NuGet vs vcpkg
NuGet
nuget.orgvcpkg
vcpkg.ioSide by side
| Figure | NuGet | vcpkg |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.1 (#31) | 8.7 (#12) |
| Dependency management | NuGet resolves package dependency graphs and records package identifiers and versions so dependencies can be restored across machines and build servers. | Manifest files let projects declare dependencies, optional features, and version constraints. |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | .nupkg,.snupkg | C/C++ libraries |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | NuGet is the package manager for .NET, providing tools to create, share, and consume packages. | vcpkg is a C/C++ package manager for acquiring and managing libraries. |
| Support | The NuGet Gallery directs users with questions to its contact page and provides a service-status page for NuGet.org and related services. | The project lists documentation, a development-team support contact, and community channels including Discord and Slack. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux,.NET | Windows,macOS,Linux,Android,iOS |
Plans
In their own words
NuGet
NuGet is a package manager for .NET projects, with tools to create and consume packages and the NuGet Gallery as a central repository. Packages use the .nupkg format and can include compiled code, related files and a descriptive manifest; .snupkg is also supported. NuGet resolves dependency graphs and records package identifiers and versions so projects can restore dependencies across machines and build servers. PackageReference and packages.config are supported, with PackageReference required for .NET SDK-style projects. Developers can manage packages in Visual Studio or use the dotnet CLI and nuget.exe. Packages may be hosted in private cloud locations, private networks or local file systems. Restore can check dependencies against configured vulnerability sources and report warnings. NuGet also supports lockfiles, offline installation, private registry authentication and package signatures. The service is free, and the Gallery code is open source under Apache 2.0. The dotnet CLI works on Windows, macOS and Linux; nuget.exe runs on Windows and can run on macOS and Linux with Mono, with limitations.
vcpkg
vcpkg is a free package manager for acquiring and managing C/C++ libraries. Its curated registry contains over 2,300 open-source libraries, with dependency resolution across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Projects can declare dependencies, optional features, and version constraints in manifest files; baseline version sets and individual package pins help keep dependency choices reproducible. vcpkg integrates with CMake and MSBuild, while manual integration is supported for other build systems. Built packages can be cached for reuse across developer machines and continuous integration runs. Asset caching can mirror source assets and build tools for offline or air-gapped environments. Users can also create custom registries for private libraries, patches, or other packages. Documented editor integrations include Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, CLion, and Qt Creator. The project says most ports use libraries' original build systems and obtain source code and tools from their official distribution locations. vcpkg collects anonymous usage data, with opt-out options. Firewall access needs depend on the ports installed.