Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Chocolatey VS Update Manager

Compare Chocolatey VS Update Manager and see what are their differences

Chocolatey logo Chocolatey

The sane way to manage software on Windows.

Update Manager logo Update Manager

The ...
  • Chocolatey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • Update Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

Chocolatey features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Chocolatey simplifies software installation with easy-to-use commands. You can quickly install, update, and uninstall software packages using simple commands in the command line.
  • Wide Range of Packages
    Chocolatey has a large repository of software packages, making it easier to find and install a wide range of applications without having to navigate through individual installer websites.
  • Automation and Scripting
    Chocolatey allows for the automation of software management tasks through scripting, which can save a lot of time, especially in enterprise environments where multiple machines need to be managed.
  • Integration with Configuration Management Tools
    Chocolatey integrates smoothly with popular configuration management tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef, making it a good choice for infrastructure as code (IaC) approaches.
  • Version Control
    Chocolatey provides version control options, allowing users to specify which version of a software package they wish to install.

Possible disadvantages of Chocolatey

  • Potential Security Risks
    Since Chocolatey packages can be created by anyone, there is a potential security risk if you're not careful about which packages you install. It is recommended to only use trusted sources.
  • Limited GUI
    Chocolatey is primarily a command-line based tool, which might not be user-friendly for those who prefer graphical user interfaces.
  • Commercial Licensing Costs
    While Chocolatey is free for personal use, advanced features and commercial use require a paid license, which might be a constraint for some organizations.
  • Dependency Issues
    Sometimes, packages may have dependency issues that need to be manually resolved, which can complicate what is otherwise a straightforward process.
  • Learning Curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line tools or package managers, there may be a steep learning curve initially in understanding how to use Chocolatey effectively.

Update Manager features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Update Manager offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for both novice and experienced users to manage updates efficiently.
  • Level-based Update Selection
    Provides level-based update categorization, allowing users to choose update levels (1-5) based on stability and risk, giving control over which updates to install.
  • Kernel Management
    Enables users to easily switch kernels, offering a straightforward way to upgrade or change kernel versions without needing deep technical knowledge.
  • Automated Updates
    Supports automatic updates, enabling users to set preferences for unattended upgrades, reducing the need for manual intervention.
  • Integration with Linux Mint
    Seamlessly integrates with the Linux Mint ecosystem, providing an optimized experience for Mint users with additional features exclusive to the distribution.

Possible disadvantages of Update Manager

  • Linux Mint Specific
    Primarily designed for Linux Mint, which may limit its full functionality and support when used on other distributions, potentially making it less attractive for non-Mint users.
  • Resource Usage
    Can consume more system resources when checking for and downloading updates, which might be noticeable on older or less powerful machines.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Might lack some of the advanced customization and features offered by alternative update managers that more experienced users might seek.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Requires a reliable internet connection for optimal update checking and download performance, which could be a downside in situations with limited connectivity.

Analysis of Chocolatey

Overall verdict

  • Chocolatey is generally considered good, especially for users who require efficient software management and deployment on Windows systems. It provides a convenient, automated, and reliable solution for software package management.

Why this product is good

  • Chocolatey is a package manager for Windows that simplifies the process of installing, updating, and managing software packages. It leverages the command line to provide an efficient way to handle software deployments and ensures all software is kept up to date. It is particularly useful for automating software installations and managing large numbers of environments consistently.

Recommended for

  • System administrators managing multiple Windows environments
  • Developers who need to quickly set up development environments
  • Power users who prefer using command line tools
  • Organizations aiming to automate software deployment and updates

Chocolatey videos

Chocolatey - The Package Manager For Windows Review

More videos:

  • Review - Chocolatey: A Windows Package Manager?
  • Review - Chocolatey Review

Update Manager videos

Overview of the Update Manager Interface in the vSphere Client

More videos:

  • Review - Remediate Hosts Against Patch Baselines using Update Manager

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Chocolatey and Update Manager)
Windows Tools
99 99%
1% 1
Software Marketplace
0 0%
100% 100
Package Manager
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
72 72%
28% 28

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Chocolatey and Update Manager

Chocolatey Reviews

Comparing Package Managers
Chocolatey is more established and easier to host a custom repository (plus it runs in the system context). The deployment of applications and especially updating is not as easy as some of the other options, but if cost is an issue, it’s always a safe bet (I tend to include it as standard on an AVD build and then use Azure Runbooks to deploy and update applications by...
5 Best Windows package manager to use via command line
Chocolatey works for both Windows 10 and 7, it released in 2011, thus it has been around for quite some time now. This makes it one of the largest online repository to download and install various open source and closed source software packages for Windows OS. It offers both community and enterprise solutions. The best thing, one can easily visit the official website of...
6 Best Windows Package Manager to Auto-Update Apps (2020)
The name sounds amusing but you better take this app seriously. Chocolatey has the largest app repository and it supports PowerShell, command line, and even GUI. You name it and Chocolatey has that app. To install, you just need to type the following in command prompt and hit enter.
Source: techwiser.com

Update Manager Reviews

We have no reviews of Update Manager yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Chocolatey seems to be a lot more popular than Update Manager. While we know about 254 links to Chocolatey, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Update Manager. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Chocolatey mentions (254)

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Update Manager mentions (2)

  • Can someone help me with this? i'm new to linux and idk if i should worry about this.
    I think someone (not me; I do this too much) should file a bug report about this - here. I note that there is a corresponding message when use uses apt (or apt-get) in the terminal, except that, in the terminal, the message is tagged as a warning, whereas here it is tagged as an error - which makes the situation more serious. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Backporting mintupdate
    I don't think the Mint team has said. All that the team has said, to my knowledge, is that some of the 20.2 update will be backported. One thing you could do to try to answer your question is to keep an eye upon the relevant repository. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Chocolatey and Update Manager, you can also consider the following products

Ninite - Ninite is the easiest way to install software.

IObit Software Updater - IObit is an application that updates the software of your PC to keep all the software properly working.

Scoop - A command-line installer for Windows

Patch My PC - Patch My PC Updater is a free, easy-to-use program that keeps over 300 apps up-to-date on your computer.

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

Avira Software Updater - Application that searches updates for software on your computer