Homebrew
The Package Manager for Everywhere
Homebrew is a free and open-source package manager for macOS, Linux and WSL that installs command-line tools, libraries, services and pre-built applications. Packages are installed into a dedicated prefix, with each package kept in its own keg inside the Cellar and its files symlinked into the system path, so files are not written outside the prefix.
Packages come in two forms: formulae, which build command-line tools, libraries and services from upstream source code, and casks, which install pre-built binaries such as applications, fonts and plugins. Additional package repositories can be maintained as taps. Homebrew Bundle provides a declarative, Brewfile-based way to describe and repeat machine or project setup, covering formulae, casks, taps, Mac App Store apps, WinGet packages on WSL, VSCode extensions, Go packages, Cargo packages, uv tools, Flatpak packages, krew kubectl plugins, and background services via brew services. Installation is available through a shell script or a .pkg installer for interactive or unattended MDM installs on macOS. Homebrew is a non-profit project run by volunteers and accepts donations.
4 alternatives to Homebrew
Ranked by how well each tool replaces Homebrew: shared features, audience, price and popularity.
The MacPorts Project is an open-source community initiative to design an easy-to-use, easy
Covers 0 of 15 key features.
Free planOpen source46 out of 100 matchFreeBringing Unix open-source software to Darwin and macOS
Covers 0 of 15 key features.
Free planOpen source45 out of 100 matchFree- 43 out of 100 matchContact sales
- 38 out of 100 matchContact sales