Homebrew icon
Homebrew icon

Homebrew

 167 likes

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

Homebrew screenshot 1

License model

  • Free • Open Source

Application types

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Linux
Homebrew screenshot 1
Homebrew alternatives  
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4.1 / 5 Avg rating (14)
167 likes
13comments
54 alternatives
1 news article

Features

Suggest and vote on features

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

 Tags

Homebrew News & Activities

Highlights • All activities

Recent News

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Recent activities

  • noctis-x, thejfex, PredatorQ and plyght liked Homebrew
    •12 days ago
  • App icon
    ivan-hc added Homebrew as alternative to AM
    •about 2 months ago
  • z0x8m3mg rated Homebrew  
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    •about 2 months ago
  • App icon
    K0RR added Homebrew as alternative to anyenv and moonrepo proto
    •about 2 months ago
  • Brindille070BRZ, sittletwopalternativeto and K0RR liked Homebrew
    •2 months ago
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Homebrew information

  • Developed by

    Max Howell

  • Licensing

    Open Source (BSD-2-Clause) and Free product.

  • Written in

  • Rating

    Average rating of 4.1 (14 ratings)

  • Alternatives

    54 alternatives listed

  • Supported Languages

    • English

AlternativeTo Categories

OS & Utilities, Development

GitHub repository

  •  42,090 Stars
  •  9,905 Forks
  •  64 Open Issues
  •   Updated Jan 14, 2025 
View on GitHub

Popular alternatives

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Top Homebrew apps (extensions / mods etc)

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Our users have written 13 comments and reviews about Homebrew, and it has gotten 167 likes

Homebrew was added to AlternativeTo by tcx on Mar 14, 2011 and this page was last updated Feb 19, 2022.

Comments and Reviews

   
 Post comment/review
Comment summary: Homebrew is highly praised for its ease of use in managing software installations on macOS, drawing comparisons to Debian's package management and Linux tools. Users appreciate Homebrew's extensive features, open-source nature, and ability to handle GUI applications with Homebrew Cask. Despite its popularity, some users criticize it for forced upgrades and slow updates on important packages, indicating mixed experiences.
Darthbert Pleurotuson
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Top positive comment •Feb 7, 2022

Sometimes the best tools are the ones that work so well you don't even stop to think about them. Homebrew has matured into just such a tool. Tons of features for advanced users, but straightforward enough for people (like me) who just want to install/uninstall/update apps quickly and easily. I now use Homebrew for all of my package management needs; even its core library is very extensive. Bravo Homebrew devs and community!

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ab1
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Top negative comment •Apr 27, 2022

Homebrew is quite slow in updating even the most important packages. Not good for my usage. Might be good for you...

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ranerio
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Positive comment •Sep 30, 2022

It's like apt-get for Mac!

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westwong0622
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Positive comment •
Pending approval • Edited Aug 31, 2022

Make installation (command line or apps) on macOS one command

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billyQ
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Positive comment •Jun 14, 2022

There is no easier way to install apps. Takes a little bit of learning the basics, however once you get your head around it you will be using it all the time and wonder why you wasted time doing it any other way.

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Bruce Anderson
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Positive comment •Jun 1, 2022

Homebrew makes development possible on macOS! Without it, we wouldn't be able to use anything from the Linux ecosystem, and it would be like developing on Windows. It's great because I personally dislike Linux as a personal OS, but love it as a server OS, so when I write code for production, it's for Linux, and Homebrew lets me write I on macOS! Well done Homebrew devs!

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Norton
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Positive comment •Aug 19, 2021

Open source. Makes life easier.

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7 of 13 comments

What is Homebrew?

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

What Does Homebrew Do?

  • Homebrew installs the stuff you need that Apple (or your Linux system) didn’t.
  • Homebrew installs packages to their own directory and then symlinks their files into /usr/local (on macOS Intel).
  • Homebrew won’t install files outside its prefix and you can place a Homebrew installation wherever you like.
  • Trivially create your own Homebrew packages.
  • It’s all Git and Ruby underneath, so hack away with the knowledge that you can easily revert your modifications and merge upstream updates.
  • Homebrew formulae are simple Ruby scripts.
  • Homebrew complements macOS (or your Linux system). Install your RubyGems with gem and their dependencies with brew.
  • “To install, drag this icon…” no more. Homebrew Cask installs macOS apps, fonts and plugins and other non-open source software.
  • Making a cask is as simple as creating a formula.

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