Linux guide
Snap, Flatpak and AppImage: which should you use?
Linux has three popular ways to install apps that work everywhere. Here's the plain-English difference.
By the AvatarDesktop team ·
All three let you install an app that runs on any Linux distribution. They differ in how they're delivered and updated.
Snap
Installs from the Snap Store with one command, updates itself automatically, and runs confined. Great for a set-and-forget install. This site lists snaps.
Flatpak
Installs from Flathub, also sandboxed, with fine-grained permission control. Popular on Fedora and immutable distributions.
AppImage
A single downloadable file you make executable and run — nothing to install, nothing central to update. Handy for trying an app or carrying it on a USB stick.
Which to pick?
Any of them is fine. Pick whichever has the app you want and the update style you prefer — automatic (Snap/Flatpak) or manual and portable (AppImage).