Ninite vs Setapp
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Setapp
One subscription for a catalog of 300+ Mac and iOS apps
Where they differ
- Ninite starts at $1 per machine / year (Nintune); Ninite Pro starts at $1 per machine / month. Setapp starts at $14.99 / month + tax, or $107.88 / year (Mac plan).
- Ninite has a free plan. Setapp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Ninite lists a web app.
- Only Ninite lists a Windows app.
- Only Setapp lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Ninite also covers workflow automation and reports.
- Setapp also covers screenshots, clipboard manager, window management and text expansion.
At a glance
| Ninite | Setapp | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $1 per machine / year (Nintune); Ninite Pro starts at $1 per machine / month | $14.99 / month + tax, or $107.88 / year (Mac plan) |
| Free plan | The Ninite website is free for home use, with no ads or junkware: pick apps and download one installer that also updates them. The free version is for personal use only. | None |
| Free trial | Nintune: 30-day free trial, no credit card. Ninite Pro: 14-day free trial. | 7-day free trial of Setapp membership |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Secure By Design Inc. | MacPaw Way Ltd. |
| Price read from | ninite.com | setapp.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Ninite
- Setting up a new Windows PC with the usual free apps in one pass
- IT teams and MSPs patching third-party apps across many Windows machines
- Intune admins who want app updates without packaging each app themselves
Setapp
- Mac users who would otherwise buy several utilities separately
- People who like to try new apps without paying for each one
- Owners of several Macs and iOS devices, via the Power User plan
Worth knowing
Ninite
- Windows only: Ninite works on Windows 11, 10, 8.x and 7 and the equivalent Server versions.
- The free website is licensed for personal use only; anyone paid to run Ninite is asked to subscribe to Ninite Pro.
- Only apps in Ninite's own catalog are covered, and Ninite Pro has no built-in support for custom applications.
- The $1 per machine per year Nintune plan requires Microsoft Intune and does not include Ninite Pro or the Ninite Agent.
Setapp
- There is no free plan; after the 7-day trial the Mac plan costs $14.99 a month plus tax.
- The base Mac plan covers a single Mac; iOS devices or more Macs need a higher plan.
- Unused AI credits reset each billing period and do not carry over.
- The help center also lists an iOS-only plan at $7.99 a month and two AI+ plans that the pricing page does not show.
Key features
Ninite
- One installer for many apps
- Pick apps on the website and download a single installer that sets them up in the background in their default locations, with no choices to click through and no toolbars or extras.
- Run again to update
- A Ninite installer always installs the latest stable versions, so running the same file later updates those apps and skips any that are already current.
- Official, verified downloads
- Apps are downloaded from each publisher's official site, and Ninite verifies digital signatures or hashes before running anything.
- Ninite Pro web console
- An agent on each Windows PC reports to a live grid in the browser, one row per machine and one column per app, for bulk installs, updates, uninstalls and auto-update policies.
- Nintune for Microsoft Intune
- Publishes Ninite's catalog plus thousands of WinGet apps as Intune apps, with Required, Available, Update Only and Uninstall assignments and custom install scripts.
- Pro Classic command line
- Included with every Pro account: a scriptable silent mode, fully offline installers, download caching and command-line switches for use with scripts and RMM tools.
Setapp
- App catalog under one membership
- More than 300 Mac, iOS and web apps, grouped into Optimize, Work, Create, Develop and AI categories. App updates are included.
- Utilities in the catalog
- The catalog includes Paste for clipboard history, Mosaic for window layouts, CleanShot X for screenshots, Rocket Typist for text snippets and Timing for time tracking.
- AI credits and AI apps
- Around 40 AI-powered apps, such as TypingMind, BoltAI and Elephas, draw on one shared allowance of AI credits. Extra credits can be bought separately.
- Device coverage by plan
- Plans cover 1 Mac, 1 Mac with 4 iOS devices, or 4 Macs with 4 iOS devices.
- Single-app purchases
- An app can be bought on its own as a monthly or yearly subscription or a one-time purchase, as set by its developer. Single apps are available for macOS only.
- Setapp for Teams
- Team accounts let an admin invite and remove members and manage the team's devices and apps.
Plans
Ninite
Ninite$0
The website's custom installer and updater for home use. Licensed for personal use only.
Nintune$1
per machine / year, no minimum machine count
Ninite's catalog plus WinGet apps managed through Microsoft Intune, for unlimited technicians. Does not include Ninite Pro or the Ninite Agent.
Ninite Pro$1
per machine / month for the first 20 machines
Tiered: $1.00 each for the first 20 machines, $0.50 for the next 400 and $0.25 after that, so 50 machines cost $35 a month. Includes Pro Classic.
Setapp
Mac$14.99
per month + tax, billed monthly ($107.88 billed annually)
The full app catalog on 1 Mac, with 1,000 AI credits a month on monthly billing.
Mac + iOS$18.99
per month + tax, billed monthly ($134.88 billed annually)
1 Mac and 4 iOS devices, with 1,000 AI credits a month on monthly billing.
Power User$22.99
per month + tax, billed monthly ($161.88 billed annually)
4 Macs and 4 iOS devices, with 2,000 AI credits a month on monthly billing.
Ways to pay less
Ninite
No public discounts listed.
Setapp
- Annual discount
Save up to 40% with yearly billing
The pricing page advertises savings of up to 40% on yearly billing. The help center lists the Mac plan at $107.88 a year against $14.99 a month.
- Education
20% off the annual Mac + iOS plan for education
Students, researchers and educators who sign up with an educational email address get 20% off the annual Mac + iOS plan: $107.88 a year against the regular $134.88. New subscribers only.
