Anvil

Overview

Anvil is an online development environment for creating and deploying full-stack web apps with Python. It brings a visual interface designer, client-side and server-side Python, a built-in database and hosting options together. Developers can publish apps to Anvil’s hosting or export them to run on the open-source Anvil App Server.

The product is made by The Tuesday Project Ltd., which identifies itself as the company behind Anvil’s trademarks. Anvil says its hosted infrastructure runs on AWS in London, in the eu-west-2 region. Its scope extends beyond app code: it includes user authentication and email, and supports HTTP APIs as well as connections to external Python code through Uplink.

Anvil’s documented integrations include Google, Microsoft Entra ID, Facebook, Stripe and Tableau. Python SDKs can also connect services. The product is available across a broad set of environments, while the apps it creates are responsive and can be used on phones and tablets.

Key features

Visual design and Python development

The drag-and-drop UI designer lets developers arrange an app’s interface, then add behavior using Python on both the client and server. Anvil also lists an integrated debugger, an integrated profiler, code intelligence, and Python environment tools. Code intelligence is identified as AI-assisted.

Data and deployment

Anvil’s Data Tables are a built-in database backed by Postgres. Apps can remain on Anvil hosting or be exported for the open-source Anvil App Server, giving teams a choice between hosted and self-managed deployment. HTTP API support and Uplink provide ways to expose app functionality or connect code running outside Anvil.

The Free plan sets concrete ceilings for Data Tables: 50,000 rows and 100 MB of storage. It also limits background tasks to a 30-second timeout. Those limits matter when deciding whether a free deployment can accommodate an app’s data and workload.

Authentication, email and security

Apps can use built-in user authentication and send and receive email. Anvil says its API is designed to remove common security flaws, including injection, cross-site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). It also states that its AI agents run in isolated sandboxes without access to a user’s infrastructure or local machine.

Mobile access and integrations

Anvil apps adapt to phone and tablet screens. According to its FAQ, they are Progressive Web Apps that can be installed on Android, iPhone and Chromebook, and can operate offline. For third-party services, Anvil documents integrations with Google, Microsoft Entra ID, Facebook, Stripe and Tableau, with Python SDKs available for connecting other services.

Pricing

Anvil describes its pricing model as freemium, and its Free plan is listed as free, billed Free forever. It includes unlimited apps, cloud hosting, the ability to install any library, one developer, 50,000 Data Table rows and 100 MB of Data Table storage.

The pricing information for paid plans is not sufficiently clear to state a single price for each plan. The Hobby plan is marked as billed annually and shows figures of 12 / 10 / 14 under Annual and 13 / 11 / 15 under Monthly, with USD, GBP and EUR selectors. It is for personal projects and one developer, and includes no Anvil banner, Scheduled Tasks, one custom domain, 150,000 Data Table rows and 10 GB of Data Table storage.

Business is marked as billed annually and displays 89 / 79 / 99 under Annual and 99 / 87 / 109 under Monthly, with the same currency selectors; VAT is excluded. Its listed features include professional use, one or more developers, app collaboration, SSO in apps, staging environments, community support and a 1,000,000 Data Table row allowance.

Production is also marked as billed annually. It displays 1050+220 / 900+190 / 1200+250 under Annual and 1150+240 / 990+210 / 1320+275 under Monthly, with currency selectors; VAT is excluded. Listed inclusions are private support, reserved resources, unlimited extra compute, SQL access to Data Tables and isolated infrastructure. Anvil says Production support responds to development questions within 24 working hours.

Enterprise pricing is by contacting sales. Its listed deployment and access options include private deployment on-premises or in the cloud, corporate authentication and full isolation.

Platforms

Anvil lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API and self-hosted availability. The supported-platform listing also names web, iOS and Android. Its installable Progressive Web Apps provide a route to mobile use without requiring a separate native app, and the FAQ states they can work offline.

Who it's for

Anvil fits developers who want to build full-stack web apps in Python while using a visual designer for interface layout. Its built-in database, authentication, email and hosting can suit projects that need several common app components in one development environment. Uplink, HTTP APIs, documented integrations and Python SDK connections are relevant when an app needs to work with external code or services.

The free tier offers a way to start without a listed charge, but its one-developer setup, data caps and 30-second background task timeout are important constraints. Hobby is oriented toward personal projects, while Business lists collaboration, SSO and staging. Production adds private support and reserved resources; Enterprise is the option described for private, isolated deployment.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Python is used on both client and server sides; the visual designer, Postgres-backed Data Tables, hosting, authentication and email are included in the platform.
• Pros: Apps can be hosted by Anvil or exported to the open-source Anvil App Server, and external code can connect through Uplink.
• Pros: Responsive Progressive Web Apps can be installed on listed mobile devices and, according to the FAQ, operate offline.
• Cons: The Free plan has explicit limits on Data Table rows, storage and background task duration.
• Cons: Paid-plan prices are shown as sets of figures with currency selectors rather than a single unambiguous amount in the supplied pricing details.
• Cons: Production support is a paid-plan feature; the response commitment given is within 24 working hours, not an immediate service.

Alternatives

Anvil belongs in the broader Python IDEs category and also overlaps with Low-Code Development Platforms. For other Python development environments, consider Eric, Spyder, Positron, Thonny, PyCharm, PyScripter, NINJA-IDE and Pyzo.

Verdict

Anvil combines Python application code with visual UI design, data storage and deployment options, aiming to cover much of the path from interface to hosted app in one environment. Its built-in authentication, email, API support and service connections extend that scope. The main practical considerations are the Free plan’s data and task limits and the unclear paid-plan price presentation. Developers seeking a Python-centered way to build responsive full-stack web apps may find its integrated approach useful, while teams choosing a paid plan should confirm the relevant currency and billing amount before committing.