Chocolatey
by Chocolatey
What Chocolatey is
Chocolatey is a package manager presented for Windows, with Linux and macOS also listed among supported platforms. It handles nupkg, nuspec, and packages.config formats, with dependency resolution, lockfiles, private registry authentication, and offline installation. The free Open Source edition has no machine limit. Pro is a named individual license for up to eight personal machines and costs $96 a year. Chocolatey for Business starts at $18 per node per year with a 100-node minimum pack. Business tools include Package Builder for creating packages, Package Internalizer for private repositories, and Central Management for organization-wide visibility, reporting, and endpoint management. Reports can be generated in PDF and Excel formats, while integrations can use custom connections, PowerShell, or batch scripts. Licensing covers physical, virtual, container, on-premises, cloud, and test environments. Support ranges from Pro to Business Premium, with 24/7 assistance available to premium customers.
Who it suits
It suits individuals managing personal Windows machines and organizations managing packages across varied physical, virtual, cloud, or test environments.
What it does well
- Free Open Source edition has no machine limit
- Supports dependency resolution and lockfiles
- Offers offline installation and private registry authentication
- Business tools include package internalization
- Premium support can provide 24/7 assistance
What to know first
- Business pricing requires a 100-node minimum
- Pro covers up to eight personal machines
- Chocolatey is presented primarily for Windows
- Commercial plans are licensed per machine or node
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | No limit on machines | On request |
| Pro | billed annually · Up to 8 personal machines | $96 a year |
| Business (C4B) | Annual starts at $18.00 per node/year; 100-node minimum pack · 100 nodes minimum · 40-499 licenses: $18.00 per license/year | $18 a year |
| Chocolatey for Business Perpetual | — | On request |
As chocolatey.org lists them, read 28 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Chocolatey offers a free unlimited-machine foundation plus paid controls for personal and organizational deployment. Package creation, private repositories, reporting, and broad environment licensing support larger operations, while Business entry terms require substantial node coverage.
Facts from Chocolatey's own pages
- Business refund period
- Organizations buying C4B without a trial receive a 30-day period. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Business trial
- Chocolatey for Business offers a 14-day white-glove free trial. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Central management
- Central Management provides organization-wide visibility, reporting, and endpoint management. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Commercial security
- Chocolatey for Business provides improved security and Pro includes runtime malware and virus protection. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Dependency resolution
- Yes · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2011 · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free open source
- The Open Source edition is free and has no machine limit. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Tool integrations
- Chocolatey integrates through custom integrations or PowerShell and batch scripts. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- License model
- Chocolatey pricing is based on the number of nodes or machines managed. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Lockfile support
- Yes · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Offline installation
- Yes · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Package creation
- Package Builder automatically creates high-quality packages in seconds. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Package formats
- nupkg,nuspec,packages.config · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Premium support
- Premium customers can receive 24/7 support. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Private registry auth
- Yes · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Private repositories
- Package Internalizer can host packages on private internal repositories. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Pro machine limit
- Pro covers up to 8 personal machines. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Pro refund period
- Pro customers can receive a full refund during the first 30 days. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Reporting formats
- Central Management can generate reports in PDF and Excel formats. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Supported environments
- Licensing covers physical, virtual, container, on-premises, cloud, and test environments. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Supported platform
- Chocolatey is presented as a package manager for Windows. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows; Linux; macOS · chocolatey.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Support levels
- Support includes Pro, Business Standard, Business Standard+, and Business Premium levels. · chocolatey.org, 28 Sept 2026
Where Chocolatey stands on Freedom251
- App Installation#2 of 24
- Application Deployment Software#7 of 44
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