# The best Minecraft launchers

Which Minecraft launcher to use: the official launcher, Prism Launcher, the Modrinth App, CurseForge and PvP clients compared, and what each one is good for.

Updated 2026-11-11, 6 minute read. HTML version: https://craftrank.org/guides/best-minecraft-launchers

For plain Minecraft, the **official Minecraft Launcher** is all you need. If you want mods, modpacks or several versions side by side, use **Prism Launcher** or the **Modrinth App**: both are free, open source and install mods for you. Every good launcher signs you in with the Microsoft account that owns the game.

## Official Minecraft Launcher

Made by Mojang and downloaded from minecraft.net. It runs Java Edition and, on Windows, Bedrock Edition too.

- **Good for:** playing vanilla, snapshots and older versions. Under **Installations** you can make one profile per version.
- **Mods:** it can start Fabric, Forge or NeoForge once their installer has added a profile, but it can't search or update mods. You copy files into the mods folder yourself.
- **Best pick if** you don't use mods, or only one or two.

## Prism Launcher

A free, open source launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux, built on MultiMC.

- **Instances:** every version or modpack gets its own folder with its own mods, worlds and settings, so nothing mixes.
- **Mods:** a built-in browser for Modrinth and CurseForge installs mods, their dependencies and updates in a few clicks. It also installs the mod loader for you.
- **Best pick if** you like control: memory per instance, Java version, and many setups side by side.

## Modrinth App

The launcher of Modrinth, the open mod platform. Free and open source, for Windows, macOS and Linux.

- **Good for:** modpacks and mods from Modrinth. Pick a pack, click Install, and it sets up the right Minecraft version and loader.
- It opens `.mrpack` files, the format most [modpacks](https://craftrank.org/resources/modpacks) use.
- **Best pick if** you want the easiest start with mods.

## CurseForge app

The app of CurseForge, the oldest big mod site. It has the largest library of Forge modpacks, and many older packs exist only there. Pick it if the pack you want is only on CurseForge.

## PvP clients: Lunar, Badlion, Feather

These come with performance and PvP mods built in: FPS boost, keystrokes, zoom, cosmetics. You can add few or none of your own mods, but you get a fast game with no setup. Popular with players on PvP and minigame servers. Like the others, they ask for your Microsoft account.

## Launchers to avoid

Stay away from launchers that let you play without buying the game. They break Minecraft's End User License Agreement, they can't use your real skin or Realms, and downloads of this kind are a common way malware spreads. A launcher should only ever ask you to sign in through Microsoft's own login page.

Our own CraftRank Launcher worked without a Microsoft account, so [we shut it down](https://craftrank.org/launcher). Everything on CraftRank works with the launchers above.

## Which one should you use?

- **No mods:** official Minecraft Launcher.
- **A modpack:** Modrinth App, or CurseForge if the pack is only there.
- **Your own mix of mods:** Prism Launcher.
- **PvP and minigames:** Lunar, Badlion or Feather.

Then find mods, shaders and packs in our [resources](https://craftrank.org/resources), and a server to play on in the [server list](https://craftrank.org/). New to servers? Read [how to join a Minecraft server](https://craftrank.org/guides/how-to-join-a-minecraft-server).