Snap vs .deb: What's the Difference? | Linux Guide

Introduction

On Ubuntu and other Debian-based distros, you'll typically install software one of two ways. It's either a .deb package through APT or dpkg, or a Snap through the Snap Store or snap install. Both are common, and both are officially supported. They'll also happily sit side by side on the same machine, which is exactly why it's easy to end up confused about which one you actually have installed, and why they behave so differently.

.deb is the original Debian package format: a compiled archive of files plus metadata, installed directly onto your system. It relies on shared libraries already present on your system, or pulled in via APT. Snap is a newer, self-contained format that bundles its own dependencies and runs sandboxed - in an isolated environment, independent of your system's installed libraries. The difference shows up immediately in install size, startup speed, and how updates happen. (Flatpak is the third sandboxed option you'll run into - see Snap vs Flatpak if that's the comparison you actually need.)

Quick answer: .deb is the traditional Debian package format - smaller, faster to start, and installed directly onto your system. Snap is newer and sandboxed (isolated from the rest of your system), with automatic updates but a larger footprint. Use .deb for lean, native performance; use Snap for automatic updates and cross-version consistency.

Setup

Installing a .deb package

Direct install of a downloaded .deb file:

sudo dpkg -i package-name.deb
sudo apt install -f     # fixes any missing dependencies dpkg couldn't resolve

Or, more commonly, straight from a repository via APT:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install package-name

Installing a Snap

sudo apt install snapd     # if not already present
sudo snap install package-name

Practical Examples

Installing Firefox via .deb/APT:

sudo apt install firefox

On current Ubuntu releases, this actually installs a Snap under the hood by default. It's a good example of how the two formats have started overlapping in ways that surprise users. To force the traditional .deb version, use Mozilla's own PPA - a "Personal Package Archive," a third-party repository that APT can install from:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa
sudo apt install firefox

Installing Firefox explicitly as a Snap:

sudo snap install firefox

Comparing install sizes:

dpkg -s firefox | grep Installed-Size
snap list firefox

You'll typically see the Snap version reporting a larger footprint, since it bundles its own runtime dependencies rather than relying on libraries your system already has installed via .deb packages.

Checking what package format an installed app is using:

dpkg -l | grep <app-name>     # lists .deb-installed packages
snap list | grep <app-name>   # lists Snap-installed packages

Common Mistakes

• Not realizing Ubuntu silently redirects some APT installs to Snap. Running apt install firefox or apt install chromium-browser on recent Ubuntu versions installs a Snap package via an APT shim, not a native .deb. This is confusing if you specifically wanted the traditional format.

• Manually resolving .deb dependency errors with apt-get install -f and not understanding what changed. This command fixes broken dependencies by installing whatever APT determines is missing, which can occasionally pull in different versions than expected.

• Assuming .deb and Snap installs of the same app share configuration or data. They don't. A Snap app's config lives in an isolated directory under ~/snap/, separate from the config a .deb-installed version would use in ~/.config/.

• Downloading a .deb file built for the wrong architecture or distro version. Unlike Snap, which is largely architecture - and distro-agnostic once built, .deb packages are often built for a specific Ubuntu/Debian release. They may fail to install, or behave incorrectly, on a different one.

• Removing a Snap with apt remove. Since Snaps aren't APT packages, you need sudo snap remove <name> instead - apt remove won't find or uninstall it.

Benefits

.deb benefits:

• Smaller install size per app, since shared libraries aren't duplicated

• Fast, near-native startup - no sandbox layer or compressed image to mount

• Long-established tooling (dpkg, apt, apt-cache) with decades of documentation and community troubleshooting

• Full, direct system integration by default

Snap benefits:

• Sandboxed by default, limiting what a misbehaving or compromised app can touch

• Consistent behavior across different Ubuntu versions and even other distros

• Automatic background updates without needing apt upgrade

• Easier to get the very latest upstream version without a PPA

Comparison at a Glance

If you're deciding between Snap and other sandboxed formats rather than the traditional .deb, see our Snap vs Flatpak comparison for the fuller picture.

Conclusion

.deb and Snap represent two different philosophies for the same job. .deb trusts your system's shared libraries and stays lean and fast, while Snap trades some size and startup speed for sandboxing and cross-version consistency. Neither is objectively correct. A server or minimal install typically leans on .deb/APT for its smaller footprint and native speed. A desktop user who wants automatic updates and isolation for GUI apps often ends up with a mix of both, sometimes without realizing it.

The most important habit is simply knowing which format an app is installed as, since removal, configuration location, and update behavior all differ between the two.

Related Reading

• Flatpak vs APT: Which Should You Use on Linux?

• Snap vs Flatpak: Full Comparison for Linux Users

• deb vs APT vs Snap vs Flatpak vs AppImage in Linux

• APT vs Snap: Differences and Use Cases