Compare
Why Mortar? (vs Vortex)
Vortex is Nexus Mods' manager, with deep Bethesda tooling. Mortar works with Nexus too and reads Vortex profiles. Use Mortar for native Linux and the Steam Deck, several sites, or to skip the account.
| Compared | Mortar | Vortex |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Steam Deck | Windows (v2.9.1 assets); SteamOS support announced (GamingOnLinux) |
| Games | 333 | Over 250 (README) |
| Mod sites |  Nexus Mods Vintage Story Mod DB | Nexus Mods (README) |
| Account | None needed; Nexus sign-in only for Nexus downloads | Nexus login to download from Nexus |
| Sharing | A link or a .mortar file; opens Nexus Collections and drafts one from a profile | Nexus Collections (docs) |
| Usage analytics | None | Mixpanel, keyed to the Nexus user id (docs) |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
Highlighted: the stronger of the two, or both where they are even.
Where Vortex is stronger
- Deep Bethesda tooling: LOOT sorting, plugin management, file conflict views and a choice of deployment methods (README).
- First-party Nexus integration: Collections, endorsements and Premium download speeds in one app.
Moving from Vortex
In Profiles, choose Import… and Mortar lists Vortex profiles for the game, with a preview. Mods Vortex linked into the game folder are copied, not moved, so Vortex keeps working. A Nexus Collection link opens in Mortar like a shared profile.