The Latest Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Latest in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Latest
The Insider’s Guide
Free Mac app that checks which of your apps need updates
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Latest’s own pages.
Made by max.codes · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Latest’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Latest’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 61 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Latest, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It only checks Mac App Store apps and apps that use Sparkle, so anything with its own updater is not covered.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Latest has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Update overview
Lists which installed apps changed, with a summary of what is new in each.
- 5
One-window updating
Update apps right from the list, or update all apps at once.
- 6
Installed update notes
Shows release notes for updates already installed, such as one from yesterday.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 61 of 96
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Latest is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Latest at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- max.codes
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under GPL-3.0, with an optional donation. That is under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap and nothing locked. |
| Features | C | Lists 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. Open it and it lists your updates, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, with Touch Bar support. No Windows, phone or web version. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users with many apps from outside the Mac App Store
- People who want one place to see what changed in 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Latest is free to use.
Free outright with no cap and nothing locked.
Latest
$0
Free and open source; the site offers an optional donation.
Read from max.codes on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free Mac app that checks which of your apps need updates. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, file management.
Lists updates with release notes and updates apps from the list.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Mac App Store
- Sparkle
Latest is made by max.codes.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
61/96
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 96
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 96
- BEase of useAbove 34 of 96
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 96
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Latest is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Setapp, CleanMyMac and AppCleaner
The 3 tools Latest is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Setapp
Free trial · from $14.99/mo
One subscription for a catalog of 300+ Mac and iOS apps.
- Latest has a free plan. Setapp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Setapp lists an iOS app.
- Latest is open source, according to its own site.
- 1.8GPA
CleanMyMac
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app.
- Latest has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- Latest is open source, according to its own site.
- CleanMyMac can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
AppCleaner
Free
Small Mac utility that uninstalls apps and their leftover files.
- Latest is open source, according to its own site.
- Latest also covers file management.
- AppCleaner also covers disk cleanup.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Latest free?
Yes. Latest is free to use.
How much does Latest cost?
Latest lists one plan. Latest: $0.
What platforms does Latest work on?
Latest is available on macOS.
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.
What does Latest integrate with?
Latest's listing names Mac App Store and Sparkle. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Latest?
Latest is made by max.codes.
What are the alternatives to Latest?
The closest alternatives to Latest in our directory are Setapp, CleanMyMac and AppCleaner.
How does Latest compare with other desktop utilities?
Latest's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 61 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
Is Latest good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Latest A for value for money. Latest has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Latest?
Latest is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A file manager working directly on your disk.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Latest’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by max.codes. Prices change, so check max.codes before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Latest, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/latest
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Latest: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/latest
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/latest/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Latest, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 97 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- PeaZip Insider's GuideFree file archiver for Linux, macOS and Windows3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Latest’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Latest is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by max.codes. Prices and plans change: check max.codes before you buy.