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Crystal Launcher vs Refract

Crystal Launcher

crystal-launcher.net

Refract

refractmc.net

Side by side

FigureCrystal LauncherRefract
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
Plans published11
Spec score · Minecraft Launchers8.2 (#27)8.9 (#5)
Built-in modpack catalogYesYes
Free planYesYes
Mod loader supportmultiplemultiple
Modpack sourcesIt offers automatic modpack installation from Crystal Launcher, CurseForge, ATLauncher, Technic, FTB, and Modrinth.Supports modpacks from Modrinth, CurseForge, and FTB.
Separate instancesYesYes

Plans

Crystal Launcher

  • Crystal LauncherFree

Crystal Launcher pricing →

Refract

  • Free softwareFree

Refract pricing →

In their own words

Crystal Launcher

Crystal Launcher has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit crystal-launcher.net

Refract

Refract is a free launcher for organizing Minecraft modpacks on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports modpacks from Modrinth, CurseForge, and FTB, with a built-in catalog for finding compatible content. Multiple mod loaders are supported, and modpack import is available through both listed methods. Each pack runs in a separate instance, with its mods, resource packs, worlds, settings, and launch options kept apart. The launcher can install dependencies, update individual mods in place, manage Java runtimes, and apply automatic updates; worlds are preserved during updates. Existing libraries can be imported without mixing files or damaging saves. Users can choose themes, accent colors, sidebar layouts, Java versions, memory limits, and launch behavior. Refract is licensed under GNU GPL v3.0, and its application and website are developed in public. The project uses Tauri and Rust for its native shell. Discord supports player help and project discussions, while GitHub is used for bug reports, change proposals, and code contributions.

Visit refractmc.net