Best Python Package Managers in 2026
Updated
In short: ActiveState Platform is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Anaconda Notebooks and Hatch. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Anaconda Notebooks. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Anaconda Notebooks at $15/mo.
For Python projects, package managers help handle dependencies, environments, and the path from development to distribution. Compared on dependency groups, environment management, and lockfile support, the entries also cover package publishing, private registries, and supported platforms. Free plans and paid-from pricing add cost considerations. uv, Poetry, and PDM lead the ranking, followed by conda and Pixi among the first entries. Think about how you want to reproduce project environments and manage dependencies, as well as whether you publish packages or rely on private registries. The listed criteria let you weigh those needs against platform support.
27 Python package managers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | App | Score | From | Free plan | Paid from | Lockfile support | Environment management | Package publishing | Private registry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ActiveState Platform | 6.4 | Free | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 2 | Anaconda Notebooks | 6.4 | $15/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 3 |  Hatch | 6.4 | Free | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 4 |  pip-tools | 6.4 | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No | — | — | View |
| 5 |  Pixi | 6.4 | €42/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 6 | uv | 6.4 | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | View |
| 7 | Astral | 6.2 | Free | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 8 | Miniconda | 6.2 | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 9 | PDM | 5.9 | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | View |
| 10 | conda | 5.8 | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | View |
| 11 |  Poetry | 5.8 | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | View |
| 12 |  pip | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — | View |
| 13 |  Spack | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 14 |  Twine | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | No | No | Yes | Yes | View |
| 15 |  build | 5.3 | — | — | — | No | No | No | — | View |
| 16 |  conda-lock | 5.3 | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 17 |  Maturin | 5.3 | — | Yes | — | Yes | No | Yes | — | View |
| 18 |  micropipenv | 5.3 | — | Yes | — | Yes | No | No | Yes | View |
| 19 |  Miniforge | 5.3 | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 20 |  setuptools | 5.3 | — | Yes | — | No | No | No | — | View |
| 21 |  Buildout | 5.2 | — | Yes | — | Yes | No | No | — | View |
| 22 |  Flit | 5.2 | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | View |
| 23 |  Mamba | 5.2 | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 |  Rattler | 5.2 | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | View |
| 25 |  tox | 5.2 | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | View |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which Python package manager is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
ActiveState Platform is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 6.4. Anaconda Notebooks is second and Hatch third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Anaconda Notebooks has the lowest first paid tier we found: $15/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.