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.
Python package managers help you coordinate dependencies and development environments across projects. Compared on dependency groups, environment management, and lockfile support, they can be assessed against the way your team installs, pins, and organizes packages. Supported platforms may affect fit with your development setup, while package publishing and private registry support matter when you distribute software or rely on private packages. Free-plan availability and paid-from terms give you additional cost context. ActiveState Platform, Hatch, and Pixi are among the options shown. Consider which environment and release workflows you need, and use the listed platform and registry details to narrow your choices.
27 Python package managers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Python Package Managers, one module each. A lit port is something its maker publishes; 1 of the 25 on this page have a public API.
- 01 ActiveState Platform API yesOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 7.3Free
- 02 Anaconda Notebooks API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0$15/mo
- 03 Hatch API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 04 pip-tools API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 05 Pixi API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0€42/mo
- 06 uv API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 07 conda-lock API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 08 Astral API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 09 Miniconda API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 10 conda API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.6
- 11 PDM API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.6
- 12 Poetry API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.6
- 13 Miniforge API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.4
- 14 pip API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 15 Spack API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 16 Twine API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 17 build API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 18 Maturin API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 19 micropipenv API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 20 setuptools API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 21 Buildout API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 22 Flit API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 23 Mamba API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 24 Nox API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 25 Rattler API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
Is your platform 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 Inferse?
ActiveState Platform is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.3. Anaconda Notebooks is second and Hatch third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 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 on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.