Launcher comparison
SynCraft vs Modrinth App
Two modern, native desktop Minecraft Java launchers built on Tauri — with very different goals. The Modrinth App is a focused, Modrinth-first launcher from the Modrinth team. SynCraft is a launcher that also runs your local Minecraft server from the same window. Here's how they stack up.
TL;DR
- Pick the Modrinth App if you live inside the Modrinth ecosystem, want open source launcher software, and don't need the server side.
- Pick SynCraft if you want one app to launch the client and run a local server, or if you regularly pull modpacks from CurseForge and FTB in addition to Modrinth.
- They can coexist. Both use the same underlying Minecraft files, so switching between them costs nothing.
At a glance
| Feature | SynCraft | Modrinth App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open source | No (closed source, free to use) | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Microsoft login | Yes | Yes |
| Mod loaders (Fabric / Quilt / Forge / NeoForge) | All four | All four |
| Modpack browser | Modrinth, FTB, CurseForge, local .mrpack | Modrinth-first (deep Modrinth integration) |
| Built-in local server dashboard | Yes — RCON console + admin tools | No |
| 7-step Vanilla / Paper setup wizard | Yes | No |
| server.properties editor | Yes, inside app | No |
| Stack | Rust + Tauri | Tauri (system webview) |
| Best at | Launcher + local server in one window | Focused Modrinth-first launcher |
Modrinth App details reflect publicly documented features at time of writing. For the most current info visit the Modrinth App page .
Where the Modrinth App wins
- Tight Modrinth integration. Nothing gets you into Modrinth content faster. Search, sort, install, and update from a UI designed around the Modrinth API rather than layered on top of multiple sources.
- Open source. You can inspect, fork, and contribute to the app. SynCraft is free but not open source today, so if source availability is a requirement, the Modrinth App is the call.
- Maintained by the people who run Modrinth. When Modrinth ships a new feature — new project types, improved search — the Modrinth App tends to support it first. Third-party launchers pick it up later.
- Narrow, focused scope. Fewer moving parts means less surface area for bugs. If you've already decided all your packs come from Modrinth, the narrower scope is a feature, not a limit.
Where SynCraft wins
- Built-in local server dashboard. This is the headline difference. Launchers manage clients — SynCraft also manages the server side. A 7-step Vanilla or Paper setup wizard, a live RCON console, ops / whitelist / ban management, and a server.properties editor are all in the same app you launch the client from.
- Multi-source modpacks. SynCraft browses Modrinth, FTB, and CurseForge in one place and imports local .mrpack files. If your favourite pack is on CurseForge rather than Modrinth, you don't leave the launcher to install it.
- One tool instead of three. People who run small servers typically juggle a launcher, a separate server manager, and a text editor for properties. SynCraft collapses those into one window — fewer context switches, less "which config did I edit?".
- Rust under the webview. Both launchers are native / Tauri-based, but SynCraft's launcher logic runs in Rust with Tokio for concurrency. Heavy tasks like downloading a big modpack or streaming server logs stay responsive.
The honest caveat
The Modrinth App is open source. SynCraft is not. For users who want to read the code they run, that's a decisive difference and the Modrinth App is the right pick. SynCraft is signed and distributed directly by Syntax Forge, so the binary itself is trustworthy, but the source is private.
When to pick the Modrinth App
- Everything you play comes from Modrinth.
- Open source launcher software is a requirement.
- You want the simplest possible launcher — no server-side concerns.
- You want new Modrinth features as soon as they land.
When to pick SynCraft
- You run a local Minecraft server for friends and want it managed from the launcher.
- You install packs from more than just Modrinth.
- You want RCON, ops / whitelist / bans, and server.properties editing without opening a terminal.
- You're consolidating tooling — one app for client and server.
FAQ
- Is the Modrinth App tied to only Modrinth content?
- The Modrinth App is built by the Modrinth team and its mod and modpack browsing is centred on the Modrinth catalogue. It installs and runs standard Minecraft Java like any other launcher. SynCraft browses Modrinth, FTB, and CurseForge in-app, plus local .mrpack imports, so if you mix sources a lot, SynCraft saves trips to the browser.
- Does the Modrinth App include a built-in Minecraft server dashboard?
- No. The Modrinth App focuses on the client-side experience — loaders, modpacks, and instance management. SynCraft includes a full local server dashboard (7-step setup wizard, RCON console, ops/whitelist/bans, server.properties editor) inside the launcher itself.
- Both are Tauri apps. Do they feel similar?
- At a high level, yes — both are native desktop apps that use the system webview rather than bundling one, so they're small and fast compared to Electron-based alternatives. The difference is scope: the Modrinth App is a focused Modrinth-centred launcher; SynCraft adds the server layer on top of the launcher.
- Is SynCraft open source like the Modrinth App?
- No. The Modrinth App is open source. SynCraft is free to download and use but the source is not currently public. If open source is non-negotiable, the Modrinth App is the right pick for the launcher side.