The practical differences between hosting a vanilla Terraria server and a modded tModLoader server, and why every client and the server must run the exact same mod list.
Terraria and tModLoader are closely related but they are not the same server. Vanilla Terraria runs the base game as-is, while tModLoader is a modded version that loads community mods. Choosing the right one and knowing how they differ saves a lot of confusion later.
The core difference
- Vanilla Terraria is the plain game. No mods, lighter on memory, and any player with a normal copy of Terraria on the matching version can join.
- tModLoader is a separate, modded build of Terraria. It loads .tmod mods, needs more RAM as you add content, and every player has to launch tModLoader (not plain Terraria) to connect.
On GuavaHost you choose which one you are running through the server type on the Startup tab, or when you order. If you set up as vanilla and later decide you want mods, you can switch the server over rather than starting from scratch.
Where they differ in day-to-day hosting
- Files: both use serverconfig.txt for settings and store worlds as .wld files. tModLoader adds a Mods folder for .tmod files, an enabled.json that lists which mods load, and a companion .twld file next to each world for modded data.
- Memory: vanilla runs happily on modest RAM, while a big tModLoader modpack can want several times more. Because plans are configurable, you can pick your RAM at checkout and upgrade later from guavahost.com/account with prorated billing.
- Updates: a Terraria update means your game and server just need to match versions. A tModLoader update can also mean updating your mods so they stay compatible with each other and the server.
- Joining: vanilla players connect with any matching copy of the game. tModLoader players must have the same mods enabled first.
Why the mod lists must match
This trips up almost everyone at first. On tModLoader, the server and every single player must run the same mods at the same versions.
The reason is that mods change the game itself: new items, enemies, tiles, and rules baked right into how the world behaves. If your client is missing a mod the server uses, or runs a different version, the two cannot agree on what is in the world, so tModLoader blocks the connection on purpose rather than risk corrupting your save.
To keep everyone in sync:
- Decide the mod list on the server and enable it in enabled.json.
- Share that list with your players.
- Each player downloads those mods in the tModLoader Mod Browser, enables the exact same set in Manage Mods, and clicks Reload Mods.
- When you change the server's mods, everyone updates to match before they can rejoin.
Which should you pick?
- Choose vanilla Terraria if you want the base game, the simplest setup, and the lowest memory needs.
- Choose tModLoader if you want mods, and you are happy to keep your players' mod lists lined up with the server.
Either way you get the same GuavaHost basics: instant setup, free DDoS protection, NVMe SSD storage, and a choice of locations across the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Poland, Australia, and South America, which you can change later. If you already have a world or a modded setup on another host, the team can move it across for you, or you can copy the files over yourself.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.