Modrinth vs Refract

Modrinth hosts user-created projects for Minecraft: Java Edition, including mods, plugins, data packs, shaders, resource packs, and modpacks. Search and filters help visitors find projects, including by game version. The open-source Modrinth App is a desktop launcher for installing, removing, and updating mods, and sharing modpacks. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, though it is currently in public beta and Linux versions may have issues on some systems and configurations. Modrinth’s open API supports launcher integrations including ATLauncher, MultiMC, and Prism Launcher. Creators can manage team roles and permissions, receive ad revenue, and review page-view, download, and revenue reports. Modrinth Hosting supports Minecraft Java versions back to 1.2.5 and loaders including Fabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForge, Paper, and Purpur, subject to version support. A free offer provides a 3 GB server for five days for US servers, with no credit card required. The platform has a free plan; Modrinth+ costs $4.99 a month, and customized hosting plans start at $5 a month.

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.