ATLauncher vs packwiz

ATLauncher7.1Visit packwiz6.9Visit

Higher score ATLauncher #5 in Minecraft Modpack Builders 7.1/10 Free · open source (GPL-3.0) Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Get ATLauncher

vs

packwiz #6 in Minecraft Modpack Builders 6.9/10 Free · open source (MIT) Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Get packwiz

• ATLauncher fits best

  Playing and tweaking established modpacks

• packwiz fits best

  Pack authors and server owners who use git

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Side by side

Feature	ATLauncher 7.1/10 Visit ↗	packwiz 6.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.1	6.9
Ranking	#5 in Minecraft Modpack Builders	#6 in Minecraft Modpack Builders
Best for	Playing and tweaking established modpacks	Pack authors and server owners who use git
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Features ATLauncher 2/4 · packwiz 1/4
Built-in publishing	Not published	—
Server tools	✓ (best)	—
Share by code	Not published	Not published
Open source	✓	✓
Specs
Runs on	Windows, macOS, Linux	Command line
Mod & pack sources	ATLauncher, CurseForge, Modrinth, Technic, FTB	CurseForge, Modrinth
Export formats	CurseForge .zip, Modrinth .mrpack	CurseForge .zip, Modrinth .mrpack
Our review
Pros	142 packs of its own, plus CurseForge, Modrinth, Technic and FTB browsing Exports instances for CurseForge or as Modrinth .mrpack files Installs servers for packs, with start scripts that cover NeoForge	TOML metadata files version cleanly in git instead of raw JAR files Exports CurseForge and Modrinth packs and imports CurseForge ones packwiz-installer keeps MultiMC or ATLauncher instances auto-updated
Cons	Recent updates fixed several export bugs, so check exports before sharing FTB packs were pulled for a time and only returned in November 2024 Portable and jar builds must run from their own folder	Command line only; the docs point GUI users to third-party efforts No installer; builds come from CI artefacts or compiling with Go Auto-updating distribution needs an HTTP server you host
Our verdict	ATLauncher has been around since 2013 and is still maintained, with releases through August 2026. It lists 142 modpacks on its own platform, from Pixelmon and All The Forge 10 to SkyFactory 4, and it can also browse and install packs from… Read the review →	packwiz treats a modpack as source code. Instead of a folder of JAR files, a pack is a set of TOML metadata files describing each mod and where it comes from, so the whole pack can live in a git repository, be reviewed like any other… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ATLauncher — where it wins

  • 142 packs of its own, plus CurseForge, Modrinth, Technic and FTB browsing
  • Exports instances for CurseForge or as Modrinth .mrpack files
  • Installs servers for packs, with start scripts that cover NeoForge

  Where it doesn't

  • Recent updates fixed several export bugs, so check exports before sharing
  • FTB packs were pulled for a time and only returned in November 2024
  • Portable and jar builds must run from their own folder

• packwiz — where it wins

  • TOML metadata files version cleanly in git instead of raw JAR files
  • Exports CurseForge and Modrinth packs and imports CurseForge ones
  • packwiz-installer keeps MultiMC or ATLauncher instances auto-updated

  Where it doesn't

  • Command line only; the docs point GUI users to third-party efforts
  • No installer; builds come from CI artefacts or compiling with Go
  • Auto-updating distribution needs an HTTP server you host

• ATLauncher7.1/10 · Free · open source (GPL-3.0)

  A veteran open-source launcher with 142 curated packs, outside catalogues and CurseForge and Modrinth export.

  Get ATLauncherFull verdict →
• packwiz6.9/10 · Free · open source (MIT)

  Modpacks as code: TOML metadata in git, auto-updating installs for servers, and exports to both platforms.

  Get packwizFull verdict →