why i stopped using curseforge

May 21, 2026

tldr: curseforge is easy to use, but i personally don't feel like using it anymore because of the controversy around overwolf, resource usage, past security concerns, and the fact that lighter alternatives like prism launcher and modrinth fit my setup better.

a lot of people need an easy way to download mods, shaders, and resource packs easily. curseforge is a platform where people can download and share mods.

you can download mods for a wide range of games, including the sims, minecraft, world of warcraft etc. the point is, its easy to use.

i've been using curseforge for quite a long time on my main configuration which runs arch linux. at first, i didn't have any issues with it at first, but now i understand the controversy.

// 1. political concerns

i don't like to get involved in politics, however, there has been some controversy with curseforge's parent company, overwolf.

overwolf is based in tel aviv, israel. for some people, finding out a business is based in israel is a pull factor for them. particularly because they believe the money is going towards something they oppose, like funding the israel-gaza conflict.

some players and content creators have organised campaigns to stop using curseforge, alleging the platform supports the idf.

‘if you are using curseforge in any way -- by hosting your content there or downloading from it -- you are giving money to a company that is raising funds for an ongoing military campaign against a civilian population. this is why people are calling for a boycott.’ this is not my writing.

as someone who is not involved in politics, seeing that overwolf is in pretty hot water makes me want to stop using it.

// 2. resource usage

a lot of people report that curseforge uses a moderate amount of resources. the desktop app itself manages to use 300MB to 1GB of RAM just staying in the background. Some users have even reported that the app itself can cause unexpected 30%-40% CPU or GPU spikes.

// 3. security concerns

though this is probably not a big concern anymore, malware injections have happened in the past.

these breaches left many users uneasy about safety.

// 4. better alternatives

prism launcher

i am testing prism launcher currently after a friend told me to try it out. it is an open-source alternative that doesn't force a heavy embedded browser.

modrinth

it is the most popular, with a clean ui that is ad free. i actually use modrinth (on the web to download .jar files) all the time to download plugins for my minecraft server.

for the sims and other titles:

try nexus mods. it offers much better community moderation and a good download experience.

// final thoughts..

i don't think curseforge is the worst platform ever made. for many people, it still works perfectly fine and remains one of the easiest ways to install modpacks.

however, between the controversies, high resource usage, and the existence of lighter alternatives, i personally don't feel like using it anymore.

open-source and community-driven alternatives simply fit my setup and preferences much better now.

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