Shard Launcher vs X Minecraft Launcher
Shard Launcher
shard.thomas.md
X Minecraft Launcher
xmcl.appSide by side
| Figure | Shard Launcher | X Minecraft Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Minecraft Launchers | 8.7 (#9) | 8.5 (#13) |
| Accounts | Shard uses Microsoft OAuth and supports adding and switching between multiple Microsoft accounts. | The launcher supports Microsoft, offline, and third-party authentication services, including Ely.by and LittleSkin. |
| Mod loader support | multiple | multiple |
| Modpack import | file | both |
| Privacy | The maker says Shard has no telemetry and does not require a launcher account. | Launcher telemetry is disabled by default and is processed only when the user explicitly enables it in settings. |
| Separate instances | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The FAQ directs users with unanswered questions to open an issue on GitHub. | The project directs users to GitHub for issue reports and Discord for community support. |
Plans
In their own words
Shard Launcher
Shard Launcher has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
X Minecraft Launcher
X Minecraft Launcher (XMCL) is a free, open-source launcher for managing Minecraft game resources and separate game instances. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can manage modpacks, resource packs, mods, shader packs, and other resources, with instances covering Forge, Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, OptiFine, and LabyMod; Bedrock support is experimental. Its marketplace gathers modpacks and projects from Modrinth, CurseForge, and FTB. The launcher can import modpacks, manage Java runtimes, and update automatically. Mod tools include dependency inspection and custom groups. Account options include Microsoft, offline, Ely.by, and LittleSkin authentication. World tools let users preview saves, select, copy, or delete chunks, and view structures in 3D. Users can export modpacks and local server files from the launcher. Telemetry is off by default and is processed only if enabled in settings. XMCL says it does not handle Microsoft account passwords, credentials, or session tokens. It is an independent project and is not an official Minecraft product or associated with Mojang or Microsoft.