Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Endstate

substratesystems.io

From €3.33/mo Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
Visit substratesystems.io
Spec score 9.3 #1 of 26 in PC Migration Software

What it is

Endstate captures Windows applications and settings so they can be restored on another Windows PC. Scanning, saving, and restoring can all run locally and offline. It detects applications installed through EXE/MSI installers and the Microsoft Store using winget, with settings modules for 359 Windows applications. Saved setups are plain files in the user’s Documents folder that can be copied, backed up, or shared. Before restoring, users can review differences and select which detected applications and supported settings to apply. Each settings restore creates a backup that can be reverted with one click. Endstate reinstalls applications through WinGet and Chocolatey, while sponsored integrations can add settings migration support. Portable applications that are not registered in Windows are not detected. The provisioning engine is open source under Apache 2.0. The local product has no telemetry, tracking, or background reporting, and sends no data off the computer unless Endstate Cloud is enabled. The free plan costs 0.00 EUR forever, needs no account, and covers unlimited machines. Endstate Cloud is in early access and not generally available.

Spec sheet

What it does
Endstate scans installed Windows applications and supported settings, saves them to a portable profile, and rebuilds them on another fresh installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Purpose
Endstate captures Windows applications and settings and restores them on another Windows PC.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Audience
Endstate is positioned for designers, editors, creators, gamers, freelancers, students, and system administrators.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Integrations
The engine uses WinGet and Microsoft Store sources by default, with optional Chocolatey lanes; Linux and macOS use Nix with Homebrew available per app on macOS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security
The provisioning engine is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Privacy
The local product has no telemetry, tracking, or background reporting and does not send data off the computer unless Endstate Cloud is explicitly enabled.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Headquarters
EstoniaRead 28 Sep 2026 · substratesystems.io
App detection
Endstate detects applications installed through EXE/MSI installers and the Microsoft Store using winget.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Automatic app detection
The product detects installed EXE/MSI and Microsoft Store applications and uses WinGet to reinstall them.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Changelog feature
The August 1, 2026 engine release added read-only profile inspection and fixes for path matching and Thunderbird configuration detection.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Changelog integrations
The July 26, 2026 release added Elgato Stream Deck and Wave Link modules and introduced the .endstate capture-bundle extension.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
CLI and JSON interface
The GUI is designed to invoke the public Endstate CLI and consume structured JSON output, including capabilities, apply, verify and report commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Cloud availability
Endstate Cloud is currently in early access and is not yet generally available.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Cloud encryption
Endstate Cloud encrypts backup data on the user's machine before upload and stores ciphertext with operational metadata.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Company founding
Infopank records the company as established on 15 December 2025.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infopank.ee
Company headquarters
Infopank lists the legal address in Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infopank.ee
Company legal name
The Estonian company registry listing identifies the maker as Substrate Systems OÜ.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infopank.ee
Data boundaries
Endstate Cloud covers application lists and supported non-secret settings and explicitly is not personal-file backup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Detection limit
Portable applications that are not registered in Windows are not detected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Developer stack
The engine is written in Go, while the desktop GUI uses Tauri, React and Rust.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Development requirements
The GUI development README lists Node.js 18 or newer, npm, Rust, MSVC v143 or later build tools, and the Windows 10/11 SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation depth
The repositories expose README material, docs directories, CLI contracts, manifests, module catalogs and a maintained changelog.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Independent listing
RepoRank describes Endstate as a Go CLI that is fully usable on Windows, with Linux and macOS support still in progress and package coverage dependent on WinGet or Chocolatey.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reporank.net
Independent praise: coverage
Windows Central highlighted support for 357 applications, including Lightroom Classic, VS Code, Windows Terminal, PowerToys, Git, Obsidian, OBS Studio, Notepad++ and ShareX.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
Independent praise: workflow
Windows Central described Endstate as a free Windows tool that makes reinstalling applications and supported preferences easier by combining WinGet or Chocolatey with settings capture.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
Installation control
Applications are installed one at a time and Windows permission prompts are not silently bypassed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Installation limits
Portable applications that are not registered in Windows are not detected.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Licence
The engine and GUI repositories state that they are licensed under Apache License 2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: attended restores
Windows Forum says restores remain supervised because installers can require UAC prompts, license agreements and other interactive steps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowsforum.com
Limit: incomplete settings coverage
Windows Forum reported a 114-application test in which settings were captured for only 29 applications, so many installed programs would return with default preferences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowsforum.com
Limit: not full backup
Windows Forum characterizes Endstate as a desired-state rebuild tool rather than a disk image or complete migration system for files, drivers, credentials and licenses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowsforum.com
Local workflow
Scanning, saving, and restoring a setup can run locally and offline.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Maker profile
Hugo Ander Kivi's GitHub profile identifies him as founder of Substrate Systems and describes Endstate as declarative Windows machine backup and restore software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Offline operation
Scanning and saving work offline, while reinstalling applications requires internet access to download installers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Ownership
Infopank lists Hugo Ander Kivi as the board member, founder and 100% owner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infopank.ee
Portable profiles
Saved setup profiles are plain files stored in the user-controlled Documents location and can be copied or backed up.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Preview mode
Users can compare a saved setup with the target machine before making changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Rating on MajorGeeks
5 out of 5 from 3 votesRead 15 Oct 2026 · majorgeeks.com
Reversibility
Endstate backs up settings before restoring them and provides a one-click revert.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Security design
Cloud setup data is encrypted before upload with client-side keys that Endstate says it cannot read.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Selective restore
Users can preview differences and choose which applications and supported settings to restore.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Self-hosting
The cloud plan states that its self-hosting protocol remains open, and the local workflow needs no server or account.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Settings coverage
Endstate has settings modules for 359 Windows applications.Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Settings restoration
Settings modules cover more than 300 applications, with restoration selected per application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Validated installers
The official FAQ says 48 applications were sandbox-validated and passing, including VS Code, Git, OBS Studio, Blender, Obsidian, Discord and KeePassXC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io

Plans and prices

Free Free Forever · No account Full GUI and CLI · Capture, restore, profiles, manifests · Settings backup for supported apps · Offline use Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Endstate Cloud €4 a month Billed monthly · Cancel any time Encrypted application lists and supported non-secret settings · Client-side keys · Protected versions · Restore on another Windows PC · Self-hosting protocol remains open Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Support Endstate $10, paid once From $10 · Entirely optional Optional supporter contribution · No features unlocked · Opt-in supporter listings Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Endstate Cloud (yearly) €40 a year Annual subscription Encrypted managed backup · Client-side keys Read 1 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io
Endstate for Teams Priced on request Research · No current team product or purchase Design-partner research · Repeatable Windows setup and recovery for organisations Read 15 Oct 2026 · substratesystems.io

Every Endstate plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Scanning and restore can run offline.
  • Saved profiles are plain files.
  • Users can select which apps and settings to restore.
  • Settings backups can be reverted with one click.
  • Free plan covers unlimited machines without an account.

Limits

  • Portable apps not registered in Windows are undetected.
  • User profile migration is not supported.
  • Endstate Cloud is not generally available.
  • Cloud backup is not personal-file backup.

Who it suits

Endstate suits Windows users who want to migrate applications and supported settings between PCs, including the listed designers, editors, creators, gamers, freelancers, students, and system administrators. It is also relevant to people who want a local, offline workflow.

Verdict

Endstate focuses on moving Windows applications and supported settings, with selective restore and reversible settings changes. Its free plan has no account or machine limit; Cloud remains in early access.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to EndstateAll alternatives →