Homebrew AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Package Managers

The best Package Manager alternative to Homebrew 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 many of them are Package Managers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Package Manager alternatives to Homebrew are Scoop, MacUpdater, Flatpak and WinGet.

filter to find the best alternatives

Most Homebrew alternatives are Package Managers, but you can also narrow the list to Software Installers or Software Updaters. Other popular filters are Mac and Windows.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
Homebrew alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Chocolatey icon
     362 likes

    Command-line application for installing, updating, and removing Windows software without registration, featuring centralized audits, automatic package creation, offline packages, disk space optimization, real-time deployment, inventory tracking, and multi-installer support.

    84 Chocolatey alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2011

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  2. MacUpdater icon
     270 likes

    Automates scanning for outdated third-party Mac software, delivers one-click updates, runs silent daily checks, sends update alerts, and keeps an update history. Free trial scans, while bulk updating beyond ten apps requires a paid license and detailed control.

    23 MacUpdater alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2018

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
  3. Flatpak icon
     81 likes

    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...

    33 Flatpak alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  4. WinGet icon
     64 likes

    Open-source CLI enables installing, upgrading, removing, and configuring Windows software from a curated repository, supports YAML configuration files, automates device setup with PowerShell DSC, and serves developers, enterprises, and software vendors.

    22 WinGet alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2020

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Bazaar is a new app store for GNOME with a focus on discovering and installing applications and add-ons from Flatpak remotes, particularly Flathub. It emphasizes supporting the developers who make the Linux desktop possible.

    42 Bazaar App Store alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Synaptic icon
     183 likes

    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+.

    59 Synaptic alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Xfce
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    Synaptic screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  7. GNOME Software icon
     52 likes

    Software lets you install and update applications and system extensions.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2017

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Linux Mobile
    • GNOME
    Good alternative?
     
  8. CaskHub icon
     15 likes

    A native macOS app store for Homebrew casks. Browse, search, install, update, and uninstall thousands of Mac apps distributed through Homebrew - with original app icons extracted from the source, categories, popularity charts, and one-click actions, all in a clean SwiftUI...

    14 CaskHub alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • New

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew
    Good alternative?
     
  9. 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...

    49 pacman (package manager) alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2012

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  10. WailBrew icon
     12 likes

    A minimalistic and beautiful GUI for Homebrew package management on macOS. Experience the power of command-line tools through an intuitive, modern interface.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew
    Good alternative?
     
  11. 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...

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2014

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 47 Homebrew alternatives