Minecraft servers can be modified with the assistance of multiple mod loaders. Mod loaders are the core of Modded Minecraft, allowing for numerous mods that drastically change content and make the world more deadly. Every mod is developed with ideal mod loaders in mind, verifying which is best will enhance performance and stability. However, some mods are created with multiple versions, allowing compatibility with numerous mod loaders.
Forge
Forge is Minecraft's most popular mod loader and boasts the largest compatible mod selection. Mods developed in Forge are typically extensive and have a heavy impact on performance, which requires users to allocate more significant amounts of RAM to run effectively. Despite the decrease in performance, the mods available to Forge allow servers running it to play some of the most modified and exciting versions of Minecraft.
- Used for Minecrafts most significant and most game-changing mods that require hefty changes.
- Uses exclusive launchers. Most Forge mods are not playable in vanilla Minecraft.
- It is a very heavyweight mod loader that causes a significant drop in server performance. Most mods that use Forge require more RAM to be allocated to keep up.
Fabric
Fabric mod loader is an extremely lightweight tool that minimally increases server impact. In addition to version compatibility, servers running Fabric have the most comprehensive accessibility to players by ensuring performance impact is kept low and multiple editions can be used on the server. The drawback to Fabric is that the mods available can have compatibility issues; this makes large modpacks challenging to configure and custom modpacks much more complex to troubleshoot.
- A lightweight mod and plugin loader that allows players to run both editions of Minecraft (Bedrock and Java). This allows either edition to load into Fabric servers.
- Does not depend on Minecraft version, so players from different versions can still connect.
- Mods only sometimes work with each other in Fabric. This can make creating larger modpacks more difficult and limited.
Quilt
Quilt servers for Minecraft have the most negligible impact on server performance with a reasonable selection of mods available. While mod support is more limited due to its recent release, the content available is enough to enhance a server's quality of life and performance. In addition to the performance increase, many Fabric mods can be loaded in Quilt due to its cross-compatibility. This helps ensure that support for various mods remains while new mods are developed or custom mods are ported over.
A mod loader that is even more lightweight than Fabric and boasts the same compatibility.
Can load most Fabric mods or plugins as they are cross-compatible.
It is one of the newest mod loaders for Minecraft, but only some mods and plugins have been converted since its release in 2023.
NeoForge
NeoForge mod loader is rapidly growing in popularity and is being developed as a fork of Forge; this means that a majority of features and drawbacks exclusive to Forge also apply to NeoForged. Luckily, most mods and add-ons for Forge are compatible with NeoForged, so there is a wide selection of mods. NeoForge's development team is almost entirely comprised of ex-Forge team members who split off from Forge to pursue NeoForged. As a result, users can expect excellent compatibility with Forge mods, but this may change as the mod loader develops.
- The team at NeoForged is almost entirely comprised of ex-Forge team members.
- While sharing some performance issues exclusive to Forge, NeoForged is still significantly more stable and has less impact on performance.
- NeoForged plans on eventually breaking all compatibility with Forge.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Forge | Fabric | Quilt | NeoForged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Heavy performance | Light performance | Enhanced performance | Heavy performance |
| Plugin Support | A wide range of plugins are available using Sponge | Plugin compatibility with Cardboard | Superior plugin optimization and support | Compatible with many Forge plugins |
| Community | Established community support | Large and active player base | Active community with frequent updates | Active community with a large player base |
| Ease of Use | Moderate learning curve | Beginner-friendly | Requires searching for compatible mods | Moderate learning curve |
| Stability | Unstable depending on the number of mods | Highly stable | Highly stable | Slightly less unstable than Forge |
| Customization | Limited configuration options | Advanced configuration capabilities | Advanced customization options | Configuration options are being expanded over time |
| Updates | Frequently updated | Regular updates & API tweaks | Slower updates with extensive features | Regular and transparent updates |
| Mod Compatibility | Extensive mod support | Mods can have compatibility issues with each other | Limited mod support | Excellent compatibility, but may change in the future |
Conclusion
Each mod loader has defining strengths that allow them to be leveraged on servers where they are the best tool for the job. Forge boasts the highest compatibility with many mods available but requires more server performance to run managably. Fabric is currently the most stable version of modded Minecraft and has enhanced accessibility, allowing players to connect from various versions or editions. Quilt, while still in beta, makes vast improvements to the base fabric systems, and while it is still being developed, it manages to stay competitive in accessibility and performance. Finally, NeoForge, the newest mod loader of the four, is a fork of one of the most widely used engines. The NeoForged team is willing to make drastic changes, which could eventually set it further apart from its progenitor, Forge.
Helpful Links
How to use the Minecraft JAR Menu
How to Install Forge on a Minecraft Server
How to Install Fabric on a Minecraft Server
How to Install Quilt on a Minecraft Server
How to Install NeoForge on a Minecraft Server