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Chocolatey VS Scoop

Compare Chocolatey VS Scoop and see what are their differences

Chocolatey logo Chocolatey

The sane way to manage software on Windows.

Scoop logo Scoop

A command-line installer for Windows
  • Chocolatey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • Scoop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02

Chocolatey features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Chocolatey simplifies software installation with easy-to-use commands. You can quickly install, update, and uninstall software packages using simple commands in the command line.
  • Wide Range of Packages
    Chocolatey has a large repository of software packages, making it easier to find and install a wide range of applications without having to navigate through individual installer websites.
  • Automation and Scripting
    Chocolatey allows for the automation of software management tasks through scripting, which can save a lot of time, especially in enterprise environments where multiple machines need to be managed.
  • Integration with Configuration Management Tools
    Chocolatey integrates smoothly with popular configuration management tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef, making it a good choice for infrastructure as code (IaC) approaches.
  • Version Control
    Chocolatey provides version control options, allowing users to specify which version of a software package they wish to install.

Possible disadvantages of Chocolatey

  • Potential Security Risks
    Since Chocolatey packages can be created by anyone, there is a potential security risk if you're not careful about which packages you install. It is recommended to only use trusted sources.
  • Limited GUI
    Chocolatey is primarily a command-line based tool, which might not be user-friendly for those who prefer graphical user interfaces.
  • Commercial Licensing Costs
    While Chocolatey is free for personal use, advanced features and commercial use require a paid license, which might be a constraint for some organizations.
  • Dependency Issues
    Sometimes, packages may have dependency issues that need to be manually resolved, which can complicate what is otherwise a straightforward process.
  • Learning Curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line tools or package managers, there may be a steep learning curve initially in understanding how to use Chocolatey effectively.

Scoop features and specs

  • Simple Installation
    Scoop allows for simple installation of software packages using easy-to-remember commands, making it accessible even to users with limited technical knowledge.
  • No Admin Rights Required
    Scoop doesn't require administrative privileges for installation, making it convenient for users in restricted environments.
  • No Path Pollution
    Packages are installed in a structured directory and don't pollute the system PATH, reducing the risk of environmental conflicts.
  • Dependencies Management
    Scoop manages dependencies automatically, ensuring that all required libraries and dependencies are installed along with the main package.
  • Portable Packages
    Many Scoop packages are portable, allowing users to install, use, and remove them without leaving traces behind on the system.
  • Customizable
    Scoop allows users to create and maintain their own buckets (collections of app manifests), facilitating the management of custom or private software.

Possible disadvantages of Scoop

  • Limited GUI Integration
    Scoop is primarily command-line based and lacks a graphical user interface, which may be a disadvantage for users who prefer visual interaction.
  • Windows-Only
    Scoop is designed specifically for Windows, limiting its applicability for users who work across multiple operating systems.
  • Smaller Repository
    Compared to package managers like Chocolatey, Scoop has a smaller repository, potentially limiting the availability of certain software through its platform.
  • Dependency on PowerShell
    Scoop relies on PowerShell, which means it cannot be used on systems where PowerShell is restricted or unavailable.
  • Learning Curve for Non-Technical Users
    While straightforward, Scoop still requires users to be comfortable with command-line operations, which might present a learning curve for non-technical users.

Chocolatey videos

Chocolatey - The Package Manager For Windows Review

More videos:

  • Review - Chocolatey: A Windows Package Manager?
  • Review - Chocolatey Review

Scoop videos

5 Ice Cream Scoops Compared!

More videos:

  • Review - Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker "The Scoop" Exclusive Review
  • Review - The Scoop: Lateral trainer review
  • Review - SCOOP Review
  • Review - Game Scoop! 698: Spoiler-Free God of War Ragnarok Opinions

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Chocolatey and Scoop)
Windows Tools
60 60%
40% 40
Package Manager
63 63%
37% 37
Front End Package Manager
OS & Utilities
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using Chocolatey and Scoop. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Chocolatey and Scoop

