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- There are many package managers in Linux.
- There are command-line and GUI tools for the task.
- Not all package managers are created equal.
When I first started using Linux, the package manager was called “source code” because it required you to install everything from source. Eventually, package managers started coming forward to make things increasingly easier.
The first package manager I used was RPM on Red Hat Linux 5.2 (before Fedora was created). Once APT came on the market, it was all over. I found my favorite package manager, and this will remain true for decades.
This doesn’t mean that my respect for package managers begins and ends with apt. There are few package managers available that are as good as APT.
Too: How to Install Linux Applications from the Command Line
Let me tell you about the package managers that have become my favorites over the years.
What is a package manager?
Before I list my favorites, I think I should tell you what a package manager is. Essentially, a package manager is a tool for managing the installation, upgrade, and removal of software.
One of the best features of a good package manager is its ability to resolve all the dependencies for a package, meaning you don’t have to take care of it manually. Another thing that a package manager does is ensure that the software is integrated into the system, so all the apps you install are dealt with through one centralized location (usually an app store).
Too: I install these 11 apps on every new Linux system, and you should too – here’s why
Package managers are mostly command-line tools but they have a GUI front end, so you don’t need to use the command line to manage your software.
In this piece, I’m going to talk about both package managers and package manager front ends.
1. apt
Yes, it’s my number 1. Why? APT (Advanced Package Tool) is not just a handy package manager; It is also very powerful and offers a ton of features. One of my favorite features of APT is its ability to fix broken installations.
Too: Installing apps on Linux? 4 ways it’s different from any other OS – and mistakes to avoid
If I try to install a piece of software from the command line and it fails, I can run the command sudo apt install -fThat command will fix whatever problems are causing the installation of that software, Also, the syntax of APT is very easy to remember:
- Update apt package list – sudo apt update
- Install a package – sudo apt install PACKAGENAME
- Upgrade a single package – sudo apt upgrade –upgrade-only PACKAGENAME
- Remove a package – sudo apt remove PACKAGENAME
- Reinstall a package – sudo apt reinstall PACKAGENAME
- Delete a package along with all its files – sudo apt purge PACKAGENAME
- Search package – sudo apt search PACKAGENAME
I realize that a big reason why APT is my favorite is that I’ve been using it for so long. But the reason I choose distributions that use APT is that APT is so cool.
Two final points:
- There are a ton of repositories available for APT, so there’s a lot of software that can be installed.
- APT is one of the fastest package managers available.
apt is the default package manager for almost all Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions.
2. DNF
DNF is to Fedora what apt is to Ubuntu (or Debian). DNF is easy to use, offers a simple syntax, excels at transaction history, rollback, and installing directly from URL. Another really cool aspect of DNF is that it automatically purges files when you delete an app. With the release of DNF5, the package manager has almost caught up with APT.
Also: The Best Linux Distros for Beginners in 2025 Make Switching from MacOS or Windows So Easy
DNF syntax is similar to APT:
- Update apt package list – sudo dnf check-update
- Install a package – sudo dnf install PACKAGENAME
- Upgrade single package – sudo dnf upgrade PACKAGENAME
- Delete a package (and all its files) – sudo dnf delete PACKAGENAME
- reinstall package – sudo dnf reinstall PACKAGENAME
- Search package – sudo dnf search PACKAGENAME
As you can see, DNF and APT are similar.
DNF is the default package manager for Fedora and Fedora-based distributions.
3. Flatpack
We are now entering the realm of universal package managers, which are named that way because they work on almost any Linux distribution, and software installed through universal package managers can be installed on any supported distribution. Installing Flatpak apps on Ubuntu is the same as on Fedora.
Flatpak also makes it easy to install some proprietary apps like Spotify and Slack. This also explains why universal package managers are so important. Thanks to the likes of Flatpak and Snap, developers don’t have to worry about creating an app for KDE Plasma, one for GNOME, one for XFCE, etc.; Flatpak doesn’t care what desktop you’re using.
Too: Snap vs. Flatpak: How to Decide Which Linux Package Manager is Right for You
Installing apps with Flatpak is very simple. you can visit flathubLocate the app you want to install, click the Install drop-down, copy the command, paste the command into your terminal, and press Enter. Of course, if you know the name of the package you want to install, the command can be as simple as:
flatpak install packagename
Where PACKAGENAME is the name of the app you want to install.
You can also delete a package with:
remove flatpack packagename
But why Flatpak on Snap? I’ve always found that Snap packages are better suited for servers, and Flatpak apps are better suited for desktop. Additionally, I’ve always found Flatpak apps to open faster than Snap apps.
Flatpak can be used on most Linux distributions.
4. Cosmic Store
GUI time.
A year ago, I wouldn’t have included Pop!_OS’s app store on this list. It was a buggy car, slow and often refused to start.
Since then, the COSMIC store has been completely rewritten in Rust (for COSMIC desktop), which means it’s faster… really fast. Flatpak support is also present in the Pop Store, so I can install apps from the apt repository or the flatpak repository.
Cosmic Store looks a lot like GNOME Software (which is a good thing), but it’s significantly faster.
I can’t begin to tell you how much Pop Store has improved from its previous version. Let’s just say that previous releases were almost unusable. Now, I would prefer to use the COSMIC store rather than any Linux package manager front end.
Also: My 10 Favorite Linux Distributions of All Time, Ranked
COSMIC Store is only available on Pop!_OS.
5. KDE Discover
KDE Plasma has its own app store, called KDE Discover, and it’s pretty special. Although KDE Discover may not be as pretty as the Pop Store, it is one of the most configurable and flexible package manager GUIs available. KDE Discover is one of the few front ends that makes enabling and disabling Flatpak support simple.
Also: The Most Beautiful Linux Distributions for 2025
Another reason to include KDE Discover is that it allows you to install not only apps, but also Plasma addons and application addons, and gives you quick access to updates, and even allows you to enable and disable repositories without opening another app.
All this comes in a user-friendly GUI package that makes it possible to install apps just a click away.
