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Zero Install

A decentralised cross-platform software installation system.

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Zero Install is a decentralised cross-platform software installation system. It allows users to run applications with a single click without having to install them first, and provides both command-line and graphical interfaces. It is fully open source and works on Linux, Windows and macOS. Security is central: installing an app does not grant it administrator access, and digital signatures are always checked before new software is run. Anyone can distribute software by creating one package that works on multiple platforms and publishing on any static web host, with dependency handling and automatic updates.

12 alternatives to Zero Install

Ranked by how well each tool replaces Zero Install: shared features, audience, price and popularity.

  1. Debian

    A free operating system built by a volunteer association of individuals, distributed as a

    Covers 2 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    57 out of 100 matchContact sales

  2. TurnKey GNU/Linux

    Nearly 90 free ready-to-use system images for virtual machines, the cloud and bare metal

    Covers 3 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    57 out of 100 matchFree

  3. Zorin OS

    Windows and macOS alternative designed to make your computer faster and more powerful.

    Covers 4 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    56 out of 100 matchContact sales

  4. openSUSE

    openSUSE.

    Covers 1 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    55 out of 100 matchFree

  5. Alpine Linux

    Small. Simple. Secure.

    Covers 2 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    55 out of 100 matchFree

  6. Qubes OS

    A reasonably secure operating system

    Covers 1 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    55 out of 100 matchFree

  7. Slax

    Pocket operating system

    Covers 3 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    54 out of 100 matchContact sales

  8. Electron

    Build cross-platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

    Covers 1 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    54 out of 100 matchFree

  9. Arch Linux

    A simple, lightweight distribution

    Covers 2 of 10 key features.

    Open source
    54 out of 100 match—

  10. XAMPP

    Apache + MariaDB + PHP + Perl

    Covers 2 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    54 out of 100 matchContact sales

  11. Podman

    The best free & open source container tools

    Covers 4 of 10 key features and has a free plan.

    Free planOpen source
    54 out of 100 matchFree

  12. Neutralinojs

    Build lightweight cross-platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

    Covers 3 of 10 key features.

    Open source
    53 out of 100 match—