Microsoft ships two ways to install apps on modern Windows: the Microsoft Store and winget. Both work. They differ in important ways. Here's a clear comparison so you know which to reach for.
TL;DR
| winget | Microsoft Store | |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog size | 10,000+ | ~3,000 high-quality |
| Interface | Command line | GUI |
| Speed | Fast — silent install | Slower — UI animations + download |
| Auto-updates | Manual (winget upgrade --all) |
Automatic |
| Sandboxing | No (runs publisher installers) | Yes (UWP) for Store apps |
| Microsoft account | Not required | Required for paid apps |
| Scriptable | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free/paid | Free only | Free + paid |
| Pre-installed on Windows 11 | ✅ | ✅ |
Quick answer: developers and power users → winget. Everyone else → start with the Store, graduate to winget when you need more.
What is winget?
winget (Windows Package Manager) is Microsoft's official command-line tool for installing, updating, and removing Windows apps. It downloads installers directly from each app's publisher (not from Microsoft's servers) and runs them silently.
winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e
That's it. No clicks, no Microsoft account, no Store dependency.
What is the Microsoft Store?
The Microsoft Store is the curated app marketplace built into Windows 10 and 11. Each app goes through Microsoft review, is sandboxed (UWP) or wrapped (Win32 desktop bridge), and is delivered via Microsoft's CDN. Most apps are free; paid apps require a Microsoft account.
Open Store → search → click Get → wait. Slower workflow but more guided.
Head-to-head: 8 key differences
1. Catalog size
- winget: 10,000+ packages, growing 100+ per week
- Store: ~3,000 high-quality apps after Microsoft's curation cut
winget includes obscure CLI tools, every Hashicorp project, dev runtimes, niche utilities. Store sticks to mainstream consumer apps + games.
Winner: winget by 3×
2. Install speed
A Firefox install:
- winget: 12 seconds (download + silent install)
- Store: 35 seconds (Store UI + download + UWP unpack)
winget skips all UI, hash-verifies once, runs the installer with -silent. Store does more work per app.
Winner: winget
3. Auto-updates
- winget: you run
winget upgrade --all(or use Winget-AutoUpdate) - Store: silent automatic updates on a schedule
Most casual users want updates to "just happen" — Store wins here out of the box.
Winner: Store (for set-and-forget users)
4. Sandboxing & security
Store apps (UWP) run in containers — limited filesystem access, capability-based permissions, no admin needed. winget runs the publisher's standard Windows installer, which gets full system access.
This means:
- Store apps are safer if a vendor's installer is compromised
- winget apps integrate more deeply (system context menus, services, drivers)
Winner: Store for security; winget for capability
5. Microsoft account requirement
- winget: no account ever required for the default source
- Store: needed for paid apps, recommended for free apps (to track licenses across devices)
If you're setting up a fresh Windows machine without signing in, winget works immediately. Store requires sign-in to install most things.
Winner: winget
6. Scripting & automation
- winget: every command is scriptable;
winget exportsaves your full app list to JSON - Store: no scripting interface, no export
For provisioning machines, CI environments, or "give my new laptop the same apps as my old one" — winget wins by default. Store has no automation story.
Winner: winget (by a mile)
7. App quality control
- Store: Microsoft manually reviews every app for malware, branding, and basic quality
- winget: manifests are community-contributed; Microsoft moderates but doesn't run the installers
winget catches obvious bad actors (PR review + hash verification) but isn't a quality bar. The Store filters for "good enough to put a Microsoft logo on."
Winner: Store for trust signal
8. Pricing & licensing
- winget: free apps only; no payment infrastructure
- Store: free + paid + subscription apps
If you want to buy Affinity Designer or rent Office, the Store is your only built-in option.
Winner: Store for paid apps
When to use which
Use winget if you…
- Set up new Windows machines regularly
- Manage apps for multiple users or machines
- Prefer command-line speed
- Need apps not in the Store (dev tools, server utilities)
- Want to script your setup (fresh Windows guide)
- Don't want a Microsoft account
Use the Store if you…
- Are buying a paid app
- Want automatic updates with zero config
- Need a sandboxed (UWP) app for security
- Are non-technical and prefer browsing pictures
- Use Xbox Game Pass / Game Pass for PC (Store-exclusive)
Use both (most realistic)
Install Office and Affinity through the Store. Install Chrome, VS Code, Git, Docker, Node, and your dev stack through winget. They coexist fine — winget can even winget upgrade --all Store apps if you add the msstore source.
"Just use winget" — the developer case
For anyone managing Windows at the system level, winget is objectively better:
- 10× the catalog
- Faster installs
- Reproducible (JSON export/import)
- Works on Windows Server (Store doesn't)
- Better for CI / IaC / fleet management
The only "but" is paid apps and Game Pass. For everything else, the modern Windows answer is winget.
How to install both
Both ship pre-installed on Windows 11. On Windows 10, see How to install winget on Windows 10.
Then use whichever fits the moment.
What's next?
- What is winget? → — primer
- Winget vs Chocolatey vs Scoop → — power user comparison
- How to install winget on Windows 10 → — get started
- Fresh Windows 11 setup → — practical guide