GDLauncher vs Refract

GDLauncher is a free Minecraft launcher for creating and managing separate game instances on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Each instance can have its own mods and resource packs; users can group, duplicate, and share setups by code. It installs CurseForge and Modrinth modpacks with one click and sets up the mod loader and Java. Supported loaders are Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, and Quilt. The launcher can also create and manage Minecraft servers, with a live console, CPU and memory monitoring, player controls, and server mod installation. Import and export support for other launchers—including CurseForge, MultiMC, ATLauncher, Technic, Prism, Modrinth, and FTB—is marked as work in progress. The listed export formats are CurseForge .zip, Modrinth .mrpack, and GDLauncher .gdlpack. GDLauncher is free to use, with no premium tier or overlay, but access requires a valid, fully paid Minecraft Java Edition account. Its privacy statement says account email is shared in hashed form with Overwolf for personalized advertising; users can opt out in the app’s Privacy settings.

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.