Free and open first
Best Package Managers in 2026 — page 3
- 93 apps
- Research read 28 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 51
Quicklisp
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsQuicklisp centralizes Common Lisp library installation and dependency loading across many implementations. Its proxy limits and as-is warranty are important operational details.
- 52
Nimble
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsNimble covers the main package workflow for Nim, from discovery and installation through development, testing, locking, and publication.
- 53
Alpine apk-tools
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedapk provides Alpine Linux with package installation, maintenance, querying, dependency handling, and integrity tools.
- 54
CLPM
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsCLPM combines dependency resolution, lockfiles, multiple package versions, and several Common Lisp sources in one tool.
- 55
Shards
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1Shards provides Crystal projects with configuration-based dependency fetching and lockfile-backed repeatability.
- 56
Shards
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsShards provides Crystal projects with dependency resolution, installation, locking, and build-related commands across three desktop platforms.
- 57
Apache Ivy
Free plan LinuxApache Ivy provides configurable dependency resolution and reporting for Ant-based Java work. Its lack of thread safety matters for teams considering parallel Ant tasks.
- 58
MSYS2
Free plan WindowsMSYS2 combines a Windows-focused Unix-style environment with Pacman, native toolchains, and a large package repository.
- 59
MacPorts
Free plan LinuxMacMacPorts provides a large, dependency-aware open-source package system focused on macOS.
- 60
Bower
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsBower manages front-end packages and dependencies, with configurable sources and workflow integrations.
- 61
Racket Package Manager
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsRacket Package Manager offers broad source support, dependency handling, offline installation, and both graphical and command-line workflows.
- 62
Pamac
Free plan LinuxPamac gives Manjaro users broad package-source support through graphical and command-line interfaces. Its AUR access is useful but carries the risks Manjaro identifies for user-produced packages.
- 63
XBPS
Free plan LinuxXBPS provides core package operations with dependency checks, rollback options, holds, and repository management. Service restarts remain an administrative task after updates.
- 64
tdnf
Free plan Linuxtdnf provides core RPM package operations with dependency handling, repository controls, and optional automated upgrades.
- 65
Nala
Free plan LinuxNala combines familiar APT package operations with mirror selection, download verification, configurable terminal output, and recorded transaction history.
- 66
FreeBSD pkg
Free plan Self-hostedFreeBSD pkg covers core package installation, repository access, dependency handling, and auditing for FreeBSD.
- 67
Npackd
Free plan LinuxWindowsNpackd combines a graphical store, command-line package management, repository controls, and software tracking at no listed cost.
- 68
WinGet
Free plan WindowsWinGet provides broad command-line package management across supported Windows versions, with multiple sources and enterprise controls.
- 69
Fink
Free plan MacFink provides a structured way to install Unix software on macOS while isolating packages from the base system.
- 70
RPM
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedRPM provides package building, installation, querying, and integrity checks for Linux systems. Its current format and signature rules should be considered when working with older packages.
- 71
urpmi
Free plan Linuxurpmi provides Mageia’s package installation, update, removal and repository controls in one toolkit.
- 72
eopkg
Free plan Linuxeopkg provides Solus-focused package management with repository controls, dependency handling, and offline installation.
- 73
dpkg
Free plan Linuxdpkg provides core Debian package operations and inspection tools without resolving dependencies for you.
- 74
Gentoo Portage
Free plan LinuxPortage provides Gentoo’s core package installation, dependency handling, and maintenance system.
- 75
Scoop
Free plan WindowsScoop offers free, scriptable Windows installation with dependency handling and bucket-based distribution. It is most suitable for users comfortable with PowerShell and command-line workflows.
