Best Homebrew Alternatives

Homebrew is described as 'the easiest and most flexible way to install the UNIX tools Apple didn’t include with macOS. Also available for Linux' and is a very popular Package Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Homebrew for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Web-based and BSD apps. The best Homebrew alternative is MacUpdater. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Ninite or Chocolatey. Other great apps like Homebrew are scoop, Patch My PC, Synaptic and Flatpak.

Homebrew alternatives are mainly Package Managers but may also be Software Installers or Software Updaters. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Homebrew.

Homebrew alternatives page was last updated

Homebrew

146

Free • Open Source
Package Manager

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

More about Homebrew

MacUpdater
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Software Updater
Software Installer
Software Download Service
Mac
13 MacUpdater alternatives
MacUpdater is an application that can scan your Mac and display which of the apps that you have installed are not up-to-date. MacUpdater can also update those outdated apps to their newest versions with a simple click.
- - MacUpdater is the most popular Mac alternative to Homebrew.
- - MacUpdater is the most popular commercial alternative to Homebrew.
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MacUpdater Features
1. LightweightMacUpdater consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Ad-freeMacUpdater doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeMacUpdater supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Update Notifier
Auto Update
No Subscription
Ninite
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Software Installer
Software Updater
Windows
65 Ninite alternatives
Ninite is the easiest way to install software. Pick the apps you want, and the Ninite installer will download and install all of your selected apps at once, automatically. It is 100% hands-free; Ninite automatically rejects browser toolbars and other prepackaged junk.
- - Ninite is the most popular Windows alternative to Homebrew.
- - Ninite is the most popular free alternative to Homebrew.
Ninite has no features, suggest some!

Comments about Ninite as a Alternative to Homebrew
Some users think Ninite is a great Homebrew alternative, some don't.
RemovedUser
Ninite won't give you access to hundreds of open source and CLI softwares like Homebrew does.
Negative comment•
0
Chocolatey
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Software Installer
Package Manager
Windows
63 Chocolatey alternatives
Chocolatey NuGet is a Machine Package Manager, somewhat like apt-get, but built with Windows in mind. It is built on top of NuGet command line and the NuGet infrastructure.
- - Chocolatey is the most popular Open Source alternative to Homebrew.
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Chocolatey Features
1. Command line interfaceChocolatey either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Ad-freeChocolatey doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Full descriptions
Nuget
Software Management
Support for NodeJS
Opinions about Chocolatey as a Alternative to Homebrew
Almost everyone thinks Chocolatey is a great Homebrew alternative.
scoop
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Package Manager
Windows
26 scoop alternatives
A command-line installer for Windows.
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scoop Features
1. Command line interfacescoop either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Portablescoop can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Lightweightscoop consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in scoop without registration.
5. No Trackingscoop will not track you or use your personal data.
6. Support for scriptingscoop supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
7. Privacy focusedscoop is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
8. Ad-freescoop doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
PowerShell Scripting
Patch My PC
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Software Updater
Driver Updater
Software Installer
Windows
71 Patch My PC alternatives
Patch My PC is a small portable application that updates third party applications and Windows updates. It’s critical to keep software up to date to ensure vulnerabilities are patched. There are currently almost 300 third-party applications that Patch My PC can silently update...
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Patch My PC Features
1. PortablePatch My PC can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Ad-freePatch My PC doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. LightweightPatch My PC consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Auto Update
Synaptic
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Package Manager
Software Installer
Software Updater
Linux
Debian
Xfce
46 Synaptic alternatives
Synaptic is a graphical package management program for apt. It provides the same features as the apt-get command line utility with a GUI front-end based on Gtk+.
- - Synaptic is the most popular Linux alternative to Homebrew.
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Synaptic Features
1. Ad-freeSynaptic doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. LightweightSynaptic consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Privacy focusedSynaptic is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
PPA
Integrated Search
Filter search results
Opinions about Synaptic as a Alternative to Homebrew
Almost everyone thinks Synaptic is a great Homebrew alternative.
Flatpak
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Package Manager
Linux
18 Flatpak alternatives
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...
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Flatpak Features
1. Ad-freeFlatpak doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Multiple Repository Support
User friendly
Package Installing
Sandbox
App Distribution
WingetUI
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Updater
Software Installer
Windows
14 WingetUI alternatives
WingetUI is an open source frontend for some Windows Package Manager commands that may be used to install, uninstall and update programs on Windows PCs.
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WingetUI Features
1. Dark ModeWingetUI supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. Ad-freeWingetUI doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. LightweightWingetUI consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Graphical User Interface
Windows Package Manager CLI
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Software Updater
Package Manager
Windows
9 Windows Package Manager CLI alternatives
Microsoft's open-source CLI packager manager for Windows.
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Windows Package Manager CLI Features
1. Command line interfaceWindows Package Manager CLI either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Package Installing
pacman (package manager)
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Package Manager
Linux
Arch Linux
31 pacman (package manager) alternatives
The pacman package manager is one of the major distinguishing features of Arch Linux . It combines a simple binary package format with an easy-to-use build system. The goal of pacman is to make it possible to easily manage packages, whether...
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pacman (package manager) Features
Software Management
Add a screenshot
GNOME Software
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Package Manager
App Store
Linux
Linux Mobile
GNOME
Advanced Package Tool
57 GNOME Software alternatives
Software lets you install and update applications and system extensions.
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GNOME Software Features
1. Ad-freeGNOME Software doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in GNOME Software without registration.
3. No TrackingGNOME Software will not track you or use your personal data.
4. Command line interfaceGNOME Software either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
5. LightweightGNOME Software consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
6. Privacy focusedGNOME Software is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Software Management
Access the AppStore
Nix Package Manager
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Package Manager
Software Installer
Mac
Linux
BSD
34 Nix Package Manager alternatives
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...
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Nix Package Manager Features
1. Command line interfaceNix Package Manager either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. PortableNix Package Manager can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
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