progress. Debug mode is intended for work on the loader, plugins, and mods. Configuration also includes a Mono debug server, and the Il2Cpp Assembly Generator can be set to run without contacting its remote API. MelonLoader is licensed under Apache License, Version 2.0 and listed at free.