The best replacement for spackle is joint compound.

The best alternatives to spackle are rated as following:
★★★★★  joint compound
★★★★  plaster
★★★★  mud
★★★★  caulk
★★★  putty
★★  wood filler
★★  compound
★  drywall compound
★  wood putty
★  patching plaster
★  drywall mud
★  skim coat
★  plaster of paris
★  mud drywall
  sheetrock mud
  painters putty
  polyfilla
  joint compound drywall
  joint compound use
  lightweight spackle
  bondo
  filler
  caulking
  glazing compound

Your alternative for spackle is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about spackle, one probably shouldn't forget about texture.

Other search terms related to spackle and their ratings are:
★★★★★ texture
You have in mind a companion for spackle and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of spackle in all years. Click on graph for more.
spackle
joint compound
plaster