Spack AlternativesPackage Managers and other similar apps like Spack

Spack is described as 'Package manager for supercomputers, Linux, and macOS. It makes installing scientific software easy. Spack isn’t tied to a particular language; you can build a software stack in Python or R, link to libraries written in C, C++, or Fortran, and easily swap compilers or' and is a Package Manager in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Spack for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Flatpak, Homebrew and BSD apps. The best Spack alternative is Homebrew, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Spack are Flatpak, Nix Package Manager, Warehouse and Applite.

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Spack alternatives are mainly Package Managers but may also be Software Installers or Linux Distros.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Spack.
Spack iconSpack
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Spack is a package manager for supercomputers, Linux, and macOS. It makes installing scientific software easy. Spack isn’t tied to a particular language; you can build a software stack in Python or R, link to libraries...

More about Spack
More about Spack
Spack alternatives page was last updated Feb 10, 2025
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  1. Homebrew icon
    Homebrew icon

    Homebrew

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

    54 Homebrew alternatives
    Homebrew screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Homebrew screenshot 1

    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
    Homebrew iconSpack Icon

    Homebrew VS Spack

    Is Homebrew a good alternative to Spack?
     

    • Homebrew is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Spack.

    • Homebrew is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Spack.

    • Homebrew is Free and Open SourceSpack is also Free and Open Source
    • Homebrew is LightweightSpack is not according to our users
  2. Flatpak icon
    Flatpak icon

    Flatpak

     61 likes
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    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...

    25 Flatpak alternatives
    Flatpak screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Flatpak screenshot 1
    Flathub.org is the Flatpak home of hundreds of apps which can be easily installed on any Linux distribution

    Flatpak Features

    1.  Multiple Repository Support
    2.  Package Installing
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Sandbox
    5.  App Distribution
    Flatpak iconSpack Icon

    Flatpak VS Spack

    Is Flatpak a good alternative to Spack?
     
  4. Nix Package Manager icon
    Nix Package Manager icon

    Nix Package Manager

     24 likes
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    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...

    46 Nix Package Manager alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Package Manager
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  No registration required
    Nix Package Manager iconSpack Icon

    Nix Package Manager VS Spack

    Is Nix Package Manager a good alternative to Spack?
     
  5. Warehouse icon
    Warehouse icon

    Warehouse

     8 likes
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    Warehouse is a versatile toolbox for managing flatpak user data, viewing flatpak app info, and batch managing installed flatpaks.

    54 Warehouse alternatives
    Warehouse screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flatpak
    • Flathub
    Warehouse screenshot 1
    Warehouse screenshot 2
    +4
    Warehouse screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Software Management
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Flatpak
    7.  Dependency Tracking
    Warehouse iconSpack Icon

    Warehouse VS Spack

    Is Warehouse a good alternative to Spack?
     
  6. Applite icon
    Applite icon

    Applite

     6 likes
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    User-friendly GUI macOS application for Homebrew Casks.

    57 Applite alternatives
    Applite screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew
    Applite screenshot 1
    Applite screenshot 2
    +1
    Applite screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Homebrew
    Applite iconSpack Icon

    Applite VS Spack

    Is Applite a good alternative to Spack?
     
  7. GNU Guix icon
    GNU Guix icon

    GNU Guix

     20 likes
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    A purely functional package manager and an advanced distribution of the GNU operating system developed by the GNU Project—which respects the freedom of computer users.

    201 GNU Guix alternatives
    Xfce desktop environment

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • GNU Hurd
    GNOME desktop environment
    Login screen
    +1
    Guix Emacs interface

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  FSF Endorsement
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Functional Language
    4.  Rolling Release
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Container Virtualization
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No Tracking
    GNU Guix iconSpack Icon

    GNU Guix VS Spack

    Is GNU Guix a good alternative to Spack?
     

    • GNU Guix is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Spack.

    • GNU Guix is Free and Open SourceSpack is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Guix is Privacy focused and LightweightSpack is not according to our users
  9. Flattool icon
    Flattool icon

    Flattool

     2 likes
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    Flattool is a command line script designed to improve user experience with flatpaks. It streamlines flatpak management tasks, making them more efficient and user-friendly.

    54 Flattool alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flatpak

    Flattool Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Flatpak
    Flattool iconSpack Icon

    Flattool VS Spack

    Is Flattool a good alternative to Spack?
     
  10. Gentoo Prefix icon
    Gentoo Prefix icon

    Gentoo Prefix

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    To bring out the virtues of Gentoo on different operating systems, the Gentoo Prefix project develops and maintains a way of installing Gentoo systems in a non-standard location, designated by a "prefix".

    6 Gentoo Prefix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Gentoo Prefix iconSpack Icon

    Gentoo Prefix VS Spack

    Is Gentoo Prefix a good alternative to Spack?
     
  11. Lix Project icon
    Lix Project icon

    Lix Project

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    A modern, delicious implementation of the Nix package manager, focused on correctness, usability, and growth — and committed to doing right by its community.

    46 Lix Project alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking
    Lix Project iconSpack Icon

    Lix Project VS Spack

    Is Lix Project a good alternative to Spack?
     
  12. Tvix icon
    Tvix icon

    Tvix

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    Tvix is a new implementation of Nix, a purely-functional package manager. It aims to have a modular implementation, in which different components can be reused or replaced based on the use-case.

    43 Tvix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Rust
    Tvix iconSpack Icon

    Tvix VS Spack

    Is Tvix a good alternative to Spack?
     
10 of 10 Spack alternatives