CaskyCasky compared
There are good ways to use Homebrew on a Mac. Here's what each covers, so you can pick the one that fits. Checked in October 2026.
| What it covers | Saves and applies a whole Mac | App Store | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casky | Homebrew apps and tools, App Store, editor extensions, packages, dotfiles, Mac settings | Yes | Yes |
Brewfile and brew bundle | Homebrew, and mas lines you add yourself | Only what you write by hand | Through mas, by hand |
| Applite | Homebrew casks (apps) | No | No |
| Cork | Homebrew formulae and casks, services | No | No |
| Cakebrew | Homebrew (last release 2021) | No | No |
Casky and a Brewfile
Casky writes the Brewfile for you, and also covers the App Store, editor extensions, packages, dotfiles and Mac settings. You can still export a plain Brewfile whenever you want one.
Casky and Applite
Applite is a nice free way to install apps from Homebrew. Casky also installs command-line tools and App Store apps, keeps them all updated from one list, and saves the whole Mac as a setup.
Casky and Cork
Cork is a full Homebrew manager. Casky is about the whole Mac: the App Store, setups you can apply to another Mac, and exports to nix-darwin and Ansible.
Casky and Cakebrew
Cakebrew hasn't had a release since 2021. Casky is a native app for current macOS, updated regularly.
Try it
Casky needs no account, and anything you save exports to formats that work without it. See what Casky does with Homebrew.