Pillow

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Score7.0

Rank#6 of 36

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

Pillow is a free Python library for opening, editing, and saving image files. It can identify and read more than 30 raster formats, though its write support covers a narrower range focused on common interchange and presentation formats. Its image operations include color transforms, enhancement, geometric transforms, and work with image sequences. Pillow supports current Linux, macOS, and Windows systems; version 12 supports Python 3.10 through 3.14. It is distributed under the open-source MIT-CMU License, and installation is documented through pip. Some capabilities depend on additional libraries: JPEG and zlib are required by default when building from source, while WebP, JPEG 2000, color management, and complex text layout use optional libraries. The project identifies parsing untrusted image data as its primary attack surface and recommends safeguards such as restricting accepted formats, limiting inputs, and using sandboxing. Commercial support and maintenance are also available through a Sonar Subscription.

Who it is for

Pillow suits Python developers who need image file handling and processing on Linux, macOS, or Windows. It may also fit projects that need to read varied raster formats or transform image sequences.

What is good

Free under the MIT-CMU License.
Reads more than 30 raster formats.
Supports current Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Includes color and geometric transforms.
Can work with image sequences.

What to know first

Write support covers fewer formats than reading.
Some capabilities require additional libraries.
Untrusted image parsing needs safeguards.

Verdict

Pillow provides a broad set of image operations for Python without a listed software price. Review its format-writing coverage and optional library requirements for the tasks you need.

Pillow plans and pricing

All plans

Pillow Free Open source software · optional commercial support and maintenance through Sonar Subscription python-pillow.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on image converter software

Free plan: Yespython-pillow.org
Batch conversion: Yespython-pillow.org
Image resizing: Yespython-pillow.org
Color mode conversion: Yespython-pillow.org
API access: Yespython-pillow.org

Facts

Purpose: Pillow adds image processing capabilities to Python for opening, editing, and saving image files.python-pillow.org · 30 Sept 2026
Image formats: The library can identify and read over 30 raster file formats, while write support is less extensive and covers most common interchange and presentation formats.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Image operations: The handbook covers image processing, color transforms, enhancement, geometrical transforms, and image sequences.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
License: Pillow is licensed under the open source MIT-CMU License.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Install: The project documents installation with pip using `python3 -m pip install --upgrade Pillow`.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Supported systems: The project aims to support current versions of Linux, macOS, and Windows, and documents platform-specific build and test targets.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Python versions: Pillow 12 supports Python 3.10 through 3.14 according to the version support table.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Optional features: Some capabilities require external libraries; JPEG and zlib are required by default when building from source, while WebP, JPEG 2000, color management, and complex text layout use additional libraries.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Security guidance: The security documentation identifies parsing untrusted image data as Pillow’s primary attack surface and recommends mitigations such as format allowlists, input limits, and sandboxing.pillow.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
Vulnerability reporting: The project directs users to report sensitive vulnerability information privately on GitHub, with a Tidelift contact as an alternative.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: Development and technical discussions are directed to GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Gitter, and the core maintainers are volunteers.python-pillow.org · 30 Sept 2026
Commercial support: The project says commercial support and maintenance for Pillow are available as part of the Sonar Subscription.python-pillow.org · 30 Sept 2026
Ecosystem use: The project site names Django, Wagtail, Home Assistant, and Matplotlib as projects that use Pillow for image-related tasks.python-pillow.org · 30 Sept 2026