Mimesis
Mimesis is a free, open-source Python library for generating synthetic data across languages and locales.
What Mimesis is
Mimesis is a free, open-source Python library for generating synthetic data across languages and locales. It can create names, addresses, dates, phone numbers, email addresses, financial data, and other values for uses such as populating databases, creating JSON or XML files, anonymizing production data, or generating Pandas dataframes. It supports 47 locales. Schema-based generators can produce related datasets with foreign keys and nested schemas, and users can add custom data providers and field handlers. The library is fully typed, with editor autocompletion across most of its API. It is distributed as a Python package, with installation instructions for pip, Poetry, and Jupyter. Current documented compatibility is Python 3.10 or higher, including PyPy 3.10; Mimesis 11.1.0 is the final version compatible with Python 3.8 and 3.9. It has no hard dependencies, though pytz is needed for timezone support in some Datetime provider methods. The MIT License permits use, modification, and distribution under its stated conditions. The creators describe it as intended for legitimate testing.
Good
- Generates data across 47 locales.
- Schema generators support nested and related datasets.
- Custom providers and field handlers can be added.
- The library has no hard dependencies.
Watch out
- Current documented compatibility starts at Python 3.10.
- Python 3.8 and 3.9 compatibility ends at Mimesis 11.1.0.
- Some timezone methods need pytz.
Who it suits
Mimesis suits Python developers who need synthetic data for databases, files, anonymization, or dataframes. It is also relevant to users who need structured or related test datasets across multiple locales.
Verdict
Mimesis provides flexible synthetic data generation for Python projects, including schema-based and related datasets. Check its Python compatibility and the pytz requirement if you need timezone support.
Plans and prices
From Mimesis's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Mimesis | Free | No paid plans stated · Free software under the MIT License |
The facts
Each one read from Mimesis's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Compatibility
- The current documented compatibility is Python 3.10 or higher, including PyPy 3.10; the final versions compatible with Python 3.8 and 3.9 are Mimesis 11.1.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can add custom data providers and custom field handlers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Data types
- It can generate names, addresses, dates, phone numbers, email addresses, financial data, and other values.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- Mimesis has no hard dependencies, though pytz is needed for timezone support in some Datetime provider methods.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Disclaimer
- The creators say Mimesis is designed to facilitate testing and intended for legitimate use, and should not be used for illicit purposes.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The project is installed as a Python package, including with pip, and the documentation also gives Poetry and Jupyter installation instructions.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Editor support
- Mimesis is fully typed and the documentation says it provides editor autocompletion across most of its API.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The documentation describes integration with factory_boy and says ORM integration is possible using third party libraries such as mimesis-factory.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- Mimesis is provided under the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its stated conditions.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Locales
- Mimesis supports 47 locales.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainers
- The documentation identifies Isaak Uchakaev and contributors as the maintainers and lists Likid Geimfari and Sobolev Nikita as maintainers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Mimesis is a Python library that generates fake but realistic data across multiple languages and locales.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Structured data
- Mimesis includes schema based generators and supports related datasets with foreign keys and nested schemas.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The documentation describes using Mimesis to populate databases, create JSON or XML files, anonymize production data, and generate Pandas dataframes.checked 4 Oct 2026
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