What is the difference between Snap and APT?

Last updated on February 25, 2023 by Dan Nanni

Question: On Ubuntu, I have been using APT package manager to install and update apps, but Ubuntu also offers Snap package manager. What is the main difference between Snap and APT?

A package manager is a software tool that simplifies the process of installing, updating, and managing software packages on a Linux operating system. While common package managers used in Linux are APT (Advanced Package Tool) on Debian and Ubuntu, RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) on Red Hat and Fedora, and Pacman on Arch Linux, there are also newer package managers called Snap and Flatpak. Let's find out what these newer package managers are, and how they differ.

What is APT?

APT (Advanced Packaging Tool) is a package management system used by Debian-based Linux distros such as Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Elementary OS. APT is used to manage the installation, removal, and upgrading of software packages on a Linux system. APT works by connecting to a software repository that contains a collection of packages. The repository is maintained by the Linux distribution's developers and contains all of the packages that are officially supported. APT can also be configured to use third-party repositories, which may contain additional packages that are not included in the official repository.

What is Snap?

Snap is a newer package manager developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. Since it first became available on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Snap has gained popularity as a way to distribute software applications that are not available in traditional Linux package repositories. Other than Ubuntu, some of the Linux distros that officially support Snap include Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Arch Linux, OpenSUSE, and CentOS. Snap was initially developed to address some of the limitations of traditional package management systems like APT, such as unreliable dependency management, slow software distribution process, security, and lack of cross-distribution support.

Difference between Snap and APT

Snap and APT are both package management systems for Linux, but there are some key differences between them as follows.

Package format: APT packages are usually in the .deb format, while Snap packages are in the .snap format. Deb packages are more traditional, and are used by many Linux distributions, while Snap packages are a newer, containerized format that is self-contained.
Package availability: APT packages are typically available from the official repositories of a Linux distribution, and may also be available from third-party repositories. Snap packages, on the other hand, are available from the Snap Store, which is operated by Canonical, the company behind Snap. This means that not all packages that are available for APT may be available for Snap, and vice versa.
Dependency management: APT packages rely on the system's shared libraries, which can sometimes cause conflicts or version mismatches. Snap packages, on the other hand, contain all of their dependencies, so they are more self-contained and less likely to cause conflicts.
Package size: APT packages are generally smaller in size than Snap packages, as APT packages only contain the necessary files and dependencies to run the software, while Snap packages include all of the dependencies and libraries needed to run the software in a self-contained environment. This can result in larger package sizes for Snap, but can also make them more convenient to install and manage.
Security: Snap packages are designed to run in a sandboxed environment, which means that they have limited access to the system and are less likely to cause security issues. APT packages, by contrast, have full access to the system and can potentially cause security issues if they are malicious.
Release cycle: Snap packages can be updated more frequently than APT packages, as they are designed to be more modular and easier to update. This can be an advantage for users who want to stay up-to-date with the latest software releases.
Installation and update process: Installing and updating APT packages usually requires the user to run multiple commands, such as "sudo apt update" to refresh the package list, followed by "sudo apt install [package name]" to install the package. Snap packages can be installed with a single command, such as "sudo snap install [package name]". Snap packages can also be updated automatically in the background, which can be convenient for users who want to stay up-to-date with the latest software releases.
Availability: APT packages are more widely used and supported by most Linux distributions, while Snap packages are a newer format and may not be available on all Linux distributions.

Overall, APT is a more traditional package management system that is used by many Linux distributions, while Snap is a newer, more modular system that is designed to be self-contained and secure. Both Snap and APT have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of which package management system to use will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user.

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