uv

Overview

uv is a Rust-based package and project manager for Python, best suited to developers who want dependencies, environments, Python versions, scripts, and command-line tools under one roof. Its breadth and documented speed make it a strong consolidation choice, provided you can accommodate some command differences and its current credential-storage limitation.

uv covers work often split among pip, pip-tools, pipx, Poetry, pyenv, twine, and virtualenv. Its documentation describes it as 10–100x faster than pip; that is a stated comparison, not a promise for every project. The pip-compatible interface eases adoption, but commands and behavior do not exactly match the tools it draws on, so existing workflows may need changes.

Compare it with other choices in our Python Package Managers and Package Managers directories.

Key features

Projects and dependencies

uv resolves dependencies and manages project environments, lockfiles, and workspaces. It supports source distributions, wheels, requirements.txt, and pylock.toml, as well as private registry authentication and offline installation. That combination suits both everyday Python projects and environments where network access or package sources are constrained.

Its default first-index strategy considers package candidates from the first index where a package is found, helping limit dependency-confusion risk. Credentials are not stored in uv.lock; authentication can use environment variables, URLs, netrc, or keyring. However, uv currently stores credentials in a plaintext file. Native system secret storage exists only as an experimental preview, a meaningful concern for users handling sensitive registry access.

Python versions, scripts, and tools

uv can install, list, pin, and uninstall Python versions, and run scripts with dependencies. It can also run or install command-line tools distributed as Python packages. Developers who currently coordinate separate version, environment, and tool-running utilities may value having these jobs in one manager.

Compatibility and integrations

Official integration guides cover Docker, Jupyter, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Pre-commit, PyTorch, FastAPI, Bazel, and package registries. uv uses rustls with aws-lc-rs for TLS and bundled Mozilla root certificates by default. It supports macOS, Linux, and Windows, and works with CPython, PyPy, Pyodide, and GraalPy. On platforms without a prebuilt PyPI wheel, installing from PyPI requires a Rust toolchain to build from source.

Pricing

uv is free and open source: its uv plan costs nothing. There is no paid tier or trial to weigh against the core tool, making it a practical option for individual developers and teams that want Python package and project management without a software subscription.

Platforms

uv supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can be installed through a standalone installer, PyPI, Homebrew, MacPorts, WinGet, Scoop, Docker, GitHub Releases, or Cargo. Choose an installation route that fits your environment; PyPI users on platforms without a prebuilt wheel need Rust available to compile it.

Who it's for

uv is a good fit for Python developers who want one tool to manage project dependencies, environments, Python versions, scripts, and package-based command-line tools. Teams using private registries or working offline also get relevant support, with the caveat that current plaintext credential storage may not suit every security policy. Developers who rely on exact pip-family command behavior should account for differences before making it central to established workflows.

Pros and cons

• Broad Python workflow coverage: It can replace several separate package, environment, version, and tool-running utilities.
• Fast by design: The documentation’s 10–100x comparison with pip is attractive for users seeking faster package operations, though actual results will vary by workflow.
• Useful project controls: Dependency resolution, lockfiles, workspaces, offline installation, and private registry authentication cover common individual and team needs.
• Command differences: Pip compatibility is not exact, so scripts and habits built around other tools may need adjustment.
• Credential caveat: Credentials are currently stored in a plaintext file; native secret storage remains experimental.
• Source-build requirement in some cases: PyPI installation on systems without a prebuilt wheel requires a Rust toolchain.

Alternatives

Choose npm instead when your work centers on JavaScript packages and public package publishing; its free plan includes unlimited public packages and public registry access. Yarn is another free package manager for readers whose package workflow is not specifically Python-focused.

Cargo is the direct alternative for Rust package management and builds. For a free open-source build system, consider Gradle; for PHP dependency management, Composer is the relevant fit. pnpm and Conan are additional package-manager alternatives.

Pixi is worth comparing if its package-hosting plans better suit your needs: its open-source hosting plan includes a global CDN, 100GB of public packages, and unlimited channel users.

Verdict

Choose uv if you build in Python and want a fast, broad manager that brings dependencies, project environments, Python versions, scripts, and command-line tools together without a software fee. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on exact pip-family behavior or requires native credential storage today; uv’s current plaintext credential file is the clearest reason to pause.