Microsoft Store Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Microsoft Store for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is Steam, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Microsoft Store and 17 are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Microsoft Store are Chocolatey, UniGetUI, Npackd and NuGet.

filter to find the best alternatives

Microsoft Store alternatives are mainly Package Managers, but if you're looking for Software Installers or Software Updaters 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

    Steam

     2362 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.

    64 Steam alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Gaming-focused

    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.  Mods
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Distributed marketplace

    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

    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 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
  4. 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 Microsoft Store

     
  5. Npackd icon

    Npackd

     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

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Npackd screenshot 1

    Npackd VS Microsoft Store

     
  6. NuGet icon

    NuGet

     34 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.

    12 NuGet alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Microsoft Visual Studio
    NuGet screenshot 1

    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
  7. RuckZuck icon

    RuckZuck

     13 likes
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    RuckZuck is a free Software Package Manager for Windows, designed to keep the Software on your System(s) up to date even if the Software was not installed with RuckZuck.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RuckZuck screenshot 1

    RuckZuck VS Microsoft Store

     
  9. Electron App Store icon

    Electron App Store

     6 likes
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    Cross-platform app store for Electron apps.

    14 Electron App Store alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    Electron App Store screenshot 1
    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

     
  10. OneGet icon

    OneGet

     18 likes
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    OneGet is a unified interface to package management systems and aims to make Software Discovery, Installation and Inventory (SDII) work via a common set of cmdlets (and eventually a set of APIs). Regardless of the installation technology underneath, users can use these common...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    "This module is currently not in development."

    OneGet Features

    1.  Nuget

    OneGet VS Microsoft Store

     
  11. Hydra Launcher icon

    Hydra Launcher

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

    41 Hydra Launcher alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Hydra Launcher screenshot 1

    Hydra Launcher Features

    1.  Game Launcher

    Hydra Launcher VS Microsoft Store

     
  12. Apps4.Store Alpha icon

    Apps4.Store Alpha

     3 likes
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    Apps4.Store is the Store with a variety of useful apps and programs for home, business, and entertainment! Explore and download best software for your device! "Install" to get the program on the device, or leave the installer with "Close" button.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    Apps4.Store

    Apps4.Store Alpha VS Microsoft Store

     
  13. ABC-Deploy icon

    ABC-Deploy

     3 likes
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    Policy driven software deployment and Inventory tool for Windows clients.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    ABC-Deploy screenshot 1

    ABC-Deploy VS Microsoft Store

     
  14. Microsoft Store - Generation Project icon

    Microsoft Store - Generation Project

     3 likes
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    Online link generator for Microsoft Store for UWP (Universal Windows Platform) Apps AppxBundle download for offline installs

    1 Microsoft Store - Generation Project alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CY flagCyprus
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Phone
    Microsoft Store - Generation Project screenshot 1

    Microsoft Store - Generation Project Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Offline

    Microsoft Store - Generation Project VS Microsoft Store

     
12 of 17 Microsoft Store alternatives