> Latest is a free updater for Mac App Store and Sparkle apps. Current adds Electron, Homebrew, npm, four install checks, and rollback for $7.99 once.

Source: https://www.currentmac.com/latest-alternative

# Latest is free. Current adds checks and rollback.

Latest is a free, open-source updater for Mac App Store and Sparkle apps. Current is the one to look at when you also want Electron, Homebrew, npm, and a check before anything is replaced.

Latest is a good fit when the apps you update already come from the Mac App Store or publish Sparkle feeds, and you want a free utility. Current costs $7.99 for the next 50 licenses, paid once, and is built for a wider set of sources plus an install path that can undo itself.

## At a glance

|  | Latest | Current |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free, open source | $7.99 once for the next 50 licenses. Every 1.x update is included. |
| Sources | Mac App Store and Sparkle apps | Sparkle, Electron, Homebrew, and the App Store. Homebrew formulae and global npm packages sit in the same list. App Store apps open in the App Store to install. |
| Install checks | Check the project for what the current release verifies. | Same developer, Apple notarization and any published checksum or signature, a build that fits this Mac, and a version that is actually newer. The previous app is kept until that final check passes. |
| Maintenance | Open source. Check the repository for current release activity. | Actively maintained. |

## When Latest is enough

Stay with Latest if your library is Mac App Store apps and Sparkle apps, and a free, focused utility is what you want. Source coverage matters more than a long list of apps you do not have.

## When Current fits

Pick Current if you also update Electron apps, Homebrew, or global npm packages, or if you want the four checks and a rollback when the new copy fails its final check. One license is one purchase email and one Mac.

## Questions

### Is Latest free?

Yes. Latest is free and open source, and it focuses on Mac App Store and Sparkle apps.

### Does Current replace Latest?

Only if you want the wider source list, the four install checks, and rollback. If App Store and Sparkle apps are your whole library, Latest can be enough.

### Are Current and Latest affiliated?

No. Current is independent and is not affiliated with Latest.

Sources:  ·  · .

Comparison checked November 9, 2026, using the facts already published on this site and Latest’s GitHub project. Features can change.