Optifine is one of the most popular optimization mods for Minecraft, but it’s also fairly unstable, as anyone in the community would know. Not only that, but you can’t always rely on a single mod due to the delays and complications of the release. Now, with Optifine 1.21 not getting an official release, we bringing a list of the best alternatives to Optifine for Minecraft. This list makes sure you always have options to choose from.
1. Sodium
Apart from Optifine, the most popular optimization mod nowadays is by far Sodium. It is made for the Fabric mod loader and focuses on improving frames per second (FPS) by optimizing in-game rendering system. Here is a guide on how to install Fabric for Minecraft.
Also, it fixes many graphical issues in Minecraft and improves the shading of blocks, thus, providing a much smoother gameplay experience. Furthermore, Sodium is easily compatible and mixed with many other mods and pairs brilliantly with other performance-based mods like Lithium. We have a guide on how to install Sodium for Minecraft as well.
2. Iris Shaders
Iris Shaders is a mod that provides shader support. It is also made for the Fabric mod loader and requires Sodium to run. Iris is compatible with most Optifine shaderpacks and is pretty well-optimized, thanks to Sodium.
Iris Shaders can also be combined with other performance-boosting mods. Essentially, Sodium and Iris are the two mods that can replace Optifine completely and together work even better than it. So, alongside Sodium, learn to install Iris shaders for Minecraft as well.
3. Lithium
Lithium is a Fabric mod designed to fix general issues with in-game systems and improve game physics, mob AI, block ticking, world generation, data tracker and so much more. With this mod active, you will see a great increase in the game’s speed and frame rate.
Lithium works on both the client and server end. It is highly recommended you pair it with Sodium and Phosphor mods as they are all fully compatible.
4. Fabulously Optimized
If you liked the above-mentioned mods, then this Optifine alternative is a perfect option for your Minecraft worlds. It is a modpack that automatically includes Sodium, Lithium, and many other modern optimization mods.
It focuses on improving the game’s speed on any device, replicating most Optifine features, including shaders, connected textures, and zoom, staying up to date, and is built using lightweight and fast Fabric loader.
Check out this linked page to view all the mods this modpack contains. Installation of a modpack is a bit more complex than a single mod, but worry not, as this tutorial will help you understand the entire process.
5. Simply Optimized
The final Optifine alternative on this list is another Fabric Minecraft modpack that is simpler than Fabulously Optimized, but still incredible. Simply Optimized contains 18 mods, including Sodium, Lithium, Indium, Nvidium, and several others that together fix the game’s system issues, improve processing speed, and significantly increase frame rate.
Moreover, no quality-of-life or visual-enhancing mods are included in this modpack, as its main focus is optimization. It also gets regular and quick updates even when the new major version arrives.
Now you know about the best alternative mods and modpacks for Minecraft’s Optifine. So, if you’re unhappy with Optifine’s performance or are waiting for its update, then give some of these mods a shot and you won’t regret it.
