Swift Package Manager
Swift Package Manager is a free tool for sharing Swift code as packages, working with dependencies, and building, testing, documenting, and running code.
What Swift Package Manager is
Swift Package Manager is a free tool for sharing Swift code as packages, working with dependencies, and building, testing, documenting, and running code. A package uses a Package.swift manifest alongside source files, resources, and other assets. Packages can provide library, executable, or plugin products, and can depend on other Swift packages, system libraries, or binary dependencies. Commands include swift build and swift test; dependencies are resolved automatically when swift build or swift run is invoked. Plugins can add build functions or package commands, such as generating source files and resources. They run in a sandbox that blocks network and most file-system access unless the user approves additional permissions. Swift Package Manager works from the command line and is integrated into Xcode. It is supported on macOS, Linux distributions, and Windows, while tools on macOS can build for Apple platforms including iOS. Swift 6.4 made Swift Build the default build system in Swift Package Manager. The tool is published under Apache 2.0 with a Runtime Library Exception.
Good
- Resolves package dependencies automatically during builds and runs.
- Supports lockfiles, private registry authentication, and offline installation.
- Works from the command line and within Xcode.
- Plugins can add build capabilities and package commands.
- Supports macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Watch out
- Plugins need user approval for additional permissions.
- Tools on macOS are specified for building Apple-platform applications.
Who it suits
Swift Package Manager suits developers who want to create, share, build, and test Swift packages. Packages can be used personally, within a private company, or released as open source.
Verdict
Swift Package Manager combines dependency management with commands for building, testing, and running Swift packages. Its Xcode integration and support for several development platforms make it relevant to developers working across those environments.
Plans and prices
From Swift Package Manager's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Package Manager | Free | Open-source package management tool |
The facts
Each one read from Swift Package Manager's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Apple deployment targets
- Swift tools on macOS can build applications for Apple platforms including iOS.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported development platforms
- Swift Package Manager is supported on macOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Amazon Linux, Red Hat Universal Base Image, and Windows.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- macOS,Linux,Windows; packages can target Apple platformschecked 22 Sep 2026
What it does
- Build and test
- SwiftPM includes commands such as swift build and swift test, and automatically resolves packages when swift build or swift run is invoked.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Current build system
- Swift 6.4 made Swift Build the default build system in Swift Package Manager.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- A package can depend on other Swift packages, system libraries, or binary dependencies.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Dependency resolution
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- License
- Swift and its package manager were published under the Apache 2.0 license with a Runtime Library Exception.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Lockfile support
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Offline installation
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Package formats
- source packages,system libraries,binary targets,package registry archiveschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Package structure
- A package consists of a Package.swift manifest and source files, resources, and other assets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Plugins can add build capabilities or package commands, including generating source files and resources as part of a build.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Plugin security
- Plugins run in a sandbox that blocks network access and most file system access unless additional permissions are approved by the user.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Private registry auth
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Products and targets
- Packages can provide library, executable, and plugin products built from targets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Swift Package Manager lets developers share code as packages, use other shared packages, and build, test, document, and run code.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- Swift packages can be created for personal use, private company use, or release as open-source packages for the community.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Xcode integration
- SwiftPM works from the command line and is integrated within Xcode.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2021checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
The full review of Swift Package Manager
Swift Package Manager is a free package and build tool for developers writing Swift. It is a strong fit for Swift projects that need reusable dependencies and a command-line workflow, especially when Xcode is already part of the setup. Choose it for its integrated Swift development tools, not as a general-purpose documentation system.
Overview
Each package is organized around a Package.swift manifest alongside source files, resources and other assets. Targets can supply library, executable or plugin products, and packages can draw on Swift packages, system libraries or binary dependencies. That range suits personal projects, private company code and open-source releases.
SwiftPM handles dependency resolution and lockfiles, supports private-registry authentication and permits offline installation. Running swift build or swift run resolves packages automatically; swift test covers testing. The practical benefit is a single tool for common package, build and test work, rather than a dependency manager that stops at installation.
Key features
Plugins can extend builds or add package commands, including generating source files and resources. Their sandbox blocks network access and most filesystem access unless the user approves additional permissions. That is a sensible constraint for limiting plugin reach, though builds that need broader access may require an approval step.
SwiftPM works from the command line and is integrated into Xcode, giving developers a choice of workflow. It also supports API reference generation and CI/CD integration. Documentation inputs include Symbol Graph files, DocC catalogs and Markdown; outputs include machine-readable JSON archives and static HTML. This makes it useful for Swift API documentation, but its stated inputs and language support are centered on Swift and Objective-C, not broad documentation needs across unrelated languages.
Swift 6.4 made Swift Build the default build system in SwiftPM. That change matters to teams tracking Swift's current build tooling, while teams with established workflows should account for the build-system transition.
Pricing
Swift Package Manager is free: its sole plan costs nothing and is described as an open-source package management tool. There is no free trial because there is no paid entry tier to evaluate. The free plan is the product, so developers do not have to trade away features by choosing a cheaper tier or budget for seats or usage caps.
Platforms
SwiftPM is supported on macOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Amazon Linux, Red Hat Universal Base Image and Windows. Swift tools on macOS can also build applications for Apple deployment targets, including iOS. This gives teams working across those environments a shared package tool, though Apple-target builds depend on using macOS.
Who it's for
Swift developers building libraries, executables or reusable internal packages are the clearest audience. Xcode users benefit from the IDE integration, while command-line and CI/CD workflows are also supported. It is less suitable as a standalone choice for teams whose main need is generating documentation from languages other than Swift or Objective-C.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Dependency resolution, lockfiles, private registry authentication and offline installation cover several practical package-management needs.
- Pros: Build, test and run commands sit alongside package management, with Xcode integration for developers who prefer an IDE workflow.
- Pros: Plugin sandboxing restricts network and most filesystem access unless additional permissions are approved.
- Cons: Plugin permissions can interrupt builds that require access beyond the sandbox defaults.
- Cons: Its documentation inputs and supported languages make it a narrow choice for teams documenting software beyond Swift and Objective-C.
Alternatives
For a wider set of package-management options, browse Package Managers. If API documentation is the main task, Documentation Generators offers a more relevant category.
- Asciidoctor is a free, MIT-licensed option when the work calls for converters such as HTML 5, DocBook 5 or man pages.
- Scalar is worth considering for API work when its free tier's stated limits—up to 3 APIs, 1 SDK of up to 25 endpoints, 1 editor seat and 50 Agent Scalar credits—fit the project.
- Sphinx is a free BSD 2-Clause-licensed option for teams that want to install locally or self-host.
- JSON Schema for Humans fits Python-based workflows that need static HTML or Markdown documentation from JSON Schema.
- Kotlin/JS is for Kotlin teams targeting JavaScript through the Kotlin Multiplatform Gradle plugin.
- Scaladoc is another free documentation option for Scala projects.
- Swagger Codegen is a better fit when the goal is generating API clients, server stubs and documentation from OpenAPI specifications.
- mdBook is a free, open-source option for creating books from Markdown.
Verdict
Swift Package Manager is the right choice for developers building Swift packages who want dependencies, builds and tests in one free workflow that also fits Xcode. Its main reason to choose is that combination; look elsewhere when the project centers on documentation or package work outside the Swift ecosystem.
