CurseForge pays mod creators $0.05 per point from a monthly download-based pool. The platform takes 30% and sends 70% of its revenue to creators.
That's the core of how it works. The specifics — how points are calculated, what "download-based pool" actually means, and what you can realistically earn — are what creators want to know before they publish a mod and expect a check.
How the CurseForge Reward Program works
CurseForge runs its creator payouts through the Author Rewards Program. The structure:
- Publish mods or addons via the CurseForge Creator Console (CurseForge account required; no follower minimum to start).
- Accumulate downloads — monthly, CurseForge allocates points to creators based on how many downloads their mods received.
- Earn at $0.05/point — redeem accumulated points via PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards.
The 70/30 revenue split is the underlying structure: CurseForge generates revenue (through its ecosystem and parent company Overwolf), keeps 30%, and returns 70% to the creator pool. Your individual share depends on your mod's download performance relative to the entire platform's active mod library in that month.
This is a relative performance model, not a flat per-download rate. A mod with 10,000 downloads in a month where other mods collectively receive millions of downloads earns less per download than a mod with 10,000 downloads in a slower month. The pool is fixed; your slice of it varies.
What games drive the most CurseForge earnings
CurseForge hosts mods across dozens of games, but the platform's scale is overwhelmingly Minecraft-driven. With over 52 billion total mod downloads recorded across the platform's history, the majority are Minecraft Java and Bedrock mods.
The practical implication: Minecraft mod creators benefit most from the points pool simply because Minecraft has the largest and most active modding community on CurseForge. World of Warcraft addons and The Sims 4 mods follow as the next largest categories.
If you're building for a smaller game category, your mod may still earn — but you're competing in a smaller pool with fewer total downloads, which can work in your favor or against you depending on how the monthly allocation is structured.
Realistic earnings: what mod creators report
CurseForge's revenue share and point system don't translate to a simple per-download dollar figure, and the platform doesn't publish creator income data. Creator-reported earnings vary widely based on mod popularity, game category, and the total pool size in a given month.
The general pattern from creator reports:
- Small or niche mods (a few thousand downloads/month): earnings in the single-digit to low double-digit dollar range monthly.
- Popular mods (tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of downloads/month): earnings of $50–$500+ monthly, depending on pool share.
- Top mods with massive ongoing download counts: earnings reported in the hundreds to low thousands per month, though these represent a small fraction of the creator base.
The $0.05/point rate is verified. The per-download equivalent is not a fixed number — it fluctuates with total platform download volume each month.
Want requirements, payout details, and how CurseForge compares to other gaming creator programs?
See the full CurseForge mod creator breakdown on GemlistHow to get paid on CurseForge
The qualification bar is low:
- Create a CurseForge account at curseforge.com.
- Publish a mod or addon through the Creator Console.
- Earn points as your mod receives downloads in the monthly pool.
- Redeem accumulated points via PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards.
There is no follower minimum, no application review for the Reward Program itself, and no upfront cost. You publish, your mod gets downloaded, you earn points.
The practical barrier is not qualification — it's getting your mod discovered. CurseForge's library is vast. Minecraft mods especially compete with millions of existing entries. Download velocity matters both for earnings and for surfacing in search results within the platform.
CurseForge vs other gaming creator programs
If you create gaming content, CurseForge isn't your only option:
- Roblox DevEx — Robux-to-USD conversion for Roblox game developers (400M Robux minimum to cash out, ~$1,400 USD at current rates).
- Fortnite Creative / UEFN — Epic Games Creator Economy; earn from island engagement. Higher visibility, requires Fortnite-specific building skills.
- Overwolf Developer — CurseForge's parent company also runs a separate program for in-game app developers (different from the mod Rewards Program).
CurseForge's Reward Program suits mod creators who already publish on the platform and want passive income from their existing download base. It's not a replacement for other monetization (streaming, sponsorships, direct Patreon) but an additional layer for active mod authors.
- Best for
- Minecraft, World of Warcraft, and Sims 4 mod authors who already publish on CurseForge and want passive income from their existing download base
- Pay model
- $0.05 per point from the monthly download-based pool; 70% of revenue to creators, 30% to CurseForge. Redeem via PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards. No follower minimum.
- Access
- Open to all — create a CurseForge account, publish via Creator Console. No follower minimum, no application fee, no age requirement beyond account creation.
CurseForge is worth listing your mods on if you're already building for Minecraft, WoW, or The Sims 4. The $0.05/point payout and 70% revenue share are straightforward, there's no follower minimum, and passive download income compounds as older mods stay in the library. The caveat is that your earnings are proportional to your mod's download performance — building a popular mod is the real work. The Reward Program pays you for succeeding at that; it doesn't substitute for it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does CurseForge pay mod creators?
CurseForge pays mod creators $0.05 per point earned through the Reward Program. Points are allocated monthly based on your mod's download count relative to other mods on the platform. CurseForge states that 70% of its revenue goes to creators, with the remaining 30% going to the platform. Earnings are redeemable via PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards.
How does the CurseForge points system work?
Each month, CurseForge allocates a pool of points to creators based on how many downloads their mods received during that month. Your share of the monthly pool is proportional to your mod's download performance relative to other active mods on the platform. You then redeem those points at a rate of $0.05 per point via PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards.
What percentage does CurseForge take from creators?
CurseForge takes 30% of revenue and passes 70% to creators through the Reward Program. Unlike platforms with a simple subscription fee, CurseForge's cut is embedded in the download-based revenue pool — creators don't pay an upfront fee, but earnings are proportional to download performance within the monthly pool.
Do you need followers to get paid on CurseForge?
No. CurseForge has no follower minimum for the Author Rewards Program. You need a CurseForge account and must publish mods or addons through the Creator Console. Earnings begin as soon as your mod accumulates downloads in the monthly pool — there is no signup fee or minimum download threshold to enter the program.
What games can you make mods for on CurseForge?
CurseForge hosts mods for dozens of games, but the largest categories are Minecraft (Java and Bedrock), World of Warcraft, and The Sims 4. The platform has recorded over 52 billion total mod downloads, with Minecraft mods accounting for the vast majority of traffic and creator earnings on the platform.
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