Latest is a free, open-source app that lists the available updates for the apps on your Mac. LaunchingPad shows the same kind of update information as badges on its app grid, and adds a launcher, an uninstaller and app organization around it.
Side by side
| LaunchingPad | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Bogdan Farca | Max Langer |
| Price | Free | Free and open source (GPL-3.0) |
| Requires | macOS 26 Tahoe or later | macOS 10.15 or later |
| Tahoe support | Yes | In the 0.12 beta; latest stable is 0.11 (June 2025) |
| Checks | Mac App Store, Homebrew Cask, self-updating (Sparkle) and Microsoft apps | Mac App Store, Sparkle and Homebrew Cask apps |
| Installing updates | One app at a time, through each app’s own update path | In the app, including an Update All button |
| Release notes | No | Yes |
| Check schedule | Every 6 hours, daily, every 3 days or weekly | Not stated |
| Uninstall with leftover files | Yes | No |
| App launcher and folders | Yes | No |
| Get it | launchingpad.app | max.codes, GitHub, or brew install --cask latest |
When Latest is the better fit
If you want a dedicated update list with release notes and an Update All button, and you value open source, Latest is a good choice. It also runs on much older versions of macOS.
When LaunchingPad is the better fit
If you’d rather see updates where you already open your apps, LaunchingPad badges each app with its new version and gathers them in an Updates Available Smart Folder. It checks on a schedule you choose, starts the right update for each app, and handles uninstalling and organizing too. How update checks work →
Questions
Does Latest work on macOS Tahoe?
Tahoe support arrived in Latest’s 0.12 beta releases. The latest stable version, 0.11 from June 2025, predates Tahoe.
Is MacUpdater still available?
No. CoreCode has ended MacUpdater: version 3’s promised support ran until January 1, 2026, and there will be no version 4. Latest and LaunchingPad are both free ways to keep seeing which Mac apps need updates.
Can I use LaunchingPad and Latest together?
Yes. They don’t conflict. When Latest updates an app, LaunchingPad picks up the new version on its next check.