Updatest has joined Workbrew, and its Mac app is now free without a purchase or subscription. The October 14 announcement separates everyday updating from the paid Updatest Network, which helps discover versions reported by other users. There is a setting worth checking before trying it: sharing app-version data with the Network is enabled by default, including for people who never subscribe.
What the free app covers
The FAQ says the app works without the Network using Homebrew, the Mac App Store, Sparkle, Electron and GitHub Releases. Homebrew itself is optional; the other sources remain available without it. Free access therefore covers a useful set of existing update mechanisms, although coverage still depends on how each developer distributes its software.
Updatest requires macOS 15 or later. The October 14 release is version 3.0.0, build 20261013.1821, with initial macOS 27 support. MacDigest has not independently tested it.
What Network access costs
The Network plans cost US$1.99 per month for up to three Macs or US$12.99 per year for up to ten. Both are for personal and family use, with one user per Mac; taxes may apply.
People who bought Updatest before it became free receive access automatically on their existing license. The transition announcement gives Individual license holders access until October 14, 2027, and Household holders until October 14, 2028. Existing customers should check that entitlement before paying again.
Network results provide version information, never download links. The FAQ warns that popular beta or prerelease builds can appear. Treat a newly surfaced version as something to check against the developer’s release notes, especially on a Mac used for work.
Check the sharing setting
The privacy policy, updated October 14, says reports include app identifiers and versions, a one-way-hashed device identifier and the Updatest version. License-verification details are sent when applicable; the license key is not stored with version reports.
Turning off “Share anonymous app versions” in Settings stops version reports; license checks continue. Access to Network-discovered updates requires sharing to remain enabled, as well as a paid subscription or the existing-customer entitlement.
The practical choice is twofold: decide whether extra version discovery is useful enough to pay for, and review the sharing preference even if you only want the free app. Skipping a subscription does not switch sharing off.
