Basic Chat
Basic Chat is a Fabric server mod that formats the public chat with MiniMessage tags, gradients, prefixes and suffixes.
What it does
Basic Chat gives server owners control over how chat messages look, using MiniMessage tags for colors, gradients and modern text styling. Prefixes, suffixes and usernames can all be formatted, and the mod is built to stay compatible with standard Fabric prefix and suffix providers, as well as placeholder integrations.
The configuration can be reloaded while the server keeps running, so a style change takes effect with a reload command rather than a restart. A base command gives access to the reload, and the mod is described by its author as having minimal impact on server performance. Only the server needs it, so players join without installing anything.
Basic Chat is published for Fabric only, with builds covering 1.21 – 1.21.11. Its latest file is 2.0.1 for 1.21.11, released under All rights reserved, so the code is not open source. The source code and issue tracker are publicly linked.
Key features
MiniMessage formatting
Chat lines can use MiniMessage tags, including custom gradients, to style the message text.
Prefixes, suffixes and usernames
Prefixes, suffixes and player names can be formatted separately from the message body.
Reloadable configuration
The configuration reloads in-game through a base command, so style edits apply without a server restart.
Placeholder integration
Chat formatting works alongside placeholder integrations and common prefix and suffix providers.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
ColorMessage is a client-side only Fabric mod, open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, for 1.21 – 1.21.5, so it changes what each player sees rather than the server chat. Chat Math is also client-side only and open source under the MIT License, but targets only 1.21.11 and performs calculations in chat instead of formatting it. SkiesGUIs and SkiesAnnouncements are both server-side only, open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and built for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, covering GUIs and announcements rather than chat styling.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Chat | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-02-06 |
| ColorMessage | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.5 | Client-side only | 2025-05-04 |
| Chat Math | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-01-29 |
| SkiesGUIs | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Server-side only | 2026-01-07 |
| SkiesAnnouncements | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Server-side only | 2025-02-24 |
Questions
Does Basic Chat need to be installed on the client?
Which loader does Basic Chat support?
Can the chat style be changed without restarting the server?
In the catalog
Basic Chat is one of 36,990 Utility mods on ModsFinder, and one of 25,772 Utility mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
Similar mods
What the author says
A lightweight, high-performance chat formatting mod for Fabric 1.21.x. Basic Chat provides full control over your server's chat appearance using modern MiniMessage components. It is designed to be simple, dependency-friendly, and compatible with standard Fabric prefix/suffix providers.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/basicchat
- Owner
- quickesthenry
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-02-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15