Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zero Install VS AppImageKit

Compare Zero Install VS AppImageKit and see what are their differences

Zero Install logo Zero Install

Zero Install is a decentralised cross-distribution software installation system.

AppImageKit logo AppImageKit

Linux apps that run anywhere
  • Zero Install Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26
  • AppImageKit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18

Zero Install features and specs

  • Dependency Management
    Zero Install handles dependency management automatically, which reduces the complexity associated with manually resolving dependencies for software packages.
  • Cross-Platform
    Zero Install supports multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, providing a uniform method for software distribution across different platforms.
  • Security
    Applications are cryptographically signed and verified, ensuring integrity and authenticity of the software being distributed and installed.
  • No Root Required
    Zero Install does not require root or administrator privileges to install software, making it safer and easier to use, especially in restricted environments.
  • No Central Repository
    Zero Install does not rely on a central repository. Developers can distribute software from their own servers, giving them more control over updates and releases.
  • Version Control
    It supports using multiple versions of software simultaneously, enabling users to test and run different versions without conflicts.
  • Lightweight
    Zero Install maintains a lightweight footprint because it does not copy software into a central repository but uses existing locations.

Possible disadvantages of Zero Install

  • Adoption Rate
    Zero Install is not as widely adopted as other package managers like APT or YUM, which can result in a smaller community and fewer available packages.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a learning curve when first using Zero Install due to its unique approach to software distribution and management.
  • Lack of Standardization
    Since there is no central repository, the quality and standards of distributed packages can vary, sometimes making it harder to ensure consistency.
  • Dependency on Network
    Zero Install relies on URLs to fetch software, so a stable internet connection is essential for installing and updating packages.
  • Performance Overhead
    The initial setup and dependency resolution can take some time, potentially leading to a performance overhead during the first run.

AppImageKit features and specs

  • Portability
    AppImage packages can run on most Linux distributions without needing to be installed, ensuring compatibility across various systems.
  • Simplicity
    AppImages do not require root permissions to execute, making it simple for end-users to run applications without administrative access.
  • No Installation Required
    Since AppImages are self-contained executables, users don’t need to worry about installation processes, dependencies, or system changes.
  • Isolation
    Applications packaged as AppImages are isolated from the host system which minimizes conflicts with other installed software.
  • Version Control
    Users can have multiple versions of the same application by downloading different AppImage files, allowing easy testing and use of different releases.

Possible disadvantages of AppImageKit

  • Lack of Dependency Management
    Unlike traditional package managers, AppImage does not handle dependency resolution, which can lead to larger file sizes if all dependencies are bundled.
  • Limited Integration
    Out-of-the-box, AppImages may not integrate seamlessly with the host system’s desktop environment in terms of shortcuts and MIME types.
  • Security Concerns
    Because AppImages run with the same permissions as the user executing them, a malicious AppImage could potentially harm the user's system if not properly verified.
  • Updates
    Unlike some other packaging systems, AppImage does not inherently support automatic updates, requiring manual download of new versions.
  • Non-Native Look
    Applications might not look consistent with other native applications as AppImages bundle their dependencies which may not conform to the host’s theme and settings.

Zero Install videos

Zero Installation Purifier Reverse Osmosis Unboxing - Demo - Review

AppImageKit videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zero Install and AppImageKit)
Software Marketplace
61 61%
39% 39
Front End Package Manager
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Zero Install and AppImageKit. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AppImageKit seems to be a lot more popular than Zero Install. While we know about 55 links to AppImageKit, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Zero Install. 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.

Zero Install mentions (5)

  • Self-contained Python scripts with uv
    Overall, and admittedly from a bit of a distance, uv run feels like a reinvention of Zero Install, but for only Python. I also wondered why virtual environments were invented for Python when general environment managers (like Modules) already existed. These packaging and environment problems have never been specific to Python https://0install.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Using jlink to cross-compile minimal JREs
    Sounds like https://0install.net which has been around for a while. Personally I prefer to avoid 'installing' anything: if something's written in Java, its launcher should reference some specific java binary; if something's written in Python, it should reference some specific python3 binary; etc. For example, my job is mostly writing Scala and building it with Maven; yet I have neither installed system-wide.... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Go binding for upx utility
    It seems more like a package manager. https://0install.net/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ubuntu's Snap performs application updates without user consent
    The article mentions Snap, AppImage and FlatPak, but there is also a much older system called 0install (zero install) that was started in 2003 or so [1]. I wonder why that never took off. [1] https://zero-install.sourceforge.net/roadmap.html (note this is the old website; the new website is https://0install.net - looks like it's still getting releases in October this year). - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Flaptak (and Snap) is not the future
    That's true, future app distributions should utilize web 3.0, e.g. decentralization. There is 0install ( https://0install.net/ ), for example, it is better. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

AppImageKit mentions (55)

  • Why Flatpak Apps Use So Much Disk Space on Linux
    The equivalent of "Windows portable apps" on Linux isn't flatpaks (these add a bunch of extra stuff and need some sort of support from the OS) but AppImages[0]. AppImages are still not 100% the same (and can never be as Windows applications can rely on A LOT more stuff to be there than Linux desktop apps) but functionally/UX-wise they're the closest: you download some program, chmod +x it and run it like... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • NewPipe on Linux, Using Android_translation_layer
    Exciting. I'd love to see AppImage [0] builds of applications produced with this library. [0] https://appimage.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Show HN: Finic – open-source platform for building browser automations
    Like again if you are not sure, what open source means, this is open source: https://appimage.org/ Hope it is abundantly clear with this example. Docker tried it's best to do the whole open source but business first and it led to disastrous results. At best this will make your company suffer and second guess itself and at worst this is moral fraud. Talk to your group partner about this and explain to them as well. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • GoboLinux
    What you're looking for sounds like AppImages (https://appimage.org/) . I have only used them while downloading games from itch.io, etc. (since I prefer package managers) but they seem to work out of the box on popular distros. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Bitwarden Heist – How to Break into Password Vaults Without Using Passwords
    Ideally a new instance of the application is installed for each user. This also provides better isolation if one user upgrades/removes/breaks their application instance. I, for one, have really come around to the AppImage model [0] in the last couple of years. [0] https://appimage.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Zero Install and AppImageKit, you can also consider the following products

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.

Flatpak - Flatpak is the new framework for desktop applications on Linux

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

Snapcraft - Snaps are software packages that are simple to create and install.

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

FLATHUB - Apps for Linux, right here