# Current — a MacUpdater alternative for Mac

> Current is a MacUpdater alternative for macOS 15 or later on Intel and Apple silicon. It keeps Mac apps and command-line tools up to date, verifies each app update before it installs, and can restore the prior app if the new install fails its final check. One-time purchase: $3 for the first 100 licenses, then $7.99. Each license is for one purchase email and one Mac.

Current is for people who want a maintained, one-click updater with explicit install checks and rollback. Free tools such as Latest and Updatest are good options if their supported app sources and workflow meet your needs. Current's paid value is its four install gates, automatic recovery path, combined app and CLI list, and included 1.x updates.

MacUpdater 3.5 was made free after its developer ended active development and update verification in January 2026; the developer states its database server is expected to remain available through December 31, 2026. This makes Current an actively maintained alternative for people who want a current product and support path. See the developer's [MacUpdater version history](https://www.corecode.io/macupdater/history3.html) and [discontinuation FAQ](https://www.corecode.io/macupdater/faq.html).

## What it does

- Lists every app on the Mac with its installed version and, when there is one, the newer version.
- Finds updates from each app's own update source: Sparkle appcasts, Electron update feeds, Homebrew's public cask catalog, and the App Store (App Store apps are opened in the App Store to install).
- Updates Homebrew formulae and global npm packages from the same window.
- Updates one app, a selection, or all of them at once, with download and disk sizes shown first.
- Runs a daily check in the background and can notify you, or install verified updates automatically (open apps are skipped).
- Lives in the menu bar as well as in a window. Comes with five color themes.

## How updates are verified

Before anything on disk changes, every update must pass four checks:

1. Same developer: signed with the same Apple Team ID as the installed copy.
2. Checked by Apple: notarized, and matching the developer's published EdDSA signature or SHA checksum when there is one.
3. Made for this Mac: supports the installed macOS version and Apple silicon, and is actually newer.
4. Undone if it fails: the previous version is kept aside until the new one passes its final check, and put back automatically if it doesn't.

Apps managed by an organization (MDM or security tools) are shown but never changed.

## Privacy

The Current app has no account or usage analytics. The list of installed apps stays on the Mac; Homebrew's catalog is downloaded whole and matched locally. The website uses Vercel Web Analytics and Vemetric for page-visit reporting; see the privacy policy.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.currentmac.com/): overview, interactive demo, pricing and FAQ
- [About](https://www.currentmac.com/about): why Current exists and the principles it follows
- [Support](https://www.currentmac.com/support): common questions, requirements, uninstalling, contact
- [Privacy](https://www.currentmac.com/privacy): what the app and site collect
- [Terms](https://www.currentmac.com/terms): license, price and refunds
- [MacUpdater alternative comparison](https://www.currentmac.com/macupdater-alternative): current product facts compared with MacUpdater, Latest and Updatest
- [Changelog](https://www.currentmac.com/changelog): release history for Current for Mac
- [Blog](https://www.currentmac.com/blog): guides to Mac app updating, safety, and updater choices
- [Best MacUpdater alternative for Mac](https://www.currentmac.com/blog/best-macupdater-alternative): Current vs MacUpdater, with support, price, update source, verification, and trade-offs
- [Mac app updater alternatives](https://www.currentmac.com/blog/mac-app-updater-alternatives): how to choose an updater for macOS
- [Free vs paid Mac updaters](https://www.currentmac.com/blog/free-vs-paid-mac-updaters): what a paid updater needs to add
- [Why Mac app updates feel fragmented](https://www.currentmac.com/blog/mac-update-workflows): why built-in update paths do not cover every app and how Current helps
- [Mac update safety](https://www.currentmac.com/blog/mac-update-safety): signatures, notarization, compatibility and recovery

## Product facts

- Current runs on macOS 15 or later on Intel and Apple silicon.
- It finds app updates through Sparkle, Electron feeds and Homebrew; App Store apps open in the App Store for installation.
- It can update Homebrew formulae and global npm packages from the same window.
- App updates are checked for the same developer identity, Apple's notarization and available signatures/checksums, macOS and architecture compatibility, and a newer version before installation.
- The previous app is retained until the updated app passes its final check, so Current can restore it if that check fails.
- Current is a one-time purchase. The current offer is $3 for the first 100 licenses, then $7.99. One license activates on one Mac using one purchase email.
- Current is independently made and is not affiliated with CoreCode, Latest, or Workbrew/Updatest.

## Contact

hello@currentmac.com