Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Linux desktop users should enable it: it is free, covers all major distros, and carries an excellent trust score.
Comparison
Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub vs Snapcraft
Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub lands on Worth it, and Snapcraft lands on Depends.
Snapcraft
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you ship Linux apps or run Ubuntu/IoT device fleets and want one packaging format with auto-updates.
| Compare | Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub | Snapcraft |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Worth it | Depends |
| Best for | Linux desktop users | Ubuntu-centric desktop fleets |
| Who it's not for | Windows or macOS users . entirely irrelevant | Debian/Fedora users allergic to Canonical control |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.² | Multiple past CVEs in packaging tooling; researchers have found malware distributed via the store itself.13 |
| Support quality | Community forums only, no vendor support | Docs hosted on forum criticized; slow manual reviews |
| Public sentiment | Community chatter centers on Flatpak-versus-Snap ecosystem friction rather than complaints about Flathub itself.⁵ | Opinion is sharply polarized: some Linux users love snaps while many complain about slowness, Canonical control, and forced updates. |
| Biggest gotcha | Rival format: Snaps and Flatpaks don't install across both ecosystems⁶ | Guess: store backend is closed-source; publishing ties you to Canonical infrastructure |
Pick Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub when
- Linux desktop users
- Linux gamers (RetroArch, etc.)
- Multi-distro enthusiasts
- Distro-hoppers wanting one app source
When Flathub - Apps for Linux | Flathub is not a fit
- Windows or macOS users . entirely irrelevant
- Enterprises buying supported business software
- Server/headless Linux admins
- Teams already standardized on Ubuntu's Snap
Pick Snapcraft when
- Ubuntu-centric desktop fleets
- IoT device makers needing managed updates
- Developers shipping cross-distro Linux apps
- Teams wanting sandboxed, auto-updating packages
When Snapcraft is not a fit
- Debian/Fedora users allergic to Canonical control
- Performance-sensitive apps . snaps run slower than .debs
- Anyone wanting simple native apt installs
- Security-averse teams uneasy about store malware reports
Sources
- Flathub official siteflathub.orgofficial
- Flathub.org Trust Score scangridinsoft.comsecurity
- Flathub security pageflathub.orgsecurity
- Flatpak and Snapd discussion (Elive forum)forum.elivelinux.orgreview
- Zorin OS forum: Evolution updates, Snap vs Flatpakforum.zorin.comreview
- Mastodon: Flatpak vs Snap fragmentationhachyderm.ioreview
- openSUSE forum: Flathub-related theming questionforums.opensuse.orgreview
- Mastodon: Snap usage among Ubuntu usersmastodon.socialreview
- Snapcraft . Snaps are universal Linux packagessnapcraft.ioofficial
review
- Linux users targeted by crypto thieves via hijacked apps on Snap Storehelpnetsecurity.comsecurity
- CVE-2020-27348 . NVDnvd.nist.govsecurity
- Private snap store for commercial IoT useforum.snapcraft.ioofficial
security
- Best Snapcraft Alternatives & Competitorsalternativeto.netreview