The MacUpdater alternative built for 2026.
MacUpdater shut down on January 1, 2026. Version Tracker picks up where it left off, with much broader coverage, a modern approach to security, and native support for the latest macOS versions.
What happened to MacUpdater.
CoreCode committed to maintaining MacUpdater 3 until January 1, 2026. That commitment has now expired: the final version remains available free of charge, but there will be no MacUpdater 4, no further updates from CoreCode, and the app may eventually become incompatible with future macOS releases.
Users who relied on MacUpdater now need a replacement that is actively maintained, broader in scope, and ready for future macOS releases. Version Tracker was designed from day one to fill exactly that gap.
The natural successor.
- 39 package sources — not just apps. Homebrew, npm, pip, Cargo, Docker, GitHub Releases, Mac App Store, Sparkle, and 31 more.
- smart CVE/SOFA security management — see vulnerabilities, not just version numbers. Built-in checks against the public CVE database and Apple's SOFA advisories.
- Native Apple Silicon, Swift 6, SwiftUI. Designed for macOS 15 Sequoia and beyond.
- Active development — continuous updates, clear roadmap, not a sunset product.
- 100% private — zero telemetry, zero analytics, zero data leaves your Mac.
Side by side.
Questions about migrating.
No. MacUpdater and Version Tracker are independent products from different developers. However, migration is straightforward: install Version Tracker, run an initial scan, and your installed apps are detected automatically — no manual import needed.
Yes — and many more. Version Tracker supports all Sparkle-based apps and Mac App Store apps that MacUpdater covered. It also supports 37 additional sources including package managers and developer toolchains that MacUpdater never handled (Homebrew, npm, pip, Cargo, Docker, GitHub Releases, etc.).
Version Tracker starts with a fresh setup. The initial scan re-detects all installed apps and tools automatically. Notification preferences, ignored apps, and scheduled scans are configured directly in Version Tracker, with more granular options than MacUpdater offered.
MacUpdater's final version is free, but it is no longer maintained: no new app detection, no security patches, and it will eventually break with future macOS releases. Version Tracker is actively developed, covers 39 sources including developer toolchains (Homebrew, npm, pip, Cargo, Docker, etc.), and includes smart CVE/SOFA security management. All plans are billed annually and include all updates during the year.
Yes. Apps installed by drag-and-drop into /Applications are detected automatically. Those with no built-in update mechanism are flagged for manual attention; those with no identifiable origin are moved to an "Ignored" folder. See our terms for details.
Ready to migrate?
Free to scan tens of thousands of apps and tools. Solo or Family to unlock one-click updates.
⏳ Notify me at launch