Flatpak AlternativesPackage Managers & Software Installers like Flatpak

Flatpak is described as 'Distributing applications on Linux is a pain: different distributions in multiple versions, each with their own versions of libraries and packaging formats. Flatpak is here to change all that. It allows the same app to be installed on different Linux distributions, including' and is a popular Package Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Flatpak for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Flatpak, Homebrew and Flathub apps. The best Flatpak alternative is Homebrew, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Flatpak are Flathub, Zero Install, Nix Package Manager and Advanced Package Tool.

filter to find the best alternatives

Flatpak alternatives are mainly Package Managers but may also be Software Installers or App Stores.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Flatpak.
Flatpak iconFlatpak
  61
  • ...

Distributing applications on Linux is a pain: different distributions in multiple versions, each with their own versions of libraries and packaging formats. Flatpak is here to change all that. It allows the same app to be...

More about Flatpak
More about Flatpak
Flatpak alternatives page was last updated Jun 9, 2024
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
  1. Homebrew icon

    Homebrew

     172 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Homebrew is the easiest and most flexible way to install the UNIX tools Apple didn’t include with macOS. Also available for Linux.

    54 Homebrew alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Homebrew screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Package Installing
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Package Manager
    4.  Software Installer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking

    Homebrew VS Flatpak

     

    • Homebrew is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Flatpak.

    • Homebrew is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Flatpak.

    • Homebrew is Free and Open SourceFlatpak is also Free and Open Source
    • Homebrew is LightweightFlatpak is not according to our users
  2. Flathub icon

    Flathub

     38 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Flathub is the place to get and distribute apps for all of desktop Linux. It is powered by Flatpak, allowing Flathub apps to run on almost any Linux distribution.

    21 Flathub alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Flathub screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  User friendly
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Flatpak
    2.  No registration required
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Dark Mode

    Flathub VS Flatpak

     
    Comments about Flathub as an Alternative to Flatpak
    yeyer11817
    Negative •Jun 10, 2020
    5

    Not really an alternative, but a repository to use with flatpak

    Flatpak Icon
    Flathub icon

    • Some users think Flathub is a great Flatpak alternative, some don't.

    • Flathub is the most popular Web-based alternative to Flatpak.

    • Flathub is Free and Open SourceFlatpak is also Free and Open Source
    • Flathub is Privacy focused and LightweightFlatpak is not according to our users
  4. Zero Install icon

    Zero Install

     33 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Zero Install is a decentralised cross-distribution software installation system. Other features include full support for shared libraries, sharing between users, and integration with native platform package managers.

    33 Zero Install alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Solaris
    Zero Install screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Ad-free

    Zero Install VS Flatpak

     

    • Zero Install is the most popular Windows alternative to Flatpak.

    • Zero Install is Free and Open SourceFlatpak is also Free and Open Source
    • Zero Install is LightweightFlatpak is not according to our users
  5. Nix Package Manager icon

    Nix Package Manager

     24 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Nix is a powerful package manager for macOS, Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. It provides atomic upgrades and rollbacks, side-by-side installation of multiple versions of a package, multi-user package management and easy setup...

    46 Nix Package Manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Package Manager
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  No registration required

    Nix Package Manager VS Flatpak

     
  6. Advanced Package Tool icon

    Advanced Package Tool

     43 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Apt (for Advanced Package Tool) is a set of core tools inside Debian. The user interface application for Apt is aptitude.

    42 Advanced Package Tool alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Updating Packages (apt-get upgrade)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Ad-free

    Advanced Package Tool VS Flatpak

     
  7. Warehouse icon

    Warehouse

     8 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Warehouse is a versatile toolbox for managing flatpak user data, viewing flatpak app info, and batch managing installed flatpaks.

    55 Warehouse alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flatpak
    • Flathub
    Warehouse screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Software Management
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Flatpak
    7.  Dependency Tracking

    Warehouse VS Flatpak

     
  9. Homebrew Cask icon

    Homebrew Cask

     36 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Homebrew-cask provides a friendly homebrew-style CLI workflow for the administration of Mac applications distributed as binaries.

    It's implemented as a homebrew external command called cask.

    24 Homebrew Cask alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew

    Homebrew Cask Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Homebrew

    Homebrew Cask VS Flatpak

     
  10. Applite icon

    Applite

     7 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    User-friendly GUI macOS application for Homebrew Casks.

    57 Applite alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew
    Applite screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Homebrew

    Applite VS Flatpak

     
  11. GNU Guix icon

    GNU Guix

     20 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A purely functional package manager and an advanced distribution of the GNU operating system developed by the GNU Project—which respects the freedom of computer users.

    204 GNU Guix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • GNU Hurd
    Xfce desktop environment

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  FSF Endorsement
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Functional Language
    4.  Rolling Release
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Container Virtualization
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No Tracking

    GNU Guix VS Flatpak

     

    • GNU Guix is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Flatpak.

    • GNU Guix is Free and Open SourceFlatpak is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Guix is Privacy focused and LightweightFlatpak is not according to our users
  12. Mac App Store icon

    Mac App Store

     42 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The Mac App Store is the best place to find apps for Mac. No more boxes, no more disks, no more time-consuming installation. Just like the App Store for iPhone and iPad, click once to download and install any app on your Mac.

    38 Mac App Store alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Homepage

    Mac App Store Features

    1.  File Hosting

    Mac App Store VS Flatpak

     
  13. Flattool icon

    Flattool

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Flattool is a command line script designed to improve user experience with flatpaks. It streamlines flatpak management tasks, making them more efficient and user-friendly.

    55 Flattool alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flatpak

    Flattool Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Flatpak

    Flattool VS Flatpak

     
  14. Souk icon

    Souk

     10 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A flatpak-based app store, written with GTK4 and Rust.

    73 Souk alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Souk screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Readme says "Souk is currently no longer being actively developed due to technical limitations. Many design elements of Souk are currently being implemented in GNOME Software 41. More details are explained in this issue."https://gitlab.gnome.org/haecker-felix/souk/-/issues/61#note_1270615

    Souk Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Flatpak

    Souk VS Flatpak

     
12 of 25 Flatpak alternatives