NeoForge or Fabric: which should your modpack use?

Before you add a single mod to a pack, you pick a mod loader: the piece of software that loads mods into Minecraft. On modern versions the choice is mostly between NeoForge and Fabric. It matters, because every mod is built for one or the other, and you can't mix them in one pack.

NeoForge and Fabric side by side

What NeoForge is

NeoForge started in 2023 as a continuation of Forge, the loader behind most of modded Minecraft's history, when most of Forge's team moved to the new project. Many of the biggest mods followed, and on Minecraft 1.21.1 a large share of the heavyweight content mods put NeoForge first.

NeoForge gives mods a large shared toolkit, which makes it easier for big mods to work alongside each other: shared fluids, energy and item handling, for example. That's a big reason large packs tend to be NeoForge packs.

What Fabric is

Fabric is a lightweight loader that gives mods a small core and lets them change the game directly. It's quick to update to new Minecraft versions, so Fabric mods often arrive first after a Minecraft update. It's home to a lot of performance and client mods, and to many smaller, vanilla-style additions.

Can you use both?

Not in one normal pack. A NeoForge mod won't load on Fabric, or the other way round, even though both are .jar files. Some mods ship separate files for each loader, which is why mod pages ask you to pick one.

There are bridges, such as Sinytra Connector, which can run some Fabric mods on NeoForge. They're impressive, but they add a layer that can break in odd ways, and not every mod works through them. For a pack you want to be dependable, stick to one loader.

What about performance?

Both loaders can run well. Sodium, Lithium, ModernFix and FerriteCore all have NeoForge builds for 1.21.1, so performance mods aren't a reason to pick Fabric. A well-chosen NeoForge pack with good performance mods runs smoothly on most computers. A huge pack will be heavier than a small one on either loader.

What about Forge?

Forge still exists, and on Minecraft 1.20.1 it's where many older packs live. For newer versions, most big mods moved to NeoForge, and a Forge mod for 1.21.1 won't load on NeoForge. Our guide to NeoForge vs Forge explains the split and which to pick.

What about the launcher?

It doesn't matter. The CurseForge app, Modrinth App, Prism Launcher and ATLauncher all handle both loaders. You pick the loader when you create the pack, and the launcher installs it.

Which one Packspire uses

Packspire builds NeoForge packs for Minecraft 1.21.1, because that's where most of the big mods that make a pack worth playing live today. Each pack comes from one platform, Modrinth or CurseForge, with mods that have been checked for the right loader and version and then started on a real server.

Build a NeoForge pack, or read the full guide to making your own modpack.

Frequently asked questions

Can NeoForge mods run on Fabric?

Not normally. Each mod is built for one loader. Bridges such as Sinytra Connector run some Fabric mods on NeoForge, but not every mod works through them.

Is NeoForge the same as Forge?

NeoForge began in 2023 as a continuation of Forge, when most of Forge's team moved to the new project. The two have diverged since, and mods for one generally need a separate build for the other.

Is Fabric faster than NeoForge?

Not inherently. Both run well with performance mods; Sodium is available for both. A large content pack is heavier than a small one on either loader.

Which loader do most big modpacks use on 1.21.1?

Large content and "kitchen sink" packs on 1.21.1 are mostly NeoForge, because that's where many of the biggest content mods are.

Sources

• What is happening?, the NeoForged project's announcement
• Fabric
• Sinytra Connector
• Sodium and Lithium