Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Setapp VS openDesktop.org

Compare Setapp VS openDesktop.org and see what are their differences

Setapp logo Setapp

The one place for trusted apps. Hundreds of high-quality apps for your Mac and iPhone, including AI tools.

openDesktop.org logo openDesktop.org

The website openDesktop.
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25

A unified marketplace for Mac and iPhone users to get hand-picked, trusted apps. Get over 260 apps for a flat fee with Setapp Membership, or purchase individual apps on flexible terms through Setapp Marketplace.

  • openDesktop.org Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-06

Setapp

Website
setapp.com
$ Details
paid Free Trial $14.99 / Monthly (1 Mac)
Release Date
2017 January

openDesktop.org

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Setapp features and specs

  • Diverse Application Library
    Setapp provides access to a wide range of high-quality Mac applications across different categories, all from a single subscription service.
  • Cost-Effective
    For a monthly fee, users gain access to multiple paid applications, which can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual app licenses.
  • Updates and Upgrades Included
    All apps within Setapp come with automatic updates and upgrades included in the subscription, ensuring users always have the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy Installation and Management
    The Setapp platform provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, installing, and managing applications, simplifying the overall user experience.
  • Free Trial Available
    Setapp offers a 7-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore and evaluate the service before committing to a subscription.

openDesktop.org features and specs

  • Open Source Community
    openDesktop.org fosters a strong community of open-source developers and users, facilitating collaboration and sharing of free and open-source software.
  • Diverse Range of Content
    The platform offers a wide variety of content including applications, wallpapers, themes, and icon sets, catering to different user needs and preferences.
  • Free Access
    All the resources available on openDesktop.org are free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without financial constraints.
  • User Contributions
    Users can contribute their own work, allowing for personalized and community-driven content.
  • Regular Updates
    Being community-driven, the content is frequently updated and improved, ensuring that users have access to the latest software and design elements.

Possible disadvantages of openDesktop.org

  • Quality Control
    The open nature of the platform can sometimes lead to varying quality of submissions, with some content not meeting the users' expectations or lacking proper documentation.
  • Security Risks
    As with any platform that hosts user-generated content, there is always a risk of downloading malicious software, making it essential for users to be cautious.
  • Dependency Issues
    Some software may have dependencies which can be difficult to manage or resolve, particularly for less experienced users.
  • Limited Professional Support
    OpenDesktop.org relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing immediate or specialized assistance.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    While community-driven updates are generally frequent, there is no guarantee that all projects will receive regular maintenance, potentially leading to outdated or unsupported software.

Analysis of Setapp

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Setapp is considered good for users who frequently use multiple Mac apps and value convenience and flexibility. It provides excellent value for money by offering a diverse selection of reliable and well-crafted applications. However, it might not be the best choice for those who only need a few specific applications or prefer to own their software outright.

Why this product is good

  • Setapp is a subscription-based service that provides access to a wide range of Mac applications for a single monthly fee. Users often find it beneficial because it offers a curated selection of high-quality apps without the need to purchase each one individually. It saves time and money for those who require multiple tools, ensuring they always have the latest versions without additional costs. Furthermore, it simplifies software management by centralizing the process of discovering, updating, and accessing various applications.

Recommended for

    Setapp is recommended for professionals, creatives, and productivity enthusiasts who use a variety of Mac applications regularly and appreciate the ease of access to a comprehensive software library without the hassle of individual purchases. It's also suitable for users who enjoy exploring new tools and apps to enhance their workflow.

Setapp videos

What's Setapp?

openDesktop.org videos

No openDesktop.org videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Setapp and openDesktop.org)
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Development
43 43%
57% 57
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Code Collaboration
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Setapp and openDesktop.org.

What's the story behind your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp was created in 2016 by MacPaw, the company behind apps such as CleanMyMac, ClearVPN, and more. The key idea behind Setapp was to give users a simple way to discover high-quality apps for Mac. Over the years, the catalog has grown to over 260 apps and now includes tools for Mac, iOS, and web. Setapp is localized in eight languages and has users all over the world. Here are the key dates:

November 2016: Setapp closed beta is launched for the press, opinion leaders, and influencers. December 6, 2016: Setapp Beta release. January 25, 2017: Setapp public release. August 6, 2020: Setapp let users install iOS apps. August 11, 2021: Setapp arrives on iPhone and iPad. March, 2026: Single app purchase via Setapp Marketplace is introduced. Now, Setapp includes 260+ apps, 50+ iOS apps, and about 10 web apps with more to come.

What makes your product unique?

Setapp's answer

Setapp's key differentiators:

-Curation. Setapp is a curated platform with trusted, hand-picked apps โ€” not a place filled with self-submitted apps.

