pip
7.6#4 in package managersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
Visitpip vs Tank
What both publish
| Fact | pip | Tank |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | pip supports basic HTTP authentication, credentials from a .netrc file, and credentials stored in keyring when configured. | Self-hosted Tank supports GitHub OAuth, any OIDC-compliant identity provider, or email and password. |
| Dependency resolution | pip resolves dependencies and selects the latest version that satisfies the given constraints. | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | sdist,wheel | Tank supports seven skill primitives: instruction, hook, tool, agent, rule, resource, and prompt, which can be combined into bundles. |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. | Tank is a security-first package manager for AI agent packages and skills. |
| Supported platforms | The current pip version is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and maintainers do not support other operating systems. | Claude Code,Cursor,GitHub Copilot,Codex,Windsurf,OpenCode,Cline,Roo Code |
pip plans
- pipFree
Tank plans
- FreeFree
Pick pip if…
pip suits Python users who need to install packages from indexes, source archives, or project repositories. Its requirements-file, lockfile, and offline-installation support may be useful for managing environments.
Pick Tank if…
Tank suits developers and organizations managing AI-agent packages across its supported editors. It is especially relevant when package scanning, permissions, self-hosting, or private registries matter.