Anvil

Overview

Anvil is a web-based development platform for building and deploying full-stack apps with Python. It suits developers who want a visual interface designer alongside Python code, built-in data storage and hosting options. Its integrated workflow is appealing, but the free tier’s single-developer and data caps constrain growth.

Key features

Design and develop in Python

A drag-and-drop designer handles interface layouts, while developers can write Python on both the client and server. An integrated debugger, profiler and Python environment tools round out the development setup; AI-assisted code intelligence may help with coding, though it does not replace the need to understand the application being built.

Data, connections and deployment

Data Tables provide a built-in database backed by Postgres, avoiding a separate database setup for many projects. The Free plan’s 50,000-row and 100 MB storage caps are workable for smaller apps, but call for an upgrade as data grows. A 30-second background-task timeout is another practical constraint for jobs that run outside the user-facing flow.

Apps can be published to Anvil hosting or exported to run on the open-source Anvil App Server. HTTP API support and Uplink, which connects external Python code to an app, give developers options for integrating Anvil into a wider system. Built-in authentication and email cover common app needs; documented integrations include Google, Microsoft Entra ID, Facebook, Stripe and Tableau, and Python SDKs can connect other services.

Mobile and security

Anvil apps are responsive on phones and tablets and can be installed as Progressive Web Apps on Android, iPhone and Chromebook, with offline operation. That makes Anvil useful for mobile access without a separate native-app workflow, but it remains a web-app platform. Anvil says its API removes common flaws such as injection, XSS and CSRF, and that its AI agents run in isolated sandboxes without access to a user’s infrastructure or local machine. Hosted infrastructure is in London on AWS eu-west-2.

Pricing

Anvil uses a freemium model. Free costs 0.00 USD per free, billed Free forever, and includes unlimited apps, cloud hosting, library installation, one developer, 50,000 Data Table rows and 100 MB of storage. It is a sensible starting point for solo projects, but excludes collaboration and imposes finite data limits.

Hobby is aimed at personal projects and one developer. It adds no Anvil banner, scheduled tasks, one custom domain, 150,000 Data Table rows and 10 GB of storage. Business is for professional use and supports one or more developers, app collaboration, in-app SSO and staging environments, with community support and 1,000,000 Data Table rows. Production adds private support, reserved resources, unlimited extra compute and SQL access to Data Tables; its support responds to development questions within 24 working hours. Enterprise offers private deployment, on-premises or cloud deployment, corporate authentication and full isolation.

Hobby, Business and Production prices are custom pricing: the pricing page shows multiple currency amounts under annual and monthly billing, but does not provide a price that can be stated unambiguously for these plans. Business and Production exclude VAT. Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales. For readers who need to budget before committing, Free is the only plan with a clearly stated price; paid-plan costs and billing terms should be confirmed before choosing.

Platforms

Anvil is an online IDE, and its apps are supported on web, iOS and Android, with responsive layouts and PWA installation. The platform’s broader listed environments include Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted use, as well as API access. The ability to export to the open-source Anvil App Server is useful for teams that want to run apps outside Anvil hosting.

Who it's for

Anvil is best suited to Python developers building web applications who value visual layout tools, integrated storage and a route from prototyping to deployment. Solo developers can start free; teams needing collaboration, SSO or staging should look to Business. Production is a better fit when reserved resources, SQL access or private support matter, while Enterprise addresses private deployment and corporate authentication. It is a weaker fit for someone seeking a conventional desktop Python IDE or a dedicated native mobile app tool.

Pros and cons

• Pros: One Python workflow for interface and server code. The visual designer and client- and server-side Python bring app construction into one environment.
• Pros: Built-in data and deployment choices. Postgres-backed Data Tables, Anvil hosting and export to the open-source server cover common development and hosting needs.
• Pros: Useful app-level capabilities included. Authentication, email, HTTP APIs, Uplink and documented service integrations reduce the need to assemble every connection separately.
• Cons: Free is limited to one developer. Collaboration requires a paid plan, making the free tier unsuitable for a shared team project.
• Cons: Free data and background limits can bind. The 50,000-row, 100 MB storage and 30-second background-task caps may restrict apps with growing datasets or longer-running work.
• Cons: Paid-plan costs are hard to compare upfront. The pricing display presents multiple currency and billing figures rather than a clear single price for each paid plan.

Alternatives

For a broader view of tools in this category, browse Python IDEs or Low-Code Development Platforms.

For mobile Python work, Juno is an iOS option, while Pydroid 3 is an Android option. QPython is a free Android Python IDE; its standard edition costs 0.00 USD per free, while its plus edition has extended Android permissions. On iOS, Pythonista and Pyto are paid options, with Pyto also available on macOS.

For desktop development, Eric is a free option for Linux, macOS and Windows, and PyScripter is a free Windows option for Python ≥3.8. Positron is a free desktop option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

Verdict

Choose Anvil if you want to build and deploy full-stack web apps in Python with visual UI design, built-in data and integrated hosting. Its free plan makes it accessible for individual projects, but data caps, the single-developer limit and unclear paid-plan prices are good reasons to look elsewhere if you need team collaboration or predictable costs from the outset.