Comparison
r2modmanvsThunderstore Mod Manager
Short comparison between the two official Thunderstore-catalog managers. The veteran open-source one vs the Overwolf-backed official.
Verdict
r2modman if you want a standalone, open-source manager with no tracking and no Overwolf — the veteran community pick. Thunderstore Mod Manager if you value a friendlier onboarding, an in-game overlay for quick tweaks, and don't mind installing the Overwolf ecosystem.
Side-by-side
| r2modman | Thunderstore Mod Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Official | No | Yes |
| Type | Software | Software |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Macos | Windows |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| License | MIT | Proprietary (Overwolf) |
| Source | GitHub | — |
| Verified | May 21, 2026 | May 21, 2026 |
Which to use for what
- First mod ever — I need the most guided onboarding possibleBetter pick: Thunderstore Mod Manager
TMM auto-detects installs, downloads BepInEx without showing the user the filesystem, and ships a guided step-by-step installer. r2modman is direct but less hand-holding.
- Toggle a mod without alt-tabbing mid-gameBetter pick: Thunderstore Mod Manager
TMM has an in-game overlay via Ctrl+Shift+M that opens the manager over the game. r2modman forces an alt-tab to the desktop.
- Avoid Overwolf, ads, telemetry, and bloatBetter pick: r2modman
r2modman is standalone OSS, no account, no overlay, no ads. TMM requires installing Overwolf (~150MB) that runs in the background with optional ads and an account.
- Modding from Linux or macOSBetter pick: r2modman
r2modman supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. TMM is Windows-only because Overwolf has no clients for the others.
- Receiving mod update notifications without opening the managerBetter pick: Thunderstore Mod Manager
TMM, through Overwolf, can notify of updates even if the manager isn't open. r2modman only notifies when you open it.
r2modman and Thunderstore Mod Manager (TMM) cover the same job — installing Valheim Thunderstore mods with automatic BepInEx. But the plumbing and philosophy are opposite. r2modman is the standalone open-source piece veteran community uses. TMM is the official Thunderstore-team-endorsed app, distributed via Overwolf and oriented toward a friendlier onboarding.
Open-source vs platform-backed
r2modman is pure OSS (MIT). You download, open, mod. No account, no telemetry, no background services.
TMM is closed-source and lives inside Overwolf. To use it you need:
- Install Overwolf (~150MB) — an in-game overlay platform with its own background service.
- Create an Overwolf account (free, but registration required).
- Accept optional ads in the main panel (toggleable but on by default).
For someone coming from classic modding (Skyrim, Fallout), Overwolf feels like unnecessary overhead. For someone coming from Minecraft/CurseForge, Overwolf is familiar — CurseForge App also lives on Overwolf.
Onboarding
TMM wins here. The flow is designed so someone who's never modded can do everything without touching files:
- Auto-detection of installs (Overwolf integrates this).
- BepInEx downloads without showing the user the filesystem.
- In-game notifications when updates ship.
- UI with more explanatory copy.
r2modman is simpler and more direct but assumes the user is comfortable with a standard installer and concepts like "profile".
Cross-platform
r2modman supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. It's the only option for non-Windows modders.
TMM is Windows-only because Overwolf has no clients for other platforms. If you play Valheim on Linux (Steam Deck, Proton, dual-boot), TMM doesn't apply.
In-game overlay
TMM has an in-game overlay with a configurable shortcut (default Ctrl+Shift+M). Hit it mid-Valheim and the manager opens over the game — you can toggle mods, see logs, do everything without alt-tab. When a mod update ships, a toast notification appears in-game.
r2modman has no overlay. For any tweak, alt-tab to the desktop.
For someone who tweaks modlists frequently, this overlay is real value. For someone who installs once and forgets, irrelevant.
When each wins
| Scenario | Best pick |
|---|---|
| First mod ever, I want the most guided flow | TMM |
| Modding from Linux/macOS | r2modman |
| Avoid Overwolf and background services | r2modman |
| Update notifications without opening the manager | TMM |
| Frequent tweaks with in-game overlay | TMM |
| Standalone, OSS, auditable workflow | r2modman |
| I already have Overwolf for CurseForge | TMM |
| Modlist shared with the veteran community | r2modman (guides assume r2modman) |
Verdict
Use r2modman if: you want something clean, standalone, OSS, with no platform overhead; you mod on Linux/macOS; you're part of the veteran community where r2modman is lingua franca.
Use TMM if: starting from scratch and you want the friendliest onboarding; you already use Overwolf for other games (CurseForge, Outplayed); you value the in-game overlay for quick tweaks; the Overwolf overhead doesn't bother you.
If unsure and your PC is Windows: try TMM for a week — if the overlay doesn't win you over, migrate to r2modman. The time invested in learning both managers is minimal, they aren't complex tools.
Open-source mod manager with profiles — the Valheim community standard for installing and isolating modlists
View r2modmanThunderstore's official Overwolf-based mod manager — friendlier onboarding at the cost of installing the Overwolf ecosystem
View Thunderstore Mod Manager