The best Python package managers, according to hackers
8 Python package managers were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended Python package managers with the badge. Each figure is 50 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Replaces pip, pyenv and venv
Replaces pip, pyenv and venv, installing the right Python version and running scripts with inline dependencies without manual setup, though some dislike its quirks and Astral's OpenAI ties.
Few problems in practice
Gives each Python project its own separate package environment, and many report few problems with it. Critics call it a hack and say it isn't relocatable out of the box.
Handles virtual environments automatically
Runs Python command-line tools in isolated environments so they stay separate and safe, with the virtual environment handled under the hood.
All 8 Python package managers, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | uv | 533 | 100 | 84% | 12 | 1 yr9 owners | Approved |
| 2 | pip | 46 | 95 | 33% | 12 | 8 yrs3 owners | — |
| 3 | Poetry | 20 | 30 | 40% | 8 | — | — |
| 4 | Python venv | 17 | 10 | 63% | 10 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | virtualenv | 10 | 5 | 67% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 5 | pipx | 10 | 1 | 91% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 7 | Fyn | 8 | 9 | 47% | 1 | — | — |
| 8 | Pipenv | 6 | 15 | 29% | 4 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same Python package manager in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to Python package managers that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
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