Ever since I started using addons I think in 2008, I’ve just been downloading the files and then copy/paste into the addons folder and never looked into getting software like twitch or curse client, am I the only one that still does this? And is it much better to use software instead? What are the benefits? Because everyone seems to use them, but lately I also see people having allot of problems with them too.
What are you’re opinions on this? I’m just curious.
Keeps them up to date. Dunno what problems people have, Ive never had any
Never had any problems with addons out of date, except elvui/dbm. Both of them give you a message in ya chat box saying they need updsting though. Stuff like damage meters, bag addons, profession stuff never seen any issues.
Just use WowUp.
When you have more than 0 addons, I’d highly recommend to use software to manage it for you. Saves you a lot of time to check if it’s out of date or not, and manual actions to install it.
I’ve always done this and intend to keep doing so. I don’t trust auto-updaters for mods as distribution chains can get infected by malware (and have been numerous times in the past.)
They also pack adverts and other unwanted stuff in.
Whereas - just download the zip and point it to extract to the right folder, which is quick to do as most zip programs remember previously used locations!
They fetch the exact same zip archive as you manually download 
If you only have a handful of addons that you update once in a while, then doing so manually is perfectly fine. I have over a hundred addons, and I like to keep them up to date, because then I get the bugfixes, new features, and so on. Some of the addons I use (rio chief among them) really benefit from daily updates.
An Addon manager will show me which addons have an update, I don’t need to go and check each one by hand. It allows me to update the ones I select, or all of them at once. It allows me to select between stable/beta/alpha channels, which is really helpful around major content patches, or when you’re playing Retail and Beta too.
As others said, the addon managers download the same zip anyway.
WowUp doesn’t.
Quick, for one addon. Try updating a dozen at a time. With an addon manager, that’s literally a single press of a button, and ~30 seconds later, they’re all updated.
While normally most addons do not need updates, and you can get by with not updating all too often, prior to a new content patch (or expansion), and for a while after, updating some of the addons regularly can help a lot. Bossmods, rare trackers, bag filters, that kind of stuff - those see quite a bit of updates around these times. Having an addon manager makes updating a breeze, at the times when it matters. And when updating doesn’t matter, you don’t need to run the addon manager either.
If it works don’t fix it. Updating manually the addons you use is just fine unless there are just too many.
Ah yes, dont trust the app that downloads the zip file for you.
But dont worry, the zip file is 100% trust worthy o.0
I have used the Curse app then twitch for years and never had any malware or anything like that from it.
I sarted using twitch for this when i get into m+ and started with rio, before i had just bunch of addons which were updated once per big patch and they were fine, but with rio needing update every day i kinda gave up and its realy nice QoL to have addon updater.
I used overwolf once and wasnt satisfied, so ill most likely end up with wowup or wait for overwolf feedback from common people…
For what its worth, most malware comes from the ads served (also served on the website, unless you use an adblocker), or come bundled with the client. Rarely do they come from the downloaded zip.
I am not using addon managers and keep the number of addons to a minimum. Blizzard continuously improve the stock UI so I don’t feel like I need much extras. My current list of addons is just two, and both update very infrequently.
Check the listed CRC against the ZIP
At that point, it’s easier to use an addon manager which also checks the listed checksum against the real one.
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