Microsoft Store AlternativesTop Software Installers & App Stores like Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store is described as 'Find the apps, games, and shows you want, fast, in Microsoft Store, including your favorite mobile apps that now work on your PC' and is a software installer in the online services category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Microsoft Store for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Web-based, Mac and SaaS apps. The best Microsoft Store alternative is Steam, which is free. Other great apps like Microsoft Store are Chocolatey, UniGetUI, Snap Store and AppAgg.

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Microsoft Store alternatives are mainly Software Installers, but if you're looking for Package Managers or App Stores you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Microsoft Store.
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Find the apps, games, and shows you want, fast, in Microsoft Store, including your favorite mobile apps that now work on your PC.

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Microsoft Store alternatives page was last updated May 14, 2025
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  1. Steam icon
     2352 likes
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    Steam provides a digital distribution platform for games with streaming, mod support, and multiplayer capabilities. Developed by Valve, it supports over 100 payment methods, includes Early Access, cloud sync, controller support for major brands, and offers an integrated gaming community.

    62 Steam alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • SteamOS

    Top Steam Features

    1.  Game Launcher
    2.  Achievements Supported
    3.  Cloud Sync
    4.  Auto Update
    5.  Controller Support
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Free to play
    8.  Application Launchers
    9.  VR support
    10.  Distributed marketplace
    11.  Community-based
    12.  Dark Mode

    Steam VS Microsoft Store

     
    Comments about Steam as an Alternative to Microsoft Store
    Guest
    Negative Nov 30, 2024
    0

    Steam is more games and game making, you won't find "normal" applications there, like browsers

    Microsoft Store Icon
    Steam icon
    • Some users think Steam is a great Microsoft Store alternative, some don't.

    • Steam is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Microsoft Store.

    • Steam is the most popular free alternative to Microsoft Store.

    • Steam is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Store is also Free and Proprietary
  2. Chocolatey icon
     320 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

    • 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 Microsoft Store

     
    • Most users think Chocolatey is a great Microsoft Store alternative.

    • Chocolatey is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Store.

    • Chocolatey is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Store is Free and Proprietary
    • Chocolatey is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Store is not according to our users
  3. UniGetUI icon
     97 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.

    18 UniGetUI alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • ES flagSpain
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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 Microsoft Store

     
  4. Snap Store  icon
     102 likes
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    The Snap Store gives you instant access to thousands of free and open-source applications. And now you can buy apps from some of the leading providers too. All our software is easy to find and install so you can have a customised desktop that suits you in no time.

    38 Snap Store alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • Ubuntu

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Absence Management
    3.  Software Management

    Snap Store VS Microsoft Store

     
  5. AppAgg icon
     55 likes
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    A web based Application Aggregator. Support all major platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo.

    71 AppAgg alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Windows Mobile
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Nintendo Switch Online
    • Playstation

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Full-Text Search
    2.  Discovery engine
    3.  Price Alerts
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Coding Required
    6.  No registration required
    7.  User Rating
    8.  Real time collaboration
    9.  Portable
    10.  Discounts
    11.  App Reviews
    12.  Integrated Search

    AppAgg VS Microsoft Store

     
    • AppAgg is the most popular SaaS alternative to Microsoft Store.

    • AppAgg is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Store is also Free and Proprietary
    • AppAgg is LightweightMicrosoft Store is not according to our users
  6. Npackd icon
     60 likes
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    Npackd (pronounced "unpacked") is an application store/package manager/marketplace for applications for Windows. It helps you to find and install software, keep your system up-to-date and uninstall it if no longer necessary.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Npackd VS Microsoft Store

     
  7. NuGet icon
     33 likes
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    NuGet is a Visual Studio extension that makes it easy to install and update open source libraries and tools in Visual Studio.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Microsoft Visual Studio

    NuGet VS Microsoft Store

     
    Comments about NuGet as an Alternative to Microsoft Store
    Guest
    Negative May 4, 2021
    0

    It's only for tools for Visual Studio. Microsoft Store is a platform for apps in general.

    Microsoft Store Icon
    NuGet icon
    • Some users think NuGet is a great Microsoft Store alternative, some don't.

    • NuGet is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Store is Free and Proprietary
  8. App Grid icon
     13 likes
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    App Grid is a new lightweight Snap Store alternative that tries to make application discovery easier by using a grid view which includes app screenshots and ratings.

    36 App Grid alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2020.

    App Grid VS Microsoft Store

     
  9. Souk icon
     10 likes
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    A flatpak-based app store, written with GTK4 and Rust.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Discontinued

    Readme says "Souk is currently no longer being actively developed due to technical limitations. Many design elements of Souk are currently being implemented in GNOME Software 41. More details are explained in this issue."https://gitlab.gnome.org/haecker-felix/souk/-/issues/61#note_1270615

    Souk Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Flatpak

    Souk VS Microsoft Store

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

    Cross-platform app store for Electron apps.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    Discontinued

    The website seems to have been taken down, and the GitHub repo hasn't been updated in since 2021.

    Electron App Store Features

    1.  Cross-Platform

    Electron App Store VS Microsoft Store

     
  11. FreeToGame icon
     17 likes
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    FreeToGame is a gaming platform that provides access to the best free-to-play games and MMO Games while rewarding gamers with free premium in-game loot, special offers and exclusive perks at no cost to the user!

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    FreeToGame Features

    1.  Free to play

    FreeToGame VS Microsoft Store

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

    Hydra is a Game Launcher with its own embedded BitTorrent Client and a self-managed repack scraper.

    40 Hydra Launcher alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    Hydra Launcher Features

    1.  Game Launcher

    Hydra Launcher VS Microsoft Store

     
12 of 34 Microsoft Store alternatives