Corkscrew vs CurseForge

Corkscrew is a free, open-source mod manager for Linux and macOS. It supports Skyrim and lists Fallout 4 support; Starfield is described as coming soon. Its built-in mod source access includes Nexus Mods downloads using OAuth 2.0 with PKCE, NXM links and Nexus SSO. Users can install Nexus mods with one click, add archives, run FOMOD wizards and reorder mods by dragging. Profiles let users switch between vanilla, lightly modded and large-plugin setups. Plugin tools include LOOT sorting, master validation, conflict detection and dependency views. Corkscrew also supports Wabbajack modlists through a seven-phase installation pipeline. Custom SSE Engine Fixes patches cover more than 60 crash sites and deploy automatically. The project requires no account and uses no telemetry. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, and its page lists a 17 MB download. Support links include GitHub, Issues and Support on Ko-fi.

CurseForge is a catalog for finding and downloading Minecraft mods and modpacks. Its Minecraft browse page lists Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, and Quilt, and displays more than 10,000 projects. Users can filter by game version and see dependency information, download tracking, and mod collections. The free web catalog provides access to Minecraft mods and modpacks, which the page describes as free. Premium access is available on the web and desktop client. Premium removes ads across CurseForge platforms and the desktop client, enables direct downloads without waiting delays, and includes custom themes and layout customization in the desktop experience. The monthly subscription is $2.99 per month. The annual subscription is $30.00 billed annually, listed from $35.88 with a 16% saving. Subscribers can cancel at any time and retain access through the billing cycle. Refunds are generally not offered, although exceptions may be considered individually. After Premium access ends, an account returns to free membership. CurseForge says mod authors receive 70% of subscription income.