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NuGet

Free#9 of 92 in Package ManagersPackage Registries

NuGet: A free, open-source package manager covering the core .NET package lifecycle. Ranked #9 of 92 in Package Managers by our editors (8.4/10); pricing: Open source; best for .NET package management.

8.4/10Editor score
Visit NuGet
NuGet8.4 Visit NuGet

At a glance

  • Editor score
    8.4 / 10
  • Pricing
    Open source
  • Best for
    .NET package management
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Lockfile support
    Yes
  • Facts checked
    22 Sep 2026
NuGet screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Dependency resolution, conflict handling, restore, caching, and lockfiles
    • Works with .NET CLI, Visual Studio, MSBuild, and Azure DevOps
    • Supports public galleries, private feeds, local sources, and NuGet APIs

  • Where it doesn't

    • Project and platform support varies across NuGet tooling options
    • Private feed access requires credentials or credential providers
    • Supports .nupkg and .snupkg rather than general package formats

Our verdict on NuGet

NuGet is a free, open-source package manager and hosting ecosystem for .NET developers. It supports creating, publishing, consuming, restoring, and updating packages from public or private feeds. NuGet.org provides a public package gallery and repository, while organizations can also work with private servers, cloud feeds, network locations, or local file-system sources. Windows, macOS, and Linux are covered, with access through web interfaces, APIs, and .NET tooling.

Package handling is its central strength. NuGet resolves dependency graphs and handles conflicts, restores packages from remote feeds or local caches, and supports both PackageReference and packages.config project formats. Optional packages.lock.json files and locked restore mode help manage repeatable dependency restoration. Central package version management is available for projects that need a more coordinated approach to package versions. Symbol packages use the .snupkg format, and NuGet APIs support programmatic package access.

The ecosystem fit is broad within .NET: integrations include the .NET CLI, nuget.exe CLI, MSBuild, Visual Studio, and Azure DevOps. Private feed authentication uses credentials and credential providers, while offline installation and workspace support are included in its package-management capabilities. NuGet is a strong choice for teams building and maintaining .NET applications across supported platforms, especially when they need public or private package sources and dependency controls without a paid plan. Teams should account for differences in project and platform support depending on whether they use dotnet CLI, nuget.exe, MSBuild, or Visual Studio.

Your product? Our editors can test NuGet in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

NuGet pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on nuget.org

NuGet fact sheet

Free planNot verified
Paid fromFree
Package formats.nupkg, .snupkg
Supported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, .NET
Dependency resolutionYes
Lockfile supportYes
Workspace supportNot verified
Private registry authYes
Offline installationYes
DeploymentDesktop
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
SupportDocs
Built forSolo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
PricingOpen source
Websitenuget.org
Facts checked22 Sep 2026

Alternatives to NuGet

See all NuGet alternatives →

Also Ranked In

NuGet is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — NuGet 8.4/10

NuGet is listed in our Package Managers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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