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AI · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Glu – installing Homebrew packages 2x faster on macOS

Install Mac packages faster, with output you can follow. 8,000+ packages from Homebrew’s ecosystem, with previews, structured agent commands, and inspectable install traces.

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

  1. 1
    Coldbrew▲165

    Bundle install your favorite macOS apps in 1 minute

    2022 · its alternatives →

  2. 2

    Today, I’m proud to announce Homebrew 6.0.0. The most significant changes since 5.1.0 are a new tap trust security mechanism, the new faster, smaller, default internal Homebrew JSON API, sandboxing on Linux, better defaults informed by our user survey, many brew bundle improvements, improved performance and initial support for macOS 27 (Golden Gate). Happy to discuss any questions here!

    Jun 2026 · brew.sh · its alternatives →

  3. 3

    Homebrew made beautiful — GUI for macOS package management

    2025 · fastbrew.app · its alternatives →

  4. 4

    Find, install, update and remove Mac apps in one click. Thousands of apps in one place. Free and open source.

    2023 · aerolite.dev · its alternatives →

  5. 5

    Set up your new Mac in minutes, not hours.

    Dec 2025 · installkit.app · its alternatives →

  6. 6HE
  7. 7
    Taphouse▲120

    Taphouse is a native Homebrew GUI for Mac — a visual Homebrew package manager to install, update, and clean up brew packages without the terminal. Free download for macOS.

    Jan 2026 · taphouse.multimodalsolutions.gr · its alternatives →

  8. 8

    Homebrew is the standard package manager on macOS. brew-browser gives it a real native GUI. - msitarzewski/brew-browser

    May 2026 · brew-browser.zerologic.com · its alternatives →

  9. 9

    The coolest way to install apps and customize your Mac

    2022 · its alternatives →

  10. 10

    Hi HN! Like many of you, for my entire career I have relied on Homebrew to install all kinds of software on my Mac. That's why today I'm really excited to share a new app that my partner and I are building: Brewer X, a refreshing user interface for Homebrew. Brewer X is graphical interface that lives on top of Homebrew. Leveraging the power of native APIs improves the classic experience and unlocks new features. For example: • bulk actions are performed in parallel • syncing the entire library locally provides incredible search performances and the ability to query descriptions and other…

    2024 · panini.house · its alternatives →

  11. 11
    tea▲293

    The Homebrew replacement from the maker of Homebrew

    2023 · tea.xyz · its alternatives →

  12. 12

    The missing menulet for brew.sh: keeping your packages up-to-date, and your system secure. - zkokaja/Brewlet

    2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

  13. 13

    This script will help with the quick setup and installation of tools and applications for new developers at Vendasta. - vendasta/setup-new-computer-script

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

  14. 14

    Hassle-free bootstrapping with Homebrew. Contribute to msanders/cider development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15

    What is actually installed and running on my Mac?

    Aug 2026 · macpackages.com · its alternatives →

  16. 16
    Applite▲127

    User friendly GUI macOS application for Homebrew Casks

    2023 · applite.app · its alternatives →

  17. 17
    Tappie▲4

    Native Homebrew package manager GUI for macOS

    Jun 2026 · empiricapps.com · its alternatives →

  18. 18

    Explore the architecture of apps with an interactive graph

    2021 · its alternatives →

  19. 19

    Master your macOS dev environment from the terminal

    Apr 2026 · package-mate.com · its alternatives →

  20. 20
    CaskHub▲13

    The Mac app store Homebrew never had

    Sep 2026 · caskhub.app · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    Automate Mac dev environment setup in minutes, not hours.

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22

    A 5-20x faster experimental Homebrew alternative. Contribute to lucasgelfond/zerobrew development by creating an account on GitHub.

    Feb 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23

    macOS application to create dmg installer for your Mac app

    2025 · appsformacs.eu · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Hover ← to see the pain. Install to end it.

    Nov 2025 · macdetox.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →