fpm

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.3 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Converting Linux and Unix package formats
• Paid from
  Free
• Output formats
  deb, rpm, solaris, freebsd, osxpkg, pacman, puppet, p5p, sh, tar, zip, dir
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Converts between DEB, RPM, Pacman, and other package formats
  • Supports native outputs for FreeBSD, Solaris, macOS PKG, and more
  • Handles metadata, dependencies, configuration files, and lifecycle scripts

• Where it doesn't

  • Command-line workflow may not suit teams seeking a graphical interface
  • Update, integration, and CI/CD features are sparse
  • Packaging scope is narrower than a broader release-management platform

Our verdict on fpm

fpm is an open-source Ruby command-line tool for creating and converting software packages. It is aimed at developers and release engineers who need to turn directories, local files, Ruby gems, Python packages, npm packages, CPAN packages, Debian packages, RPMs, and other sources into platform-native deliverables. Its supported target platforms include Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, and Solaris, making it a practical fit for teams working across multiple Unix-like environments.

Its main strength is breadth within package creation and conversion. fpm can generate DEB and RPM packages alongside FreeBSD, Solaris, Pacman, and macOS PKG outputs. It also supports tar, ZIP, directory, shell, Puppet, and p5p outputs. Package metadata, dependencies, configuration files, and lifecycle scripts are part of the workflow, so teams can describe more than just the files being shipped. For release engineers standardizing different source and target formats from a command line, this wide format coverage is the clearest reason to choose fpm.

The trade-off is focus. fpm is free and open source, but its published positioning points to sparse update, integration, and CI/CD features. That makes it a stronger match for direct package production and format conversion than for teams seeking a broader release platform with extensive ecosystem connections or pipeline features. Choose fpm when command-line packaging, format coverage, and package metadata matter most; consider another tool when integrated release management or deeper CI/CD functionality is central to the workflow.

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fpm pricing

fpm fact sheet

Alternatives to fpm

• electron-builderA broad Electron release toolkit covering builds, updates, signing, publishing, and CI/CD.9.4
• Advanced InstallerA broad Windows packaging suite for teams managing installers, updates, and deployment automation.9.2
• install4jA capable choice for Java publishers shipping signed installers across major desktop platforms.9.0

See all fpm alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update