Pick Fabric if the mods you want list a Fabric file. Pick NeoForge or Forge if they list those, because every mod file is built for one loader. NeoForge is a fork of Forge that began in July 2023. All three are Java Edition only.
NeoForge vs Forge vs Fabric at a glance
| Fact | Fabric | Forge | NeoForge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status for 26.3 | Lists 26.3 as stable | Latest is 66.0.9 (30 September 2026); no build is marked as its pick for 26.3 | Newest is 26.3.0.42-beta; every 26.3 build carries the beta label |
| Modrinth mods listing a 26.3 file | 6054 | 1704 | 3343 |
| Modrinth mods listing a 26.2 file | 12386 | 3241 | 6366 |
| Where it comes from | Fabric Loader, with the Fabric API library for mods that use its hooks | MinecraftForge | Fork of MinecraftForge, announced 12 July 2023 |
| Kotlin library mods depend on | Fabric Language Kotlin, 1.14 to 26.3 | Kotlin for Forge, 1.14 to 1.21.11 | Kotlin for Forge, 1.19.3 to 26.2 |
| Fabric API port | Not needed, Fabric API itself runs 1.14 to 26.3 | Forgified Fabric API, 1.20.1 only | Forgified Fabric API, 1.21 to 26.1.2 |
What NeoForge is and how it relates to Forge
NeoForge is a fork of MinecraftForge. The NeoForged team announced it on 12 July 2023 by rebranding the community Discord that had been called Forgecord. In that post, one of its developers says almost all of the original Forge team joined the new project, with one exception, LexManos.
The post says the split came from ongoing difficulties within the Forge team, which its author traces to Lex. It adds that the team had to fork and rebrand because many of Forge's core assets are licensed by Lex's company, Forge LLC, and that those assets would be removed. That post is the NeoForged team's own account, and it says so itself.
The same post said NeoForge was not yet a hard fork and stayed compatible with existing Forge for the time being, and that breaking compatibility was still under discussion. We found no later statement in our sources, so we make no claim about whether a Forge mod loads on NeoForge today. In practice the two are listed as separate loaders: Modrinth counts them separately, and Forge Config API Port ships separate Forge and NeoForge files.
Both are still active. Forge published 66.0.9 for 26.3 on 30 September 2026, and NeoForge has 26.3 builds, all labelled beta. Fabric is a different loader with its own mods and its own library, Fabric API, whose Modrinth page calls it lightweight and modular.
How to tell which loader a mod or modpack needs
- A Java mod runs only with the loader its file was made for (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt), installed for the same Minecraft version. Open the mod's page and check the loader and version listed next to each file.
- Treat Forge and NeoForge as two separate loaders. Pick the file that names the one you installed, and do not assume a Forge file suits NeoForge.
- Read the dependency list. Kotlin for Forge serves Forge and NeoForge, Fabric Language Kotlin serves Fabric, and Fabric mods that use its hooks need Fabric API.
- For a modpack, the pack names its loader. A Modrinth pack is installed through a launcher that reads .mrpack files, which downloads the listed mods and the right loader.
- Browse by loader: our listings for Forge mods and Fabric mods show what we list for each.
When the choice is already made for you
The modpack decides first: it names a loader, and you install that one. On a server, the loader and mods must match what the server runs, so see how client-side and server-side mods differ. A single must-have mod decides next, since it may exist for only one loader.
Libraries can decide too. Forgified Fabric API is Fabric API ported to NeoForge (1.21 to 26.1.2) and Forge (1.20.1 only). It is required on both client and server, and it is not an abstraction layer, so loader-specific code is still written per platform. Kotlin for Forge covers Kotlin mods on Forge and NeoForge.
Trade-offs of each loader
- Fabric: 26.3 is listed as stable, and Modrinth counts the most mods for it (6054 for 26.3). The cost is that a mod built only for Forge or NeoForge cannot be used.
- Forge: it has the smallest Modrinth count for 26.3 (1704) of the three, and it has marked no build as its pick for 26.3. Its newest builds arrive often (66.0.2 to 66.0.9 between 19 and 30 September 2026).
- NeoForge: more Modrinth mods list 26.3 for it than for Forge (3343), but every 26.3 build carries NeoForge's beta label, so check whether your mods target it.
We give no performance or stability ranking, because none of our sources measure it. We read loader feeds and project pages. We did not play, benchmark or test any of them.
Install and switch safely
Setup for Fabric is covered in How to Install Fabric on Minecraft Java, and Forge and NeoForge in How to Install Forge and NeoForge for Minecraft Java. Each mod's .jar file, plus every required dependency, goes in the `mods` folder inside the game directory, as the full walkthrough in How to Install Minecraft Mods on Java Edition shows. Memory is a separate step, covered in how to allocate more RAM.
Frequently asked questions
Do Forge mods work on NeoForge?
Do not assume so. NeoForge's 2023 announcement said it stayed compatible with Forge at that time and left the future open. Today mods publish separate Forge and NeoForge files, so install the file that names your loader and your Minecraft version. Our sources give no current compatibility promise.
Can I use Fabric mods with Forge?
No. A mod runs only with the loader its file was made for, installed for the same Minecraft version. Forge Config API Port, a developer library, says on its own page that it does not allow Forge mods to run on Fabric. Look for a release built for your loader, or pick a different mod.
Which loader suits a modpack?
The one the pack names. A pack is built for a single loader, and the launcher installs it for you. If you are building your own, pick the loader that covers the mods you cannot drop. See how to make a modpack.
Do Fabric, Forge and NeoForge work on Bedrock?
No. All three are Java Edition mod loaders, and Bedrock Edition cannot load Java mods. The Java vs Bedrock guide explains the wider differences between the two editions.
