Best ModDevGradle Alternatives in 2026
The top ModDevGradle alternatives are Architectury Loom, Minecraft Development and ForgeGradle: 15 minecraft mod development tools our editors would look at instead of ModDevGradle, in our ranking order.
ModDevGradle: A broad Gradle toolkit for developers building, testing, debugging, and packaging Minecraft mods. Where it falls short: no visual editor for no-code mod creation.
Switching from ModDevGradle? For most minecraft mod development tools buyers the best ModDevGradle alternative is Architectury Loom, built for cross-loader mod teams.
Why People Look for a ModDevGradle Alternative
- No visual editor for no-code mod creation
- Legacy Forge support ends at Minecraft 1.20.1
- Requires a Gradle-based Minecraft development workflow
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallArchitectury Loom9.4
Cross-loader mod teams
Visit Architectury Loom - Best free optionArchitectury Loom9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Architectury Loom
All 15 ModDevGradle Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forCross-loader mod teams
- Better than ModDevGradle:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.1
A broad cross-loader build tool for teams targeting Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt.
- Artifact packaging
- Dependency management
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Architectury -
Best forMulti-loader IntelliJ projects
- Better than ModDevGradle:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 9.1
A broad IntelliJ toolkit for multi-loader Minecraft projects, with focused build-system scope.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Minecraft Dev -
Best forForge mod development
A focused, free Forge toolchain for dependency setup, development runs, and mod packaging.
- Artifact packaging
- Dependency management
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit MinecraftForge -
Best forModern NeoForge development
A focused open-source toolchain for modern NeoForge and FML mod development.
- Artifact packaging
- Dependency management
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit NeoGradle -
Best forVisual mod creators
A visual Minecraft creation tool with code editing and Gradle-based project exports.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit MCreator -
Best forForge ecosystem developers
A free Forge-focused toolkit for building, running, and self-hosting Java Edition mods.
8.7/10★★★★☆Try Minecraft Forge -
Best forNeoForge mod developers
A free NeoForge toolchain for building, loading, and hosting Minecraft Java mods.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit NeoForge -
Best forFabric ecosystem developers
A free Fabric toolchain for Java mod loading, server operation, and mod development.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit FabricMC -
Best forFull-featured Java IDE users
A capable Java IDE for mod developers who want deep tooling beyond Minecraft-specific workflows.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit IntelliJ IDEA -
Best forQuilt mod developers
A focused, free build tool for developers targeting Quilt’s Minecraft modding ecosystem.
- Dependency management
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Quilt Loom -
Best forFabric-Forge multiplatform projects
A focused choice for sharing code across Fabric and Forge mod builds.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Architectury -
Best forBuild and dependency foundations
A strong foundation for Minecraft mod builds, with broad dependency and project support.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Gradle -
Best forAI-assisted Minecraft source research
A focused local toolkit for inspecting, searching, comparing, and validating Minecraft code.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit MCDxAI -
Best forMixin-heavy mod projects
A focused open-source framework for mixin-heavy Minecraft mod projects.
- Code debugging
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit SpongePowered -
Best forNeoForge and Forge cross-toolchain builds
An open-source Gradle tool for cross-toolchain NeoForge and MinecraftForge builds.
- Artifact packaging
- Dependency management
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Neo-Loom
ModDevGradle Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ModDevGradle?
Architectury Loom: #1 in our Minecraft Mod Development Tools ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad cross-loader build tool for teams targeting Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt.
Is there a free alternative to ModDevGradle?
Yes. Architectury Loom, Minecraft Development, ForgeGradle, NeoGradle and MCreator have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for ModDevGradle alternatives?
No visual editor for no-code mod creation; Legacy Forge support ends at Minecraft 1.20.1; Requires a Gradle-based Minecraft development workflow.
How do I switch from ModDevGradle?
Back up your world, configs and mods from ModDevGradle's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel ModDevGradle after a test session.
How to Switch from ModDevGradle
- Back up your world, configs and mods from ModDevGradle's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel ModDevGradle after a test session.
ModDevGradle vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported loaders | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | ModDevGradle | Yes | Free | NeoForge; Minecraft Forge | 9.1 |
| 1 | Architectury Loom | Yes | Free | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Quilt | 9.4 |
| 2 | Minecraft Development | Free | Spigot, Paper, Sponge, Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, Architectury, Mixins, BungeeCord, Waterfall, Velocity | 9.2 | |
| 3 | ForgeGradle | Yes | Free | Forge, FML | 9.0 |
| 4 | NeoGradle | Free | NeoForge, FML | 8.9 | |
| 5 | MCreator | Free | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | Minecraft Forge | Yes | Free | 8.7 | |
| 7 | NeoForge | Yes | Free | 8.6 | |
| 8 | Fabric | Yes | Free | 8.5 | |
| 9 | IntelliJ IDEA | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 10 | Quilt Loom | Yes | Free | Quilt | 8.3 |
| 11 | Architectury Plugin | Free | Fabric, Forge | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Gradle | Yes | Free | 8.1 | |
| 13 | Minecraft Development MCP Server | Yes | Free | Fabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForge | 8.0 |
| 14 | SpongePowered Mixin | Free | Forge, ModLauncher, LegacyLauncher | 7.9 | |
| 15 | Neo-Loom | Free | NeoForge, MinecraftForge | 7.8 |
Head-to-Head
- ModDevGradle vs Architectury Loom
- ModDevGradle vs Minecraft Development
- ModDevGradle vs ForgeGradle
- ModDevGradle vs NeoGradle
- ModDevGradle vs MCreator
- ModDevGradle vs Minecraft Forge
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update