PortableApps.com vs LiberKey.com

For the past ten years, I have been running software from something other than the computer's hard drive. It all started when I was a Freshman in college and I came to two sad conclusions:

1. Internet explorer was a horrible browser.
2. Internet explorer was the only browser available on school computers.
3. OK... so there were three sad conclusions. The final one being that school computers did not allow you to install software on them.

So I began trying to install programs on different medium. Oddly (sadly) enough, the first thing I tried using was 75mb Zip disks. Yeah! I installed Firefox (at the time I think it was called Mozilla Firebird) onto my Zip disk and I was able to run it! I must have been the coolest freshman BYU ever saw!

Well... Running applications on a USB drive has come a long way since then, so I want to try to lay aside any biases I might have and do some (somewhat) scientific tests to determine which I like more. LiberKey or PortableApps.

History

(Click to see the Wikipedia articles of PortableApps and LiberKey. Click here to view the website portableapps.com and liberkey.com)

I found out first about PortableApps.com (I am quite sure that PortableApps was the first website to start compiling software that could be run on a USB drive). I thought it was great when I first used it. I loved how it had a lot of open sourced software that I use on a regular basis. I used PortableApps probably for about the first five years after it was released.

I decided to try LiberKey out after I read an article basically knocking LiberKey of copying much of what PortableApps had already done. I had pretty negative vibes about this but was just curious to try it out and I was blown away by it. It had features that I was looking for in PortableApps. I made an almost immediate switch to using LiberKey and have been using Liberkey for the past four years or so.

At this point I still recommended PortableApps to friends and family (I felt it was a bit more true to open source) but I used LiberKey for myself. I have been checking out PortableApps on and off through the years to just see what new features it gets. After the last major release I decided to switch over again to PortableApps and give it another go.

At this point, I really have not been able to convince myself as to which I like more. LiberKey is feature rich but has been buggy for me. PortableApps has been quite stable but lacks some of the features I love in LiberKey.

So here I am now running a bunch of tests to help me decide which one I like more (and therefore is obviously the better choice that everyone should use  ;-)    ).

Installing

The installation process is basically the same for both.

PortableApps has a bit smaller download to get you going.

PortableApps gives you the option for different languages from the get go.

As you can see, up to this point there really is not anything significantly different.

I installed both programs on the same USB drive. You can see the folder structure is slightly different. PortableApps does offer an Autorun script, but if I am not mistaken, that is a good way for viruses to spread.... I don't know if I really like that.

I find it interesting that PortableApps has about twice the file size but takes up about half as much storage space than Liberkey.

Installation Winner: Tie

Even though PortableApps does take up less storage space, we no longer live in the days of 128MB USB drives. The installation process is basically the same for both.

Software Installation

After installing the program, you will want to install individual apps. Because I only use portable applications when I am teaching class, I decided to only install the software I would be using: Chrome, the LibreOffice suite, and VLC.

PortableApps uses a list built into the software for downloading new apps. You simply select which apps you want to install then press next.

LiberKey uses its website for installing apps. The website takes a bit more time (and requires additional software; a browser) to get to. It does however offer more information on the software that you are going to install.

Up to this point I would have to say that PortableApps makes installing programs slightly easier. Having to use a browser can be cumbersome and slow at times. Many times people might try installing PortableApps for the express purpose of NOT having to use IE on other people's computers.

Liberkey does offer more information about what the program is that you are installing but PortableApps also has a website that does the same.

This is what each program looks like when installing software. Portable apps is nice in that it tells you the exact speed of your downloads. LiberKey to me seems to be a bit visually more appealing. 

The progress bar for LiberKey seems a bit more useful.

You can see that the speed for LiberKey is quite a bit faster. I ran the programs at the same time but started PortableApps first. LiberKey seems to have an advantage as far as download speed goes.

PortableApps was still downloading software by the time LiberKey was installing the software.

One thing I noticed is that LiberKey tends to have higher compression for the downloads. This most likely is one of the reasons for the quicker downloads. The LibreOffice download for PortableApps is 120mb whereas on LiberKey the file is only 85mb.

Installation Process Winner: PortableApps (slight edge)

While LiberKey seems to install things a bit more quickly, I like the fact that I don't have to use a browser when installing software in PortableApps.

Software Selection

At the time this article was written, PortableApps had 271 programs. Liberkey had 304. Both offer a combination of open source and freeware.

