For rei vs jei, the deciding factor is your loader and release, not taste. JEI lists builds for Forge, NeoForge and Fabric, REI for Fabric and NeoForge (its Forge builds stopped in 2024), and EMI for Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge and Forge, each with its own range covered below. All three are Java Edition mods, and none of them runs on Bedrock.
Pick one, install it for your loader, and add a second viewer only if you have a specific reason. The sections below give the ranges and dependencies for each.
Quick answer, which recipe viewer to install
- Forge below 1.16.5, use Just Enough Items. Of the three, only JEI lists Forge builds that far back (1.8 to 1.21.1).
- Forge 1.16.5 to 1.20.4, JEI and Roughly Enough Items both list builds, but REI's Forge builds stopped in October 2024. EMI covers only 1.19.2 to 1.20.2 on Forge.
- Forge 1.21.1, JEI is the only one of the three that lists it (REI ends at 1.20.4, EMI at 1.20.2).
- Fabric below 1.18.2, REI is the only one of the three, with builds from 1.14.
- NeoForge starts at 1.20.4 for JEI and EMI, and at 1.20.2 for REI.
- Fabric or NeoForge past 1.21.1, choose JEI (to 26.3) or REI (to 26.2). EMI's newest releases stop at 1.21.1.
What JEI, REI and EMI do
All three show items and recipes in an overlay next to your inventory, with search and a way to look up what an item makes or is used in. They differ in how much they add on top of that.
JEI keeps the scope narrow: items and recipes, built for stability and performance. Hover an item and press `R` for recipes or `U` for uses, and press `Control` + `O` to toggle the item list overlay. Searching by mod name works with `@` in front of a word.
REI is described as clean and customizable. Press `A` while hovering an item to favourite it. Its search syntax covers mod (`@modname`), tooltip (`#text`), tag (`$tag`) and regular expressions (`r/regex/`).
EMI adds the most on top of the basics. It has a craftable mode for quickly crafting anything you can make, recipes you can favourite, and a recipe tree that breaks a complex craft into every step, base ingredients and leftovers. Tags display as a single entry such as "Planks" rather than cycling through every plank.
Loader and version support
A Java mod runs only with the loader it was made for, on the matching Minecraft release. If you are not sure which loader you have, start with the guides to installing Fabric or installing Forge and NeoForge.
- JEI, Fabric 1.18.2 to 26.3, NeoForge 1.20.4 to 26.3, Forge 1.8 to 1.21.1.
- REI, Fabric 1.14 to 26.2, NeoForge 1.20.2 to 26.2. Forge (STOPPED) covered 1.16.5 to 1.20.4, and its last build dates from 2024-10-26. A Rift build for 1.13 to 1.13.2 also stopped.
- EMI, Fabric 1.18.2 to 1.21.1, Quilt 1.18.2 to 1.21.1, NeoForge 1.20.4 to 1.21.1, Forge 1.19.2 to 1.20.2.
REI's Fabric build is described as compatible with Quilt. EMI lists Quilt as its own loader.
Dependencies and compatibility with other mods
EMI asks for the least. Outside the standard Fabric or Quilt API, it requires nothing else.
REI needs more. Its newest Fabric build requires Cloth Config API, Fabric API and Architectury API. Its newest NeoForge and Forge builds require Cloth Config API and Architectury API. Older Fabric builds for 1.14 to 1.16.5 need fewer of these.
JEI's newest builds on Fabric, NeoForge and Forge require MezzConfig. Many older JEI builds require nothing, so check the dependency list for the exact file you pick.
Mods written for JEI are a real consideration. On Forge, REI supports JEI plugins, though some mods may need the REI Compatibility Workaround. Just Enough Resources (JER) is an addon to JEI that adds mob drops, world generation information and villager trades. Its 1.19.2 to 1.20.2 Fabric builds and 1.18.2 to 1.20.2 Forge builds require JEI, while its newest builds require nothing.
Can you run more than one recipe viewer
Install JEI alongside EMI and they share recipes, with JEI hidden. That keeps mods that plug into JEI working while you use EMI's interface.
REI's page describes a different route. Its Forge builds support JEI plugins directly, so you do not need JEI installed just to run JEI-based mods there.
Servers and multiplayer
The three differ on where they must be installed. EMI is required on the client and optional on the server. JEI and REI are both listed as optional on either side.
For JEI, the rules depend on the release. On 1.21.1 or lower, it can run client-only or with a vanilla server, with the crafting-area [+] buttons, cheating in items with lots of NBT data and deleting items disabled. From 1.21.2, recipes are stored on the server, so JEI and the loader (NeoForge or Fabric) need to be on the server to sync recipes to the client.
REI's page says that to support both JEI and REI users on a server, you install JEI alongside the REI Server Component on the server.
Which one should you pick
- Choose JEI if you are on Forge, need the widest release coverage, or run mods and modpacks built around it.
- Choose REI if you play on Fabric below 1.18.2, or want the favourites and search options described above and accept the extra dependencies.
- Choose EMI if you are on 1.21.1 or lower and want recipe trees and craftable mode with the fewest dependencies.
The trade-offs are plain. REI has stopped on Forge, EMI's newest releases stop at 1.21.1, and JEI's newest builds need MezzConfig. Once you have chosen, follow the guide to installing mods on Java Edition and put the file and every required dependency in the `mods` folder.
Frequently asked questions
Is REI better than JEI?
Neither wins outright. JEI has the wider loader and release coverage, including Forge from 1.8 to 1.21.1, and a deliberately narrow feature set. REI supports Fabric back to 1.14 and adds favourites and regex search, but needs Cloth Config API and Architectury API on its newest builds.
Can I use JEI and EMI together?
Yes. EMI's page says to install JEI alongside it, and the two will share recipes while JEI is hidden. This is useful when a mod integrates with JEI but you prefer EMI's interface.
Does REI still work on Forge?
REI's Forge builds cover 1.16.5 to 1.20.4 but are marked stopped, with the last one dated 2024-10-26. They still exist for those releases. For anything newer on Forge, JEI lists builds up to 1.21.1, and REI continues on NeoForge and Fabric.
Do I need a recipe viewer on the server?
It depends. EMI is optional on the server. JEI on 1.21.1 or lower runs client-only with some features disabled, but from 1.21.2 it needs JEI and the loader on the server to sync recipes. Both REI and JEI can be supported together on a server by installing JEI plus the REI Server Component.
Do JEI, REI or EMI work on Bedrock?
No. All three are Java Edition mods, and Bedrock cannot load mods. Bedrock uses add-ons, which are a different format, so none of these files will install there.
