Compare software

unpkg vs Pacifist: catalog facts
unpkg	Pacifist

Best for: Mac users who need to inspect or extract files from an installer	Best for: Mac users who want to look inside installers or pull single files from packages
Free Free software licensed under GPL-2.0.	Paid A license is sold on the developer's site.
macOS	macOS, Command line
Extracts both .pkg and .mpkg files Can unpack packages without administrator privileges Keeps extracted files separate from the system	Reads macOS packages, disk images and common archive formats Lets you inspect install scripts before running an installer Shows which package installed a given file Both a GUI and a command-line interface
For macOS 11 and later Does not install or move extracted files into system locations	macOS only Requires a paid license
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for unpkg timdoug.com/unpkg Catalog checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Pacifist charlessoft.com Catalog checked October 1, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.