Eco already offers a deep experience on its own, but mods take your server to the next level. Whether you want extra professions, new vehicles or advanced ecological simulations: the Eco modding community has a wide selection in 2026. In this article we cover the best mods and how to install them.
How does modding work in Eco?
Eco supports mods through the Modkit, an official framework by Strange Loop Games. Mods are placed in the Mods/ folder of your server. Most mods consist of .cs files (C#) and are loaded automatically on startup.
Important: players do not need to install mods on their own computer. Server mods are automatically sent to connected players.
Best Eco mods in 2026
Extra professions and recipes
Mods that add new professions and crafting recipes are popular on larger servers where more specializations are needed.
- Elixr Mods (Big Shovel, Excavator): adds tools that let you move large amounts of dirt faster. Especially useful for infrastructure projects.
- Extra Recipes: expands the recipe list with alternative ways to craft products, giving players more choice in their production chains.
- Farming Expansion: adds new crops and farming techniques, including greenhouses and irrigation.
Vehicles and transport
- Vehicle Expansion: expands the vehicle selection with boats, planes and heavier trucks.
- Rail Network: adds a train system that is particularly suitable for transporting bulk goods over long distances.
Ecology and simulation
- Eco in Detail: expands the ecological simulation with more animal species, plant growth and climate interactions.
- Pollution Monitor: gives players detailed pollution statistics per region, so the government can take targeted measures.
Quality-of-life improvements
- Better Chat: improves the chat system with colors, channels and moderation tools.
- Map Improvements: adds extra layers to the in-game map, such as resources, pollution and property boundaries.
- Auto Backup: creates automatic backups at configurable intervals.
Most popular Eco mods overview
| Mod | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Elixr Mods | Tools | Large tools for terrain editing |
| Farming Expansion | Farming | New crops, greenhouses and irrigation |
| Vehicle Expansion | Transport | Boats, planes and extra vehicles |
| Pollution Monitor | Ecology | Detailed pollution statistics |
| Better Chat | Communication | Chat improvements and moderation tools |
| Auto Backup | Management | Automatic server backups |
Installing mods
- Download the mod as a .cs file or .zip archive from the Eco Modding forum or the community Discord.
- Extract the archive if needed.
- Upload the files to the
Mods/folder in your server directory. - Restart the server.
- Check the server log for error messages. If a mod does not load properly, the cause will be listed there.
Through the HostValues game panel you can upload files directly to the mods folder.
Compatibility and updates
After every Eco update some mods may stop working. Check with the mod author whether an updated version is available before installing the game update. Add mods one at a time and test after each addition. This way you isolate problems quickly if something goes wrong.
Do players also need to install mods?
No, with most Eco server mods the changes are automatically sent to the client. Players do not need to download anything extra. Some visual mods are the exception: those require a client-side installation. Check the mod description.
How many mods can an Eco server handle?
That depends on the weight of the mods and your hardware configuration. Lightweight mods that add recipes or tools have barely any impact on performance. Heavier mods that extend the ecological simulation can noticeably increase CPU usage. With 4 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores you can comfortably run 10 to 15 light mods. With more or heavier mods, 8 GB and 4 cores is the wiser choice.
Why HostValues?
Eco servers at HostValues run on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X hardware with NVMe storage and DDoS protection included. Upload mods through the game panel and restart with one click. All plans can be cancelled monthly. Check out Eco hosting.
