Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

Homebrew-emacs allows users to install Emacs packages through Homebrew, the package manager for macOS. It simplifies the process of managing Emacs extensions by integrating them into Homebrew's standard installation… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Homebrew-emacs – Install Emacs Packages via Homebrew launched in 2014; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Homebrew 6.0.0▲1,481

   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 →

2. 2
   Coldbrew▲165

   Bundle install your favorite macOS apps in 1 minute

   2022 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Applite – Clean Homebrew front end app for macOS built with SwiftUI▲280

   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 →

4. 4
   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 →

5. 5
   brew-browser▲9

   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 →

6. 6
   tea▲293

   The Homebrew replacement from the maker of Homebrew

   2023 · tea.xyz · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Brewer X, a native macOS client for Homebrew▲40

   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 →

8. 8
   Glu – installing Homebrew packages 2x faster on macOS▲6

   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.

   Sep 2026 · glu.run · its alternatives →

9. 9
   FastBrew▲10

   Homebrew made beautiful — GUI for macOS package management

   2025 · fastbrew.app · its alternatives →

10. 10
    BrewMyMac▲89

    The coolest way to install apps and customize your Mac

    2022 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Emacs Anywhere▲248

    Configurable automation + hooks called with application information - zachcurry/emacs-anywhere

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Cork▲11

    The homebrew companion

    2023 · corkmac.app · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Cider — Hassle-free bootstrapping using Homebrew▲30

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

    2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Tappie▲4

    Native Homebrew package manager GUI for macOS

    Jun 2026 · empiricapps.com · its alternatives →

15. 15EC
    Emacs Configuration Generator▲278

    2022 · emacs.amodernist.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Brewlet – The Missing Menulet for Brew.sh▲22

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

    2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    A fireplace for Emacs▲257

    A cozy fireplace for emacs. Contribute to johanvts/emacs-fireplace development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18TA
    Taphouse – A Native macOS GUI for Homebrew▲5

    It's a SwiftUI app (macOS 14+) that wraps the Homebrew CLI and adds features I've always wanted: - Browse, search, install, and uninstall formulae and casks with a 3-column native interface - Bulk operations – select multiple packages to upgrade or remove at once - CVE/vulnerability scanning – checks installed packages against the OSV database - Dependency tree visualization – see what depends on what before removing things - Orphaned dependency cleanup – find and remove packages nothing depends on anymore - Duplicate app detection – spots apps installed from both Homebrew and…

    Feb 2026 · its alternatives →

19. 19CC
    C/C++ Development Environment for Emacs▲146

    2014 · tuhdo.github.io · its alternatives →

20. 20
    InstallKit▲166

    Set up your new Mac in minutes, not hours.

    Dec 2025 · installkit.app · its alternatives →

21. 21YE
    Ymacs - Emacs in the browser with Dropbox, GDrive, etc▲125

    2012 · tageorgiou.github.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Package Mate▲70

    Master your macOS dev environment from the terminal

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

23. 23
    Emacs org mode integration with IPython▲92

    org-babel integration with Jupyter for evaluation of (Python by default) code blocks - gregsexton/ob-ipython

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    MacUp – keep CLI tools up to date from the menu bar▲6

    Free macOS menu bar app that finds every package manager on your Mac — Homebrew, npm, pip, Cargo and 15 more — and updates what is outdated in one click.

    27d ago · macup.patriciobcs.com · its alternatives →

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 →