Cactus MC Launcher
Cactus MC Launcher is a free desktop launcher for Minecraft instances, modpacks, and dedicated servers.
What Cactus MC Launcher is
Cactus MC Launcher is a free desktop launcher for Minecraft instances, modpacks, and dedicated servers. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and includes separate instances, Java runtime management, automatic updates, and a built-in modpack catalog. Users can import modpacks from Modrinth and CurseForge and work with mods, resource packs, and shaders from those sources. Supported loaders include Vanilla, Fabric, Quilt, Forge, and NeoForge. Instances can be grouped by game version and loader, with custom icons and cover art. For servers, it provides a live console, world management, ops and whitelist controls, and one-command sharing. The interface can be adjusted with backgrounds, gradients, decor, a movable dock, and optional click sounds. The app is built with Tauri and Rust, contains no ads, and does not track users. Made by Ladvace, it is released under AGPL-3.0. The download page lists version 1.5.1. Cactus MC Launcher is not an official Minecraft product and is not associated with Mojang or Microsoft.
Good
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Imports modpacks from Modrinth and CurseForge
- Supports five listed loaders
- No ads and no user tracking
Watch out
- Not an official Minecraft product
- Not associated with Mojang or Microsoft
Who it suits
It suits Minecraft players who want to organize separate instances and modpacks across Windows, macOS, or Linux. Server operators may also value its console, world management, and administration controls.
Verdict
Cactus MC Launcher combines instance and modpack management with dedicated server controls across three desktop operating systems. Keep in mind that it is independent of Mojang and Microsoft.
Plans and prices
From Cactus MC Launcher's own pricing page, checked 28 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free forever with no premium tier · No ads · Open-source · Windows, macOS, and Linux builds · Free forever |
The facts
Each one read from Cactus MC Launcher's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Advertising
- Contains no adschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Automatic updates
- Signed in-app updates can be installed with one clickchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Built-in modpack catalog
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Current build
- The download page lists version 1.5.1checked 28 Sep 2026
- Customization options
- Offers themeable backgrounds, gradients, decor, movable dock, and toggleable click soundschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Instance organization
- Instances can be organized by version and loader into groups with custom icons and cover artchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Java runtime management
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Loader support
- Supports Vanilla, Fabric, Quilt, Forge, and NeoForgechecked 28 Sep 2026
- Mod loader support
- multiplechecked 22 Sep 2026
- Modpack import
- bothchecked 22 Sep 2026
- Mod sources
- Supports mods, resource packs, shaders, and modpacks from Modrinth and CurseForgechecked 28 Sep 2026
- Official status
- Not an official Minecraft product and not associated with Mojang or Microsoftchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Pricing model
- Free and open-source with no premium tierchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Separate instances
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Server administration
- Includes ops and whitelist controlschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Server management
- Can run dedicated servers with live console and world managementchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Server sharing
- Supports one-command server sharingchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Source repository
- The project provides a GitHub linkchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Support channel
- Provides a Discord community linkchecked 28 Sep 2026
- User tracking
- Does not track userschecked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Application stack
- A native app built with Tauri and Rustchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, and Linuxchecked 28 Sep 2026
The company
- Company and license
- Made by Ladvace and released under AGPL-3.0checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Cactus MC Launcher
- 1
9.7Free plan - 2
Modrinth
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS8.7From $4.99 a month - 3
LabyMod
Free planAndroidiOSLinuxmacOS7.8Free plan - 4
Thendrask Launcher
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows7.8From $3 a month - 5
Minecraft Launcher
Free planAndroidiOSLinuxmacOS7.8Free plan - 6
Prism Launcher
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows7.7Free plan