Chocolatey Reviews

Comparing Package Managers
Chocolatey is more established and easier to host a custom repository (plus it runs in the system context). The deployment of applications and especially updating is not as easy as some of the other options, but if cost is an issue, it’s always a safe bet (I tend to include it as standard on an AVD build and then use Azure Runbooks to deploy and update applications by...
5 Best Windows package manager to use via command line
Chocolatey works for both Windows 10 and 7, it released in 2011, thus it has been around for quite some time now. This makes it one of the largest online repository to download and install various open source and closed source software packages for Windows OS. It offers both community and enterprise solutions. The best thing, one can easily visit the official website of...
6 Best Windows Package Manager to Auto-Update Apps (2020)
The name sounds amusing but you better take this app seriously. Chocolatey has the largest app repository and it supports PowerShell, command line, and even GUI. You name it and Chocolatey has that app. To install, you just need to type the following in command prompt and hit enter.
Source: techwiser.com

Scoop Reviews

5 Best Windows package manager to use via command line
Furthermore, we don’t need admin rights to use Scoop, I mean no evaluated Powershell or Command prompt to install packages as we do in Chocolatey. However, when it comes to the range of packages available in its repository it couldn’t compete with Choco, moreover, the gist of using Scoop is different. Most of the users use it to get mostly command-line tools such as MongoDB,...
6 Best Windows Package Manager to Auto-Update Apps (2020)
The problem with package management is that the cmdlets are complex. This brings Scoop in the picture. Scoop is a small open-source utility for PowerShell. You need to have a minimum of version 3.0. So, the commands to install software is as simple as scoop install firefox. To install Scoop, you just need to type the following in the Powershell.
Source: techwiser.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Chocolatey should be more popular than Scoop. It has been mentiond 253 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Chocolatey mentions (253)

  • Create Your Custom WSL from any Linux Distribution (Part-1)
    While the ArchWSL and Fedora WSL at MS Store may seem great at first before installing, these distros have often showed compatibility issues and sometimes very weird bugs; even conflicts with scoop or chocolatey apps. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Let’s build AI-tools with the help of AI and Typescript!
    Chocolatey Windows software management solution, we use this for installing Python and Deno. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Giving Kyma a little spin ... a SpinKube
    Authenticating with Kyma is a (in my opinion) unnecessary challenge as it leverages the OIDC-login plugin for kubectl. You find a description of the setup here. This works fine when on a Mac but can give you some headaches on a Windows and on Linux machine especially when combined with restrictive setups in corporate environments. For Windows I can only recommend installing krew via chocolatey and then install the... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Effective Neovim Setup. A Beginner’s Guide
    On a Windows machine, you can use Chocolatey by running the command. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Need Help with getting Haskell onto my Windows Laptop
    I've used WSL2 and GHC/Nix--worked without any issues. However, there is Chocolatey: https://chocolatey.org/. Source: about 1 year ago
View more

Scoop mentions (159)

  • Create Your Custom WSL from any Linux Distribution (Part-1)
    While the ArchWSL and Fedora WSL at MS Store may seem great at first before installing, these distros have often showed compatibility issues and sometimes very weird bugs; even conflicts with scoop or chocolatey apps. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Git Bash Is My Preferred Windows Shell
    My favourite shell environment for windows thus far is combining Git For Windows with scoop[1]. A simple "scoop install git" will get the environment installed, and give you a bash shell and full access to all sorts of windows-native utilities from scoop. Some would say I'd be better off with msys2 or cygwin, but the former is meant more as a development environment and lacks misc utilities, and the latter has... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Show HN: Transcribe YouTube Videos
    On Windows, I use scoop.sh: https://scoop.sh/#/apps?q=whisper. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • A tour of CLI tools for installing Java and creating projects
    On Windows: scoop is a package maanger which supports Java version management. It provides a Java wiki with detailed instructions. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Managing python projects like a pro!
    Scoop is a command-line installer for Windows, aimed at making it easier for users to manage software installations and maintain a clean system. It's designed with developers and power users in mind but can be beneficial for any Windows user looking for an efficient way to manage software. Basically it makes our life easier when it comes to software installation of any sort. Scoop support installation for large... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Chocolatey and Scoop, you can also consider the following products

Ninite - Ninite is the easiest way to install software.

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

Just Install - just-install - The stupid package installer for Windows.

Patch My PC - Patch My PC Updater is a free, easy-to-use program that keeps over 300 apps up-to-date on your computer.

Windows Remix - Web-based batch software installer with zero dependencies. Recommended first visit after reinstalling Windows or buying a new laptop.

PDQ Deploy - Deploy software quickly with PDQ Deploy. It's simple to install just about anything to multiple computers on your network.