MacUpdater alternative

A MacUpdater alternative with no database to go stale.

MacUpdater relied on a hand-kept list, and that work has stopped. Greypaint reads each app's own update source, so there's no list to fall behind on.

Download the 14-day trial

$6.49 once after the trial · macOS 15 or later

560 apps updated and checked so far. Check yours
Reading each app's own sourceexample
  • RectangleSparkle feedsame developer ✓
  • Podman DesktopGitHub releasesame developer ✓
  • DiscordHomebrewsame developer ✓
  • 1PasswordHomebrewsame developer ✓
  • HandBrakeSparkle feedsame developer ✓

Each answer comes from the app's own developer.

The Greypaint window listing installed Mac apps with their versions and which ones have an update waiting.

What happened

MacUpdater still opens, but its app list is no longer updated.

MacUpdater's lifetime ended on 1 January 2026, and there will be no MacUpdater 4. Version 3.5 is free but unsupported, and CoreCode expects the number of apps it can update to fall from about 7,000 to about 3,500 while its database runs through 2026.

"Our daily maintenance has been stopped and we don't verify updates anymore."CoreCode, MacUpdater page · FAQ

The difference

Greypaint doesn't keep a list.

Reads each app's own sourceSparkle and Electron feeds, Homebrew, GitHub releases and the App Store. When a developer ships, Greypaint sees it, with no one in between keeping a list.
Verified before installCoreCode says it no longer verifies updates. Greypaint installs a new copy only if it comes from the same developer and macOS accepts it. If you're using the app, it asks first.
RollbackThe previous version is kept, so you can roll back, with its settings if you like.
Developer toolsHomebrew formulae and global npm, pnpm and uv packages, in the same window.

Side by side

MacUpdater 3.5 and Greypaint.

MacUpdater 3.5Greypaint
StatusFree, unsupportedStill updated. Version 1.5 came out in October 2026.
Where updates come fromCoreCode's database, no longer maintainedEach app's own update source
Developer toolsNot listedHomebrew, npm, pnpm, uv
RollbackNot listedPrevious version, optionally with settings
PriceFree14-day trial, then $6.49 once
NeedsmacOS 13 or latermacOS 15 or later

"Not listed" means CoreCode's own pages don't mention it. Greypaint is not made by CoreCode.

Before you switch

Questions

Do I have to uninstall MacUpdater first?

No. Keep it while you try Greypaint and compare what each finds. Just don't let both install updates for the same app at the same time.

Can I bring over the apps I ignored in MacUpdater?

Yes. On first launch Greypaint offers to import the apps and updates you ignored in MacUpdater. You can also do it later in Settings → Ignored apps.

Will Greypaint find every app MacUpdater found?

Not necessarily. It finds a different set, because it reads each app's own update source rather than a hand-kept list. Search your important apps on greypaint.app/apps, or scan your Mac during the 14-day trial.

Does it install App Store updates?

Yes, in beta. Greypaint downloads and installs them itself, and macOS may ask for your admin password. If one fails, the App Store button opens that app's page there instead.

Who is Greypaint not for?

It doesn't run on Macs older than macOS 15. And if you only use App Store and Sparkle apps, a free checker like Latest may be all you need.

Last checked 17 October 2026 · Written by the makers of Greypaint

Other comparisons:UpdatestFloodtideLatestBest Mac app updaters

Check your apps before you switch.

Download the 14-day trial Check your apps

$6.49 once after the trial · macOS 15 or later