Homebrew Alternatives for Windows

Homebrew is not available for Windows but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows alternative is Chocolatey, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Homebrew and 13 are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Homebrew are UniGetUI, Ninite, Scoop and Patch My PC.

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Homebrew alternatives are mainly Software Installers, but if you're looking for Software Updaters or Package Managers you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Homebrew.
Homebrew iconHomebrew
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Homebrew is the easiest and most flexible way to install the UNIX tools Apple didn’t include with macOS. Also available for Linux.

More about Homebrew
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Homebrew alternatives page was last updated May 3, 2025
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  1. Chocolatey icon

    Chocolatey

     325 likes
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    Windows-centric package manager streamlining software updates without registration. Privacy-focused, ad-free, open-source, lightweight, and supports a command-line interface for efficiency and ease of use.

    66 Chocolatey alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Chocolatey screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Package Manager
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Software Installer
    5.  Full descriptions
    6.  Software Management
    7.  Nuget
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12. Node.js icon  Support for Node.js

    Chocolatey VS Homebrew

     
    Comments about Chocolatey as an Alternative to Homebrew
    Shaz Shah
    Positive May 31, 2024
    0

    It is probably the closest you can get to a Homebrew experience as Chocolately does have a command line interface. It's not as elegant, but a very useful package manager to quickly setup new machines.

    Homebrew Icon
    Chocolatey icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Chocolatey is a great Homebrew alternative.

    • Chocolatey is the most popular Windows alternative to Homebrew.

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

    • Chocolatey is Freemium and Open SourceHomebrew is Free and Open Source
    • Chocolatey is Lightweight and Privacy focusedHomebrew is not according to our users
  2. UniGetUI icon

    UniGetUI

     103 likes
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    The primary objective of this project is to develop an intuitive graphical user interface for popular CLI package managers on Windows 10 and 11, including WinGet, Scoop, Chocolatey, Pip, Npm, .NET Tool, and PowerShell Gallery.

    19 UniGetUI alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • ES flagSpain
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
    UniGetUI screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Software Installer
    2.  Graphical User Interface
    3.  Software Uninstallers
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Package Manager
    7.  No registration required
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Works Offline

    UniGetUI VS Homebrew

     
  4. Ninite icon

    Ninite

     662 likes
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    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.

    73 Ninite alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Ninite screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Software Installer
    2.  Software Download
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Portable
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Dark Mode

    Ninite VS Homebrew

     
    Comments about Ninite as an Alternative to Homebrew
    RemovedUser
    Negative Mar 27, 2021
    1

    Ninite won't give you access to hundreds of open source and CLI softwares like Homebrew does.

    Homebrew Icon
    Ninite icon

    • Some users think Ninite is a great Homebrew alternative, some don't.

    • Ninite is Freemium and ProprietaryHomebrew is Free and Open Source
    • Ninite is LightweightHomebrew is not according to our users
  5. Scoop icon

    Scoop

     113 likes
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    A command-line installer for Windows.

    30 Scoop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Scoop screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Software Installer
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Package Manager
    4.  Portable
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  PowerShell Scripting
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Support for scripting

    Scoop VS Homebrew

     
  6. Patch My PC icon

    Patch My PC

     123 likes
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    Patch My PC Home Updater is a free, user-friendly software designed to keep over 300 applications on your computer up-to-date. It automates the process of updating and installing apps, ensuring your system is secure and running smoothly without the hassle of manual updates1.

    69 Patch My PC alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Patch My PC screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Auto Update
    2.  Software Installer
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Dark Mode

    Patch My PC VS Homebrew

     
  7. Windows Package Manager / WinGet icon

    Windows Package Manager / WinGet

     44 likes
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    Microsoft's open-source CLI packager manager for Windows.

    12 Windows Package Manager / WinGet alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows Package Manager / WinGet screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

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

    Windows Package Manager / WinGet VS Homebrew

     
  9. Just Install icon

    Just Install

     34 likes
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    just-install - The stupid package installer for Windows.

    Chocolatey , Ninite , Npackd are way too slow, bloated and difficult to extend. I needed a no-frills solution to inst.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Just Install screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    From the GitHub repo: "This project is no longer being actively developed. We suggest you to switch to Microsoft's winget."

    Just Install Features

    1.  Auto Update
    2.  Software Management

    Just Install VS Homebrew

     
  10. App Explorer from SweetLabs icon

    App Explorer from SweetLabs

     2 likes
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    a program developed by SweetLabs. It comes preinstalled application for customizing your PC from the first time you turn it on.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    App Explorer from SweetLabs screenshot 1

    App Explorer from SweetLabs VS Homebrew

     
  11. Chef Habitat icon

    Chef Habitat

     1 like
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    Open-source software that creates platform-independent build artifacts and provides built-in deployment and management capabilities.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Chef Habitat screenshot 1

    Chef Habitat Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    2.  Container Orchestration
    3.  Automated deployment

    Chef Habitat VS Homebrew

     
    Comments about Chef Habitat as an Alternative to Homebrew
    Guest
    Positive Aug 30, 2019
    0

    Habitat makes it easier to run your applications on any platform. :)

    Homebrew Icon
    Chef Habitat icon
    • Chef Habitat is Free and Open SourceHomebrew is also Free and Open Source
  12. moonrepo proto icon

    moonrepo proto

     Like
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    proto is a pluggable next-generation version manager for multiple programming languages. A unified toolchain.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    moonrepo proto screenshot 1

    moonrepo proto Features

    1.  Rust

    moonrepo proto VS Homebrew

     
  13. Silent Install Helper icon

    Silent Install Helper

     4 likes
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    Silent Install Helper determines the type of installation package and allows you to install programs in "silent" mode (without user intervention). Supported installers: Inno Setup, Smart Installer, Wise installer, NSIS, RAR \ ZIP \ 7z \ 7z Setup \ Free Arc \ Microsoft...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Silent Install Helper screenshot 1
    Warning

    Firefox and Chrome, among other tools, issue warning for site/downloads.

    Silent Install Helper VS Homebrew

     
  14. GitRel icon

    GitRel

     2 likes
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    Install and update binaries via GitHub Releases API.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    install a binary, list installed binaries, update installed binaries
    Discontinued

    Latest release is from August 2022. The GitHub repository has been archived in April 2023 and isn't maintained anymore.

    GitRel Features

    1.  Auto Update

    GitRel VS Homebrew

     
12 of 13 Homebrew alternatives