Alternatives to Homebrew

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

  • Nix

    Functional package manager with reproducible builds and atomic rollbacks.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

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

  • 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 package management configured in Guile Scheme, but runs on Linux only and packages only free software.

  • Applite

    Install and update Mac applications through a graphical Homebrew interface.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOS

    Applite gives a graphical interface over Homebrew Cask for installing and updating Mac apps, but covers only apps and not command line formulae.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Homebrew as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Flatpak

    Sandboxed application packaging for Linux, with shared runtimes and Flathub.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

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

  • Snap

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Homebrew installs command line tools and apps on Linux and macOS from prebuilt bottles, without confinement or Snap's automatic background updates.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.