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Head-to-head · Game Mod Loaders

BepInEx vs Northstar

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score BepInEx #2 in Game Mod Loaders 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit BepInEx
Northstar #4 in Game Mod Loaders 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit R2Northstar

BepInEx leads on 0 checks, Northstar on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBepInEx · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresNorthstar · 4 of 4

BepInEx scores higher on our rubric for game mod loaders: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

BepInEx is the better fit for multi-framework game modding. Northstar is the better fit for titanfall 2 modding and custom servers.

  • BepInEx fits best

    Multi-framework game modding

  • Northstar fits best

    Titanfall 2 modding and custom servers

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Side by side

Feature BepInEx 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Northstar 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in Game Mod Loaders #4 in Game Mod Loaders
Best for Multi-framework game modding Titanfall 2 modding and custom servers
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features BepInEx 3/4 · Northstar 4/4
Plugin support ✓ ✓
Load-order control ✓ ✓
Mod profiles Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Dependency handling ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported games Not checked yet Titanfall 2
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows; Linux
Mod loading method Injection Injection
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Unity Mono, IL2CPP, .NET, XNA, FNA, and MonoGame
  • Combines plugin loading, Harmony patching, configuration, and logging
  • Dependency-aware ordering helps manage plugin load sequences
  • Supports code injection, native DLL plugins, and custom game content
  • Offers load priorities, dependencies, and independent mod profiles
  • Includes a server browser with mod auto-download support
Cons
  • Injection-based loading depends on compatible desktop game installations
  • Unity Mono has stable releases, while broader framework coverage varies
  • No built-in AI features
  • Supports only Titanfall 2
  • Desktop support is limited to Windows and Linux
  • Manual installation and third-party installers may require setup effort
Our verdict

BepInEx is an open-source framework for loading plugins and modifying desktop games built with Unity Mono, Unity IL2CPP, .NET, XNA, FNA, and MonoGame technologies. It is aimed at game mod developers and players installing supported plugins…

Read the review →

Northstar is an open-source modding framework and launcher for Titanfall 2. It attaches to the game to inject custom code and scripts, extending it with custom game modes, weapons, maps, skins, native DLL plugins, and community-hosted…

Read the review →
  1. BepInExGame Mod Loaders 9.2Free plan
  2. NorthstarGame Mod Loaders 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • BepInEx — where it wins

    • Supports Unity Mono, IL2CPP, .NET, XNA, FNA, and MonoGame
    • Combines plugin loading, Harmony patching, configuration, and logging
    • Dependency-aware ordering helps manage plugin load sequences

    Where it doesn't

    • Injection-based loading depends on compatible desktop game installations
    • Unity Mono has stable releases, while broader framework coverage varies
    • No built-in AI features

  • Northstar — where it wins

    • Supports code injection, native DLL plugins, and custom game content
    • Offers load priorities, dependencies, and independent mod profiles
    • Includes a server browser with mod auto-download support

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports only Titanfall 2
    • Desktop support is limited to Windows and Linux
    • Manual installation and third-party installers may require setup effort

More comparisons

All game mod loaders comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update