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Velopack

Next-gen cross-platform installer and auto-update framework for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop apps.

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UK Est. 2023 Active CI/CD for Applications

Our Verdict

The most interesting modern installer/updater for .NET and cross-platform desktop apps right now.

Pros

  • Fast, small installers with true cross-platform support
  • Built-in delta updates and rollback
  • Modern design compared to Squirrel and ClickOnce
  • Free and MIT-licensed

Cons

  • Young project, smaller user base
  • Some edge-case signing flows still maturing
  • Migration from Squirrel.Windows not always trivial
  • Docs thinner than established tools
Best for: Desktop apps (especially .NET) wanting modern install + auto-update without Electron-builder complexity. Not for: Teams needing the battle-tested track record of Sparkle or electron-builder.

When to Use Velopack

Good fit if you need

  • Cross-platform installer and auto-updater for desktop apps
  • Windows, macOS, and Linux update delivery from one tool
  • Delta update patches to minimize download bandwidth
  • In-app update check and install with user confirmation

Lock-in Assessment

Low 5/5
Lock-in Score
5/5

Velopack Pricing

Pricing Model
freemium
Free Tier
Yes
Entry Price
Enterprise Available
No
Transparency Score

Beta — estimates may differ from actual pricing

1,000
1001K10K100K1M

Estimated Monthly Cost

$25

Estimated Annual Cost

$300

Estimates are approximate and may not reflect current pricing. Always check the official pricing page.

Project Health

A

Health Score

1.5k 119
Bus Factor

10

Last Commit

6 days

Release Freq

12d

Open Issues

47

Issue Response

2d

License

MIT

Last checked: 2026-04-21

Community Discussion

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