MacBase
Mac apps
Mac focusedFree to listPaid optionsFollowed with badge
MacUpdate alternatives: where to find Mac apps in 2026
Checked Oct 30, 2026, from our dated comparison of launch sites.
Short answer
8 sites on our dated comparison of where to launch a Mac app fit this question: MacBase, NativeShelf, MacNative, Indie App Catalog, Setapp, AlternativeTo, awesome-mac and MacPip.They reach different people, so most makers use several. There is no single best one for everyone.MacPip is in the table and it is our own site, so weigh that.
Mostly read on each site's own pages. Prices and rules change, so confirm them before you pay.
MacUpdate has been around since 1997 and says it has over a million users. If you are looking for somewhere else to find Mac apps, the good news is that there are more options than ever, and they are built for different kinds of searching.
Some are small Mac-only directories that list new indie apps. One is a GitHub list. One helps you replace an app you already know. One is a paid bundle. Here they are side by side, from our dated comparison checked on October 30, 2026.
MacPip is one of them and it is our own site. We put it last, so weigh what we say about it.
Compared
| Site | Who it is for | Free option | Paid options | Link and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBase | Mac apps | Free, reviewed within a day | Featured $20 a week, $59 a month, $149 for 3 months | Followed only with its badge, checked weekly |
| NativeShelf | Native Apple-platform apps | Free, in order | Premium €9, Launch Week €49 | Followed link. Free needs its badge, paid does not |
| MacNative | Mac apps, 220 listed | Has a submit link. We did not read its terms | Some rows say Promoted. We did not see prices | Not checked |
| Indie App Catalog | Indie Apple apps, 2,507 listed | Has a submit link, cost not stated | None seen | Not stated |
| Setapp | A curated paid subscription | It usually approaches makers, or you apply | Revenue share, not a fee | Not a directory listing |
| AlternativeTo | People replacing a known app | Free with sign-in | Not checked | Not checked |
| awesome-mac | A GitHub list with 117k stars | Free, by pull request | None | One line in a category, if accepted |
| MacPip (our site) | Mac apps only | Free, pick a date | Paid places, apart from the list and explained as paid, from $25 for 7 days | Followed link; badge for a free launch only |
The sites, one by one
NativeShelf
Native Apple-platform apps
Mac focusedFree to listPaid optionsFollowed link
MacNative
Mac apps, 220 listed
Mac focused
Indie App Catalog
Indie Apple apps, 2,507 listed
Mac focused
Setapp
A curated paid subscription
Mac focused
AlternativeTo
People replacing a known app
Free to list
awesome-mac
A GitHub list with 117k stars
Mac focusedFree to list
MacPip (our site)
Mac apps only
Mac focusedFree to listPaid optionsLaunch dayFollowed link
MacPip is a free directory and launch site for Mac apps only. You pick your launch date, and the listing has a followed link. A badge is asked for on a free launch only. Paid places start at $25 for 7 days, and they are labeled as paid and kept apart from the list. It is new and small, so do not expect Product Hunt traffic. Our numbers are public on the stats page.
How to choose where to look
- Want new indie apps? The Mac-only directories list them first, often before anyone has written about them.
- Replacing a known app? AlternativeTo is built around that question.
- Want a curated list? awesome-mac on GitHub is a long, community-edited list by category.
- Want one bill for many apps? Setapp is a subscription bundle. See Setapp alternatives: Mac apps you buy once if you would rather not subscribe.
Wherever you download
Check that a download is signed and notarized before you open it. Our guide shows how: how to tell if a Mac app is safe. For more on finding apps, see where to find good Mac apps.
Which one to pick
This part is our opinion.
- Pick MacBase if you are happy to show its badge in return for a followed link.
- Pick NativeShelf if your app is a native Apple-platform app.
- Pick Setapp if you want a paid subscription audience and they accept you.
- Pick AlternativeTo if you want lasting search traffic from people replacing a known app.
- Pick awesome-mac if your app fits one of its categories and you can send a pull request.
- Pick MacPip if you want a free, Mac-only listing on a day you pick, with a followed link.
Questions
What is a good alternative to MacUpdate?
It depends on what you want. For new indie Mac apps, the Mac directories in the table. For replacing an app you already know, AlternativeTo. For a curated GitHub list, awesome-mac. For a paid bundle of apps, Setapp. MacPip is one of them and it is our own site.
Is MacUpdate still running?
Yes, when we checked on October 30, 2026. It says it has been running since 1997 and claims over a million users.
Is this list ordered by payment?
No. It follows our dated comparison, and nobody can pay to be on it or to move up.
Related
- Black Friday 2026 deals with codes
- Every deal on MacPip
- Product Hunt alternatives for launching a Mac app
- Free Mac app directories to list your app
- Where to get backlinks for a Mac app
- Where to launch a Mac app: the full comparison
- How to submit a Mac app
- Submit your Mac app to MacPip, free
- All best-of pages