CurseForge vs Thunderstore

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.

Thunderstore is a mod database and API for developers to publish mods and for mod managers to download them. Its catalog lists over 110,000 mods across 300+ games. Thunderstore Mod Manager installs, updates, and manages mods for supported games; it supports profiles, profile export, direct downloads and installs, configuration editing, and updates for outdated mods. The official site directs users to download the manager for Windows, and the app is powered by the Overwolf Client, which is installed with it. Developers can use linked API and package-format documentation, a manifest validator, and a Markdown preview tool. The free plan is listed at free. Thunderstore directs users and developers to Discord for manager support, game requests, and rejected-upload review requests. Its privacy notice says nonessential cookies are applied only with consent and technical and usage data is generally retained for up to 30 days, with stated exceptions. It also says associated GitHub or Discord account details are not made public unless a user requests publication.