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.

filter to find the best alternatives

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
  176
  • ...

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
Homebrew alternatives page was last updated May 3, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Chocolatey icon
     325 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

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

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • ES flagSpain
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey

    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

     
  3. Ninite icon
     662 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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
  4. Scoop icon
     113 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A command-line installer for Windows.

    30 Scoop alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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

     
  5. Patch My PC icon
     123 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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

     
  6. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    12 Windows Package Manager / WinGet alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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

     
  7. Just Install icon
     34 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    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

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

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

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    App Explorer from SweetLabs VS Homebrew

     
  9. Chef Habitat icon
     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

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

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

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    moonrepo proto Features

    1.  Rust

    moonrepo proto VS Homebrew

     
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Warning

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

    Silent Install Helper VS Homebrew

     
  12. GitRel icon
     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Install and update binaries via GitHub Releases API.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    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