Best Game Mod Loaders in 2026
Updated
In short: MelonLoader is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of SMAPI and BepInEx. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SMAPI.
A game mod loader provides a way to load mods or plugins for supported games. Start by comparing supported games and platforms with the titles and systems you use, then look at mod loading method, dependency handling, and load-order control. Mod profiles and plugin support can help distinguish how loaders organize a setup. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are additional points to check. MelonLoader, SMAPI, and BepInEx are among the entries, alongside ModTek and MWSE. Compare the listed details with the games you play and the kind of mod setup you want to manage.
25 game mod loaders ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MelonLoaderWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | SMAPIWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | BepInExWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | ModTekWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | MWSEWindows · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Satisfactory Mod LoaderWindows · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | Hell2ModdingWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | EverestWindows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 9 | NorthstarWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 10 | Cyber Engine TweaksWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 11 | Hollow Knight Modding APIWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | Baldur's Gate 3 Script ExtenderWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | CLEOWindows · iPhone | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE)Windows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | RED4extWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | ScriptHookVDotNetWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | Starfield Script ExtenderWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | Ultimate ASI LoaderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | Venice UnleashedWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | xNVSEWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | xOBSEWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | REDmodWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | UE4SSWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | SonicSelf-hosted | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | UnityNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which game mod loader is ranked first on Freedom251?
MelonLoader is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.6. SMAPI is second and BepInEx third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.