If you are looking for the most common open source programs, you can find them either using PortableApps or LiberKey. LiberKey offers just about 30 programs more. That could make a big difference if one of those programs is a program you use daily. Additionally, LiberKey has each program in deeper levels of categories. This can be seen as a great thing or a nuisance depending on your own personal preference.

Software Selection Winner: LiberKey (slight edge)

Although LiberKey does offer more programs, when it really comes down to it, what really matters are the programs you use. PortableApps still offers some programs that LiberKey does not.

Software Speed

With my specific position as a teacher, I have usually about five minutes from the time I enter my classroom until I must begin teaching. This means that how fast the software opens and runs is quite important to me. I decided to do a series of tests to see which was faster or if they were the same.

For my first test I decided to open the largest program I would be using. LibreOffice Writer. I timed how long it would take for the program to open. I opened it first using PortableApps. The first time I opened it, it took 35.5 seconds. Each subsequent time it took about 8.5 second. Using Liberkey, the first time I opened it, it gave me a terms of agreement window to click on. Eventually when I did open it though for the first time,  it took 1:03. Almost twice the time. The subsequent times though were about a second slower 7.5 was the average.

For my first test I concluded that the time was close enough that it was too trivial to care.

For a more practical application test I timed how long it would take to open three programs as fast as I could. I opened Firefox, VLC, and Libreoffice writer. On this LiberKey fared better by about two seconds. The final test I did was starting with the application launcher not even open. With this I was able to take advantage of the fact that LiberKey can start applications on startup. Even with that though,  PortableApps actually did better by about two seconds.

Software Speed Winner: Tie

It seems that PortableApps can start the launcher just a bit faster, while LiberKey starts each program just a bit faster.

Design

While the way software looks has never been the most important thing for me, it is always something that adds a bit more polish to software.

The designs are somewhat similar and can be customized slightly.

PortableApps has a simple yet slick look.

It has an additional menu but I feel it is not that useful.

I think the graphics in LiberKey look a bit more dated is some aspects, but I don't necessarily prefer PortableApps to this.

I really like the alternative menu. Very simplistic.

By default PortableApps does not list by category. This can be changed easily though.

Quite a bit of branding for PortableApps.

Very simplistic.

Design winner: Tie

I feel lazy calling another tie, but there does not seem to be any clear advantage for design with either piece of software; it is simply a matter of preference.

Additional Features

While each program offers features that the other does not, I feel that overall, LiberKey tries to give you a few more features. I like how you can customize most things with the menu and determine what button clicks will do. I especially like being able to start programs when the launcher is started. As someone who ALWAYS opens at least two of the same programs each time I open the launcher, I feel this saves me quite a bit of hassle.

One thing I really like about PortableApps is that it gives you the open to run the program specified in the language for PortableApps and not the system language.

These are the options that PortableApps gives you. Not a lot.

LiberKey gives you quite a bit more options and customization. 

My favorite LiberKey features include the ability to start programs when the launcher starts and do file associations for LiberKey.

Additional Features Winner: LiberKey

LiberKey simply adds more things that I depend on.

Stability

I would say for the most part that PortableApps is quite stable. I must admit that I have not run it as often as I have Liberkey.
The only significant bug I have noticed with LiberKey is that it will often automatically open Chrome which another instance of Chrome is running. This is annoying to close out of and renders Chrome basically useless until you reset it.

Stability Winner: PortableApps

Until LiberKey fixes the problem of Chrome always randomly opening up, I will have to say that PortableApps is more stable.

Ethical

I don't know exactly why I am throwing this in there.... I suppose mostly because I have heard talk of LiberKey not following the licence agreements for the different software.

These complaints were how I found out about LiberKey in the first place. Since then I think LiberKey has improved and I am still not exactly sure if the current complaints are valid or not.

In LiberKey, you have to agree to the license terms before you can install it. PortableApps does not have anything like this implemented as of yet. 

Ethical Winner: PortableApps

PortableApps was the original; the creator. Liberkey has certainly used a lot from PortableApps and built on that, but many still question whether or not LiberKey is going against the Terms of Service for the different programs.

Conclusion

Here is the final tally: PortableApps - 3, Tie - 3, LiberKey - 3

This is quite close. I really do like both LiberKey and PortableApps. Realistically, I will continue to use LiberKey because I like how you can automatically run programs. There is no answer for which is better but I personally think each is suited quite well for different people.

For people looking for something simple, straight forward and secure, I would recomment PortableApps. If you are suggesting something to friends or family or installing something, I would recomment PortableApps.

If you are familiar with the concept of foreign applications and need something with a few more features, I would suggest you use LiberKey.