Latest review (2026): is it any good?
Free Mac app that checks which of your apps need updates
Latest report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for seeing which Mac apps need updating
Latest is a free, open-source Mac app that lists which of your apps have updates and updates them from one window. It only checks Mac App Store apps and apps that use Sparkle, so anything with its own updater is not covered.
Who Latest is for
- Fits if most of your Mac apps come from outside the App Store
- Works for people who want release notes next to each update
Who Latest is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Not for you if your apps use their own updaters, as only App Store and Sparkle apps are checked
- Too light for managing installs, since it only checks and updates apps
- Watch out: it is a one-person open-source project with no paid support
Why Latest gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under GPL-3.0, with an optional donation. That is under 60% of the cheaper quarter.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright with no cap and nothing locked.
- CFeaturesLists updates with release notes and updates apps from the list. It covers only App Store and Sparkle apps, so apps with their own updaters are missed.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. Open it and it lists your updates, with nothing to set up.
- DPlatforms and integrationsMac only, with Touch Bar support. No Windows, phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from max.codes's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/latest#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/latest.svg" alt="Latest: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Latest stands among desktop utilities
Latest's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 61 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 96) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Latest has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 97 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Latest’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 96, level with 72
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 96, level with 43
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 96, level with 67
- BEase of useAbove 34 of 96, level with 62
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 96, level with 61
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Latest, or make your own?
Keep it
Latest is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Latest’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Latest?
Latest is a free, open-source app for macOS that checks whether your installed apps are up to date. It lists which apps have updates, shows what changed and lets you update them from one window. It supports apps from the Mac App Store and apps that use Sparkle for updates.
Worth knowing
- Covers only Mac App Store apps and Sparkle-based apps; other updaters are not checked.
- Mac only, and the site lists no paid support tier.
Key features
- Update overview
- Lists which installed apps changed, with a summary of what is new in each.
- One-window updating
- Update apps right from the list, or update all apps at once.
- Installed update notes
- Shows release notes for updates already installed, such as one from yesterday.
- Store and Sparkle apps
- Supports apps from the Mac App Store and apps that use the Sparkle updater.
- Touch Bar support
- Browse updates and update all apps from the Touch Bar.
- Source available
- The source code is public on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license.
Latest pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Latest is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | $0 | Free and open source; the site offers an optional donation. |
Read from max.codes on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Latest before you buy.
Works with
- Mac App Store
- Sparkle
Latest alternatives
- Latest vs Setapp
Free trial · from $14.99/mo
- Latest vs CleanMyMac
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Common questions
Does Latest have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Latest is listed for macOS.
Does Latest have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Latest is listed for macOS.
Is Latest open source?
Yes. Latest is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.