Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Update Manager VS Synaptic

Compare Update Manager VS Synaptic and see what are their differences

Update Manager logo Update Manager

The ...

Synaptic logo Synaptic

Please take a minute to watch our video, it gives an overview of Synaptic's role in financial services.
  • Update Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23
  • Synaptic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-03

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.

Synaptic features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Synaptic provides a graphical user interface that simplifies the process of managing software, making it accessible even to users who might not be comfortable with command-line tools.
  • Comprehensive Package Management
    It allows users to install, remove, upgrade, and configure software packages, offering a comprehensive solution for package management on Debian-based systems.
  • Dependency Management
    Synaptic automatically handles dependencies, ensuring that all necessary additional packages are installed or updated along with the desired software.
  • Advanced Search Capabilities
    The tool offers advanced search features, making it easier for users to find specific packages or groups of packages.
  • Preview Package Changes
    Users can preview package changes before they are applied, helping to avoid unintended modifications or removals.

Possible disadvantages of Synaptic

  • Linux Specific
    Synaptic is only available for Debian-based Linux distributions, limiting its use for those on other operating systems.
  • Outdated Interface
    While functional, the graphical user interface may appear outdated compared to more modern package management tools, potentially affecting user experience.
  • No Native Support for All Package Formats
    Synaptic primarily manages Debian packages (DEB) and might not be suitable for systems or environments that use other package formats like RPM without additional configuration.
  • Requires Graphical Environment
    As a GUI-based tool, Synaptic requires a graphical environment to run, making it less useful for servers or systems without a graphical desktop environment.
  • Potential Redundancy
    There may be redundancy in functionality for users who are comfortable with command-line tools like apt-get, making Synaptic unnecessary.

Analysis of Synaptic

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Synaptic is generally considered to be a reliable and effective tool for managing software packages on Linux systems.

Why this product is good

  • Synaptic is a powerful and user-friendly graphical package manager for APT-based distributions like Debian and Ubuntu. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including package installation, upgrade, removal, and detailed package information. Its GUI provides an intuitive interface for managing software, which can be especially beneficial for users who prefer not to use the command line.

Recommended for

  • Linux users who prefer a graphical user interface over command-line for software management.
  • Users of APT-based distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives.
  • Individuals seeking a comprehensive and detailed package manager that offers extensive information and control over installed software.

Update Manager videos

Overview of the Update Manager Interface in the vSphere Client

More videos:

  • Review - Remediate Hosts Against Patch Baselines using Update Manager

Synaptic videos

Is Synaptic Drive a Worthy Custom Robo Successor? | Synaptic Drive Review

More videos:

  • Review - A look at the Synaptic 2 0 Waist Pack
  • Demo - Synaptic Amps Demo/Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Update Manager and Synaptic)
Software Marketplace
44 44%
56% 56
Front End Package Manager
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Windows Tools
9 9%
91% 91

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Update Manager seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

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

Synaptic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Synaptic yet. Tracking of Synaptic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Chocolatey - The sane way to manage software on 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

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