CurseForge vs Modrinth
The two main platforms for downloading Minecraft mods and modpacks. Both host server-compatible files, but use different modpack formats.
CurseForge and Modrinth are websites where authors publish Minecraft mods, modpacks, resource packs, datapacks and plugins. Most modded servers get their files from one of them, and many projects are available on both.
The main differences
- CurseForge is the older and larger platform, owned by Overwolf. It has its own launcher app. Modpacks come as a zip with a
manifest.jsonthat lists the mods to download. - Modrinth is a newer, open-source platform. Modpacks use the
.mrpackformat, which several third-party launchers support.
Both let you filter by Minecraft version and loader (Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, Quilt), and both host plugins for Paper and similar servers.
Why it matters for server owners
A modpack file is made for a launcher, not for a server. It often includes client-only mods such as minimaps or shader loaders that crash or misbehave on a dedicated server. What you want is the server pack:
- Many modpack authors publish a separate server pack under the project’s files. Use it whenever it exists.
- Without a server pack, you install the right loader and copy the mods yourself, leaving out client-only ones. The mod pages usually say whether a mod is needed on the server, the client or both.
On CurseForge, mod authors can restrict third-party downloads. Some tools that install modpacks automatically then cannot fetch those files, and they have to be downloaded manually.
Practical tip
Note the exact modpack version you install on the server and tell players to use the same one. When you update, update the server and all clients together. Upload the files with SFTP and take a backup of the world before every modpack update, since mod updates can change or remove blocks in existing chunks.