-Professional focus. Setapp includes apps aimed at improving productivity and workflows for professionals who rely on their Macs. Setapp users range from developers and marketers to educators, healthcare experts, logistics and retail professionals, and more.

-Flexible access. Users have two ways to get apps: a single-fee subscription to 260+ fully unlocked Mac, iOS, and web apps; or individual app purchases via Setapp Marketplace, for those who need just a few apps rather than the full catalog.

-Security. Setapp holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2, and GDPR certifications. Apps are not permitted to display ads or include hidden in-app purchases.

-AI access. AI+ plans give access to all popular LLM models โ€” GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok โ€” through a single gateway.

Setapp gives users apps they can count on. Itโ€™s not an endless store but a curated collection of apps worth usersโ€™ time and money.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Setapp's answer

-Quality over volume. The catalog includes only hand-picked, trusted apps. When downloading an app from Setapp, users can be sure it is high quality and safe to use.

-Trusted apps, no fillers. Every app is Apple-notarized, ad-free, fully unlocked, and has no features locked behind additional paywalls. Getting apps through Setapp means avoiding malware and unpleasant surprises.

-Save costs. Setapp Membership offers access to over 260 apps for a flat fee โ€” no need to subscribe to multiple individual apps and juggle subscriptions. In Setapp Marketplace, users can purchase hand-picked, trusted apps individually, with no need to double-check quality or security.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp is actively used by professionals who rely heavily on their Macs and want to improve their workflows โ€” including developers, IT specialists, content creators, designers, marketers, writers, educators, students, and specialists in agriculture, logistics, retail, healthcare, and other fields.

User comments

Share your experience with using Setapp and openDesktop.org. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Setapp should be more popular than openDesktop.org. It has been mentiond 15 times since March 2021. 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.

Setapp mentions (15)

  • Ask HN: How to Sell as a Software Engineer?
    > I've reached the conclusion that software quality and even price matters much less than distribution, especially now. I highly doubt that is true. We don't yet know how end-users will make purchasing decisions now that almost anyone can build something that "works". Taking AI out of the picture: you still need to define the target market segment before you build anything. You still need to find a way to... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Show HN: BoringBar โ€“ a taskbar-style dock replacement for macOS
    There could be 4x buyers at $10. Iโ€™d be one of the now, the dock is a constant annoyance. The app looks great, downloading the trial now. To the appโ€™s author Iโ€™d say get as many licensees as you can fast before youโ€™re Sherlocked or somebody vibecodes a clone out of โ€œwhy notโ€. I use many free and paid apps, little QoL types, like BetterDisplay, Coctail, etc and for me the included support is of little value. These... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Coders Coded Their Job Away. Why Are So Many of Them Happy About It?
    I used a bunch of tools from https://setapp.com/ and no longer subscribe. I used to pay for Linear for all my personal projects, built one with CC that perfectly fits my needsโ€ฆ I also built a myriad of small tools that help me automate bunch of busy work I used to do manually, both for professional and personal projects. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Italian Competition Authority Fines Apple $115M for Abusing Dominant Position
    > are there any real 3rd-party AppStores for iOS now "Always has been": Setapp. Very interesting model. Readily recommend devs subscribing to this collection, but non-devs as well if you're into "there's an app for that" and fatigued with IAP. https://setapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • The One Productivity Tool You Didn't Know You Can't Live Without
    I use Paste, a very feature rich clipboard manager for Mac with gorgeous UI. It's not free, but it comes along with a Setapp license that I got from work, so if you already have a license you can use it to install Paste. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
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openDesktop.org mentions (6)

  • Open Source Online Data Storage that isn't Google Drive
    So guys, just to add, the issue with opendesktop.org was that it was telling me that 'an error has occured' will I was importing my tarz. Source: about 3 years ago
  • The Ultimate Battle: KDE vs GNOME โš”๏ธ
    Since there is not a definition for how to implement systray in opendesktop.org Gnome has been reluctant to implement an "incomplete" version. You can still include systray by adding an extension but KDE is better in that regard. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Change Nautilus theme PopOS
    I've been exploring different gnome themes on POP. However whenever I change a theme, Nautilus seems to be unaffected. The preview images of the themes on opendesktop.org seem to have their file browser changed as well. Are they using a different file browser? Source: about 4 years ago
  • I have PopOS, but it does not serve my needs, Zorin I've tried and LOVE, but I want something lighter, like Xubuntu.
    I use Lubuntu on a 1st gen i3 4GB DDR3 laptop, so you'll do more than fine. There are some nice themes at opendesktop.org for a better experience (just don't expect any miracles). Source: over 4 years ago
  • Icon
    Have you checked on opendesktop.org? If u find it, u can set it as default by copying the icon folder to usr/share/icons. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

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Eclipse - Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle.