Alternatives to Flatpak

Sandboxed application packaging for Linux, with shared runtimes and Flathub. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Flatpak.

  • Snap

    Canonical's universal Linux packages with confinement and automatic updates.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Snap is Canonical's universal format with automatic updates, rollback and release channels, but the Snap Store back end is proprietary and first launches are slower.

  • AppImage

    Portable Linux application format that runs from a single file with no install.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    AppImage runs each app from a single file with no install or root, but has no sandboxing by default and no automatic updates unless the app adds them.

  • Nix

    Functional package manager with reproducible builds and atomic rollbacks.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    Nix is a functional package manager for Linux and macOS with reproducible builds and atomic rollbacks, at the cost of a steep learning curve.

  • Homebrew

    Package manager for macOS and Linux with formulae and GUI app casks.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    Homebrew is a package manager for macOS and Linux with prebuilt bottles, but it provides no sandboxing and upgrades can bring dependency churn.

  • GNU Guix

    A transactional package manager and GNU/Linux distribution whose packages and system configurations are written in Guile Scheme.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    GNU Guix offers transactional, reproducible per-user package management configured in Guile Scheme, and packages only free software.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.