Side by side
SDKMAN! vs ZVM
Both stand on runtime version managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+1
SDKMAN! is focused on JVM SDK and tool version management, with project pinning and automatic switching options. It is not intended for Go, Rust, Node.js, Python or Ruby toolchains.
Visit SDKMAN! Free plan LinuxMacWindows
ZVM provides version installation, switching, project-aware execution, and ZLS setup in a dependency-free binary. Its mirror, vendor, alias, and checksum options suit developers with varied Zig toolchain needs.
Visit ZVMThe facts
| SDKMAN! | ZVM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Not published |
| Plans published | None | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | sdkman.io | zvm.app |
| On runtime version managers | #23 of 30 | #27 of 30 |
SDKMAN!: what it does well
- Manages versions for a broad range of JVM tools
- Project versions can be recorded in .sdkmanrc
- Automatic switching is available when entering a directory
- Free and open source under Apache 2.0
- CI mode disables prompts and self-updates
What to know first
- Windows requires WSL or MSYS with MinGW
- Cygwin is no longer supported
- Installer requires curl, zip and unzip
- Security updates cover only the latest CLI release
ZVM: what it does well
- Installs nightly, stable, or specified Zig versions
- Runs versions without changing the default
- Installs ZLS alongside Zig
- Supports custom version maps and mirrors
- Verifies download checksums by default
What to know first
- No free trial because it is open source
- Checksum checks can be disabled
- Some listed architectures are Linux-only