Best setuptools Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from Python package managers ranked against setuptools on the same published basis.
- 1setuptools vs ActiveState Platform
- 2setuptools vs Anaconda Notebooks
- 3setuptools vs Hatch
- 4setuptools vs pip-tools
- 5setuptools vs Pixi
- 6setuptools vs uv
- 7setuptools vs conda-lock
- 8setuptools vs Astral
- 9setuptools vs Miniconda
- 10setuptools vs conda
- 11setuptools vs PDM
- 12setuptools vs Poetry
- 13setuptools vs Miniforge
- 14setuptools vs pip
- 15setuptools vs Spack
- 16setuptools vs Twine
- 17setuptools vs build
- 18setuptools vs Maturin
- 19setuptools vs micropipenv
- 21setuptools vs Buildout
setuptools alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ActiveState Platform | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Anaconda Notebooks | 6.0 | Free plan | $15/mo | Web |
| 3 | Hatch | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 4 | pip-tools | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | Pixi | 6.0 | Free plan | €42/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 6 | uv | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 7 | conda-lock | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 8 | Astral | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | Miniconda | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | conda | 5.6 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 11 | PDM | 5.6 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 12 | Poetry | 5.6 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 13 | Miniforge | 5.4 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 14 | pip | 5.2 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Spack | 5.2 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 16 | Twine | 5.2 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 17 | build | 5.1 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 18 | Maturin | 5.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 19 | micropipenv | 5.1 | No | — | — |
| 21 | Buildout | 5.0 | No | — | — |
The sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled and never changes the order above.
Questions about setuptools alternatives
What is the best alternative to setuptools?
ActiveState Platform, number 1 in Python package managers with a score of 7.3 out of 10. The others here: Anaconda Notebooks, Hatch, pip-tools and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to setuptools?
ActiveState Platform is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 9 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives 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.