Pear Desktop vs Rubick
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Open source · MIT
Open-source Electron desktop toolbox that launches apps and runs installable plugins.
The short answer
Choose Pear Desktop if you need…
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Choose Rubick if you need…
- People who want a keyboard-driven launcher for apps and files on Windows or macOS
- Users who want to add small tools through a plugin market
- Teams that want to deploy it on an internal network, as the README states
- Developers who want to build their own plugins using the project's plugin CLI
Side-by-side
| Pear Desktop | Rubick | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 34k | 10.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Download the app |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 10 months ago |
What each one is
Pear Desktop
Pear Desktop is a free, open-source desktop application that wraps YouTube Music in its own window so you can use it like a regular program rather than a browser tab. It is built with Electron and TypeScript. It also supports plugins and custom CSS themes that change how the app looks and behaves. The project states it is unofficial and not affiliated with Google or YouTube.
Rubick
Rubick is a desktop launcher and toolbox built with Electron. You press a shortcut (Alt/Option+R), type keywords to find local apps, files, or folders, and run plugins from a built-in plugin market. Plugins are installed like npm packages, and plugin data can be synced across devices with WebDAV.
Best for
Pear Desktop
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Rubick
- People who want a keyboard-driven launcher for apps and files on Windows or macOS
- Users who want to add small tools through a plugin market
- Teams that want to deploy it on an internal network, as the README states
- Developers who want to build their own plugins using the project's plugin CLI
Strengths
Pear Desktop
- Open source under the MIT license, with a public codebase on GitHub
- Offers install paths through several package managers, including Homebrew, Scoop, Winget, and AUR
- Supports a plugin system and CSS themes for customization
Rubick
- Plugin installation follows the familiar npm package pattern
- Supports WebDAV for syncing plugin data across devices
- Has a large community, with about 10k GitHub stars and an MIT license
Not ideal for
Pear Desktop
- Users who need an official YouTube Music client, since the project is unofficial and unaffiliated with Google or YouTube
- People without a YouTube Music account who expect a standalone music library, since the README does not describe offline music of its own
- Users on very old or unsupported operating systems, since the README does not list supported versions
Rubick
- People who want a minimal launcher with no plugin system, since the README centers on plugins
- Users who need guaranteed security features beyond what the README describes, since it makes broad claims without detail
Trade-offs
Pear Desktop
- Unofficial and not endorsed by Google or YouTube, and the README says it is provided as-is with no liability
- Some install steps, such as the macOS quarantine fix and Windows SmartScreen warnings, may confuse non-technical users
- Plugin development requires TypeScript and familiarity with Electron concepts
Rubick
- The README is short on detail about plugin security and the plugin ecosystem, so users must judge plugins themselves
- Some docs and download links point to third-party sites and mirrors, and the README is partly in Chinese
Getting started
Pear Desktop
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install pear-devs/pear/pear-desktopInstall on Windows with Winget
winget install pear-devs.pear-desktopRubick
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/rubickCenter/rubickFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Pear Desktop and Rubick?
Pear Desktop: Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux. Rubick: Open-source Electron desktop toolbox that launches apps and runs installable plugins. Pear Desktop suits people who want youtube music in a standalone desktop window, while Rubick suits people who want a keyboard-driven launcher for apps and files on windows or macos.
Are Pear Desktop and Rubick free?
Pear Desktop: Free and open source. Rubick: Free and open source.
Is Pear Desktop or Rubick more popular?
Pear Desktop has more GitHub stars (34k) than Rubick (10.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Pear Desktop and Rubick?
Other options people compare them with include Listen 1, YesPlayMusic, Alger Music Player, xbar, Koel.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.