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Pillow
What it is
Pillow is a free Python library for opening, editing, and saving image files. It can identify and read more than 30 raster formats, while its write support is narrower and covers common interchange and presentation formats. Image operations include color transforms, enhancement, geometric transforms, and work with image sequences. The project aims to support current Linux, macOS, and Windows systems, and its version 12 support table covers Python 3.10 through 3.14. Installation is documented with pip using `python3 -m pip install --upgrade Pillow`. JPEG and zlib are required by default when building from source; additional libraries are used for WebP, JPEG 2000, color management, and complex text layout. Pillow uses the open-source MIT-CMU License. For untrusted image data, the project recommends restricting accepted formats, limiting inputs, and using sandboxing. Development and technical discussion take place through GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Gitter, with core maintainers described as volunteers. Commercial support and maintenance are available through a Sonar Subscription.
For and against
For
- Reads more than 30 raster formats
- Includes color and geometric transforms
- Supports current Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Version 12 supports Python 3.10 through 3.14
Against
- Write support covers fewer formats than read support
- Some capabilities require additional libraries
- JPEG and zlib are required for source builds
The verdict
Pillow provides image reading, writing, and processing capabilities for Python across major desktop systems. Its narrower write-format support and optional library requirements are useful to check against a project’s needs.
Who it suits
Pillow suits Python developers who need to open, edit, or save image files. Developers handling untrusted image data should also account for the project’s stated security guidance.
Plans and prices
Pillow
Open source software · optional commercial support and maintenance through Sonar Subscription
Read 30 Sep 2026 · python-pillow.org
On the record
- Commercial support
- The project says commercial support and maintenance for Pillow are available as part of the Sonar Subscription.python-pillow.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Ecosystem use
- The project site names Django, Wagtail, Home Assistant, and Matplotlib as projects that use Pillow for image-related tasks.python-pillow.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Image formats
- The library can identify and read over 30 raster file formats, while write support is less extensive and covers most common interchange and presentation formats.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Image operations
- The handbook covers image processing, color transforms, enhancement, geometrical transforms, and image sequences.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Install
- The project documents installation with pip using `python3 -m pip install --upgrade Pillow`.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- Pillow is licensed under the open source MIT-CMU License.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Optional features
- Some capabilities require external libraries; JPEG and zlib are required by default when building from source, while WebP, JPEG 2000, color management, and complex text layout use additional libraries.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Pillow adds image processing capabilities to Python for opening, editing, and saving image files.python-pillow.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Python versions
- Pillow 12 supports Python 3.10 through 3.14 according to the version support table.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Security guidance
- The security documentation identifies parsing untrusted image data as Pillow’s primary attack surface and recommends mitigations such as format allowlists, input limits, and sandboxing.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Development and technical discussions are directed to GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Gitter, and the core maintainers are volunteers.python-pillow.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Supported systems
- The project aims to support current versions of Linux, macOS, and Windows, and documents platform-specific build and test targets.pillow.readthedocs.io · read 30 Sep 2026
- Vulnerability reporting
- The project directs users to report sensitive vulnerability information privately on GitHub, with a Tidelift contact as an alternative.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
