Mod managers are PC software utilities that manage the plugins of your mods in order to get the best experience out of playing with Fallout 4 mods. The best mod manager is Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) because it allows you to create different modding templates for you to launch your game in different ways. This versatility sets it far apart from all other mod managers. The inferior models are Vortex and Nexus Mod Manager (NMM), all available on Nexus Mods website. Keep in mind that MO2 is open-source and not in Beta, whereas NMM and Vortex ARE Beta. They are also for mods, duh
Mod Organizer 2[]
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Configure profile |
Mod Organizer 2's unique feature, which sets it apart from all other managers BY MILES, is the ability to create profiles. You can can have 254 plugins worth of mods for each "profile". You could make themed profiles to enjoy playing Fallout in so many different ways possible without suffering the 254 plugin cap that Vortex users never experience either. Make a Nuclear Winter profile with 254 plugins AND a Zombie apocalypse profile with another 254 plugins. You can make as many profiles as you desire. This function is found at the top of your Mod Organizer menu bar called "Configure profile" 
. Have fun playing Fallout 30+ different ways! It's also got a horrible UI and Wabbajack frequently has errors when using MO2 to install them that Vortex just doesn't, though no MO2 fanboy will tell you that.
MO2's strength is that it can help you isolate problematic plugins with its easy to click list of plugins just like Vortex. The plugins do not deploy and they do not shift around. If you are experiencing weirdness in your Fallout game play, such as missing body parts, you can quickly isolate plugins in entire sections, in order to identify the problem plugin. This versatility is available on Vortex but easier to understand.
MO2 kicks Vortex right in the ass with its ability to highlight and select multiple plugins to enable or disable. Despite the fact that Vortex does the same thing just fine.
Vortex[]
Vortex makes installation and navigation very easy. It does well in sorting, downloading from Nexus Mods, categorizing, display, and linking back to the Nexus page without searching. Its drag and drop platform is its poison water.
Vortex has made installation so easy and accessible with an easier intuitive UI, and integration directly into the Nexus Mods site, as well as the only option besides Wabbajack for Mod Collections.
Bottom line[]
Mod Organizer 2 will allow you to be an elitist even though thousands of modders use Vortex just fine to do the exact same things. It's really a matter of preference. Make your own judgements and try them both out. Just remember that most MO2 folk like to talk trash about Vortex like an iPhone fanboy with no real experience to go by. Both programs have the exact same features, such as multiple installs or enabling, and file conflict resolution. Vortex also is in