Vortex is the new, modern mod manager from Nexus Mods.
It is designed to make modding your game as simple as possible for new users, while still providing enough control for more experienced veterans of the modding scene.
Led by Tannin, the creator of Mod Organizer, Vortex takes the lessons learnt during the development of MO and Nexus Mod Manager to provide the most powerful and intuitive modding experience available.
Publisher’s description
What is Vortex?
Vortex by Black Tree Gaming Ltd. is open-source Windows software in the launchers & mods category. It ranks 2nd by popularity among launchers & mods in this catalogue. It is written in TypeScript.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.9.0, released on October 19, 2026. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 77 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 14 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 111,792 times. The source code on GitHub (Nexus-Mods/Vortex) has 1,546 stars. On Windows it registers 1 file type, including .vortex. Similar programs include LOOT, Mod Organizer and SteamCleaner.
Project description on GitHub: “Vortex Development”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 14 a year)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Vortex is an open-source launchers & mod tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Vortex safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
EFF11541C40C7143B9A35F789B86A22C49D9A2BC2EF75D8031664F2781F5B714· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 77 versions ›77 versions over 6 years · about 14 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9.0Latest | October 19, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.8.2 | October 13, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.8.1 | October 12, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.6.3 | September 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.6.1 | August 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.6.0 | August 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.5.0 | August 10, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.4.2 | July 30, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id NexusMods.Vortex -echoco install vortex -yvortex-setup-2.9.0.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Black Tree Gaming Ltd.
- Category
- Launchers & mods
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/Nexus-Mods/Vortex
- Written in
- TypeScript
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 2.9.0
- Released
- October 19, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 77
- Updates / year
- 13.9
- Chocolatey downloads
- 111,792
- GitHub stars
- 1,546
- GitHub forks
- 253
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- NexusMods.Vortex
- Chocolatey package
- vortex
File types it opens (1)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Vortex
See all ›-
Open source11.7K ↓ -
Open source7.3K ↓ -
SteamCleaner2.4A PC utility for restoring disk space from various game clients like Origin, Steam, Uplay, Battle.net, GoG and NexonOpen source7.4K ↓ -
Achievement Watcher1.6.8Achievement Watcher allows you to view every achievement earned on your PC whether it's coming from Steam, a Steam emulator, and more.Open source827 ↓ -
Open source604 ↓ -
Steam Game Idler6.3.0Farm Steam trading cards, manage achievements, and idle games automatically — an all-in-one alternative to ArchiSteamFarm, Steam Achievement Manager, and Idle MasterProprietary21 ↓ -
Open source1.1K ↓ -
Hello Minecraft! Launcher Dev3.17.0.363A Minecraft Launcher which is multi-functional, cross-platform and popularOpen source★ 10.6K
Frequently asked questions
Is Vortex free?
Yes. Vortex is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is Vortex safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Vortex with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Vortex be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Vortex run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Vortex?
The versions page lists all 77 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to Vortex?
LOOT, Mod Organizer, SteamCleaner, Achievement Watcher and Rayman Control Panel. The alternatives page compares them.
