I used MacUpdater for three or four years. It made it easy to see which Mac apps needed attention, and when its developer announced the end of active development, I wanted a tool I could keep using. That’s why I built Current.
This is a comparison, not a claim that MacUpdater was a bad product. MacUpdater 3.5 is still free to use, and its developer says the database server is planned to stay online through December 31, 2026. But daily maintenance and update verification have stopped. Current takes a different approach: it checks supported app sources directly and verifies each supported app update before installing.
Quick verdict
| What matters | Current | MacUpdater 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | A maintained, one-time updater for supported sources, with install checks and recovery. | People who already use the final MacUpdater version and want to keep its familiar workflow. |
| Update discovery | App’s own Sparkle or Electron feed, Homebrew catalog, and App Store. | Broad app catalog backed by MacUpdater’s database; the developer says daily maintenance has stopped. |
| Install checks | Checks developer identity, Apple notarization and available signatures/checksums, Mac compatibility, and that the version is newer. | MacUpdater historically checked signatures for popular apps and included other safeguards; new update verification is no longer maintained. |
| Recovery | Keeps the old app until the new version passes its final check and can restore it if that check fails. | Optional backups were available in MacUpdater; they are not enabled by default. |
| Command-line tools | Homebrew formulae and global npm packages in the same app. | Includes a command-line client for MacUpdater actions. |
| Price | $3 launch offer, then $7.99 once. Includes 1.x updates. | Version 3.5 is now free, including Pro features. |
| macOS | macOS 15 or later; Intel and Apple silicon. | MacUpdater 3.5 lists macOS 13 or later. |
| Maintenance | Current is shipping 1.x releases through its Sparkle appcast. | 3.5 is the final release; no MacUpdater 4 or continued product development is planned. |
Short answer: Current is a strong MacUpdater alternative if you want a maintained updater for supported sources, explicit checks before installation, rollback if its final check fails, and Homebrew/npm tools in the same list. MacUpdater 3.5 may still be right if it covers your apps and its final release continues to meet your needs.
Why MacUpdater earned a place on so many Macs
MacUpdater solved a real annoyance: app updates are spread across developers’ websites, in-app menus, package managers, and the App Store. It put app discovery, update status, notifications and one-click installs in one place. The developer’s documentation also describes a broad app catalog, daily checks, signatures for popular apps, and optional backups. Those are useful features, and Current’s comparison should acknowledge them.
The change is its maintenance status. CoreCode says MacUpdater 3.5 was the final update, daily maintenance stopped, and updates are no longer verified by the developer. Its database server is scheduled to remain online until December 31, 2026. MacUpdater remains free and usable; the concern is that the service behind update discovery has a published end date.
How Current takes a different approach
It reads supported update sources directly
Current checks app metadata through Sparkle and Electron feeds, Homebrew’s catalog, and the App Store. That avoids depending on one hand-maintained list for these sources. It also means Current cannot promise to find every app. An app that uses a private updater or publishes no supported feed may still need its own update path.
It checks the package before replacing the old app
For supported direct updates, Current checks that the new build is from the same developer, validates Apple notarization and available feed signatures or checksums, confirms macOS and processor compatibility, and confirms the offered version is newer. Then it retains the old app until the new copy passes a final check. If that check fails, Current can restore the previous version.
These checks reduce common update risks; they do not guarantee third-party software is bug-free or safe in every circumstance. Apple describes notarization as an automated scan for malicious components and code-signing issues, not App Review.
Apps and command-line tools share one list
Current also checks Homebrew formulae and global npm packages. It can perform daily checks, show notifications, and optionally install verified updates while skipping open apps. Apps marked as managed by an organization are left alone by default.
When each app makes sense
Choose Current if your Mac runs macOS 15 or later, your apps use the supported sources, and you value an actively shipping 1.x product, pre-install checks, recovery, and CLI tools together. Current costs $3 for the first 100 licenses and $7.99 afterward, paid once.
Keep MacUpdater 3.5 if it already tracks the apps you care about, you want to keep using its familiar interface, and the final version works for your Mac. It is free now, but its developer says update maintenance and verification have ended and its database service is planned through the end of 2026.
Check compatibility before switching. Current requires macOS 15+, while MacUpdater 3.5 lists macOS 13+. And because Current’s sources differ from MacUpdater’s catalog, review the apps you rely on before making a decision. You can use the support page if an app’s source is unclear.
Frequently asked questions
Is MacUpdater discontinued?
CoreCode released MacUpdater 3.5 as the final version. The developer says active development, daily maintenance, and update verification have ended. The app remains free and usable; its database server is planned to run through December 31, 2026.
Is Current a free MacUpdater replacement?
No. Current is a paid one-time purchase: $3 at launch, then $7.99. The launch offer and all 1.x updates are included in one license.
Does Current update every app MacUpdater found?
No updater supports every app. Current checks supported Sparkle and Electron feeds, Homebrew, and the App Store. Some apps use private or unsupported update mechanisms and still need their own updater.
Does MacUpdater have backups or security checks?
Yes. MacUpdater’s documentation describes signature checks for popular apps and optional backups. The important distinction today is that its developer says it no longer verifies updates or maintains the database.
Can I keep using MacUpdater?
Yes, MacUpdater 3.5 remains free to use. The developer says its database server is planned to remain online until December 31, 2026. You can keep it if its current behavior suits you.
Sources and product details
- MacUpdater version history
- MacUpdater FAQ
- MacUpdater documentation
- Apple: notarizing macOS software before distribution
- Compare Current with Latest and Updatest
Comparison checked October 28, 2026. MacUpdater is a CoreCode product. Current is independently developed and is not affiliated with CoreCode.