NuGet

Web · Windows · Mac · Linux · API

Freedom report

Two barsScore 7.0

Free tierNo free tier on record
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely4 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

NuGet is a package manager for .NET projects, with tools to create and consume packages and the NuGet Gallery as a central repository. Packages use the .nupkg format and can contain compiled code, related files, and a manifest. NuGet resolves dependency graphs and records package identifiers and versions so projects can restore dependencies across machines and build servers. Developers can manage packages in Visual Studio or use the dotnet CLI and nuget.exe; Visual Studio Code extensions also provide NuGet capabilities. NuGet supports PackageReference and packages.config, with PackageReference required for .NET SDK-style projects. Package restore can check dependencies against configured vulnerability sources and report warnings. Packages may be hosted in private cloud locations, private networks, or local file systems. NuGet supports offline installation, lockfiles, and private registry authentication. The Gallery code is open source under Apache 2.0, and the project welcomes community contributions. NuGet is free. The dotnet CLI works on Windows, macOS, and Linux; nuget.exe is for Windows and can run on macOS and Linux with Mono, with limitations.

Who it is for

NuGet suits .NET library creators and consumers who need package creation, dependency management, or package hosting. It may also fit teams restoring dependencies across machines or build servers.

What is good

Free, with no free-trial requirement.
Resolves dependencies and supports lockfiles.
Supports offline installation and private registry authentication.
Restore can report warnings for known vulnerabilities.
Available through Visual Studio and command-line tools.

What to know first

nuget.exe has limitations on macOS and Linux with Mono.
Published packages generally cannot be deleted.
nuget.org uploads are limited to 250 MB.

Verdict

NuGet combines package creation, hosting, and consumption for .NET, with several client tools and support for private feeds. Its dependency restoration and vulnerability checks are useful considerations for projects shared across machines or build systems.

Compared on package managers

Package formats: .nupkg, .snupkg
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, .NET
Dependency resolution: Yes
Lockfile support: Yes
Private registry auth: Yes
Offline installation: Yes

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The record

Purpose: NuGet is the package manager for .NET; its client tools produce and consume packages, and the NuGet Gallery is a central package repository.
Package contents: A NuGet package is a .nupkg ZIP file that can contain compiled code, related files, and a descriptive manifest.
Package workflows: NuGet defines how .NET packages are created, hosted, and consumed, and provides tools for those roles.
Dependency management: NuGet resolves package dependency graphs and records package identifiers and versions so dependencies can be restored across machines and build servers.
Private feeds: NuGet packages can be hosted privately in the cloud, on a private network, or on a local file system, with access limited to people who can reach the host.
Visual Studio integration: Visual Studio’s NuGet Package Manager UI can search, install, uninstall, and update packages in projects and solutions.
CLI tools: The dotnet CLI and nuget.exe support package creation and consumption; the dotnet CLI is available for .NET Core, .NET Standard, and SDK-style projects targeting .NET Framework.
Package management formats: NuGet supports PackageReference and packages.config, and PackageReference is required for .NET SDK-style projects.
Security auditing: NuGet restore can check project dependencies against known vulnerabilities from configured audit sources and report warnings.
Audit data source: NuGet.org’s vulnerability database uses the GitHub Advisory Database, and NuGet.org provides a vulnerability-data-only service index.
Gallery license: The NuGet Gallery is open-source software licensed under Apache 2.0, and the project welcomes community contributions.
Downloads: The downloads page lists a Windows x86 nuget.exe command-line distribution and a Visual Studio 2015 VSIX; it says NuGet 4.x is included with Visual Studio 2017.
Terms and security: NuGet.org is hosted by Microsoft Corporation, whose terms say it maintains technical and organizational measures intended to protect customer data.
Support and status: NuGet.org links users to a contact page for questions and a service-status page for NuGet.org and related services.

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Package Managers in 2026#13 of 93
Best Package Registries in 2026#11 of 28

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Sources

nuget.org· checked 2 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/what-is-nuget· checked 2 Oct 2026
nuget.org/policies/About· checked 2 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/consume-packages/install-us· checked 2 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/concepts/auditing-packages· checked 2 Oct 2026
nuget.org/downloads· checked 2 Oct 2026
nuget.org/policies/Terms· checked 2 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/install-nuget-client-tools· checked 3 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/consume-packages/package-re· checked 3 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/reference/signed-packages-r· checked 3 Oct 2026
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/nuget-org/nuget-org-faq· checked 3 Oct 2026