Best Minecraft Launchers in 2026
Updated
In short: LabyMod is ranked #1 of 74 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Prism Launcher and Minecraft Launcher. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Prism Launcher. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Thendrask Launcher at $3/mo.
Minecraft launchers help organize game setups, with differences in how they handle updates, Java and modpacks. Compared on automatic updates, Java runtime management and mod loader support, these entries also show whether they offer a built-in modpack catalog, modpack import and separate instances. Desktop OS support, free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add compatibility and cost details to consider. Prism Launcher, Minecraft Launcher and Refract are among the software names shown. Think about how you install packs, whether you maintain distinct game setups, and which desktop operating systems you use when comparing the listed launcher features.
74 Minecraft launchers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 LabyMod iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.4Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 2 Prism Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free Desktop OS support: Windows, MacOS, and LinuxSeparate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 3 Minecraft Launcher iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free Separate instances: Yes
- 4 Refract No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 5 ATLauncher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 6 GDLauncher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 7 Thendrask Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$3/mo Desktop OS support: Windows; macOS and Linux public betaSeparate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 8 Fold Craft Launcher Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 9 Cactus MC Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Desktop OS support: Windows, macOS, and LinuxSeparate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 10 FTB App No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 11 Spectra Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 12 X Minecraft Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 13 Histolauncher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 14 MultiMC No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Desktop OS support: Windows, macOS 10.13+, and LinuxSeparate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 15 Emerald No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Desktop OS support: Windows, macOS, and LinuxSeparate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 16 MojoLauncher Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Modpack import: file
- 17 OpenJar Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 18 Plain Craft Launcher 2 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: file
- 19 PolyMC No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 20 SJMCL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 21 Onyx Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 22 KeyVerse No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
- 23 Dawn No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: catalog
- 24 CurseForge No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9Free Desktop OS support: Web and desktop
- 25 Vermeil No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8Free Separate instances: YesModpack import: both
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Desktop OS support | Separate instances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LabyMod | 9.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 2 | Prism Launcher | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, MacOS, and Linux | Yes |
| 3 | Minecraft Launcher | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 4 | Refract | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 5 | ATLauncher | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 6 | GDLauncher | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 7 | Thendrask Launcher | 7.9 | Free plan | $3/mo | Yes | $3one-time | Windows; macOS and Linux public beta | Yes |
| 8 | Fold Craft Launcher | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 9 | Cactus MC Launcher | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, and Linux | Yes |
| 10 | FTB App | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 11 | Spectra Launcher | 7.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 12 | X Minecraft Launcher | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 13 | Histolauncher | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 14 | MultiMC | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS 10.13+, and Linux | Yes |
| 15 | Emerald | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, and Linux | Yes |
| 16 | MojoLauncher | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | OpenJar Launcher | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 18 | Plain Craft Launcher 2 | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 19 | PolyMC | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 20 | SJMCL | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 21 | Onyx Launcher | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 22 | KeyVerse | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 23 | Dawn | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 24 | CurseForge | 6.9 | Free plan | — | Yes | $2.50one-time | Web and desktop | — |
| 25 | Vermeil | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which Minecraft launcher is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
LabyMod is ranked #1 of 74 with a score of 9.4. Prism Launcher is second and Minecraft Launcher third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Thendrask Launcher has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.