Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Python Package Managers

conda vs pip

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score conda #4 in Python Package Managers 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit conda
pip #5 in Python Package Managers 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit pip

conda leads on 0 checks, pip on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreconda · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth

conda scores higher on our rubric for python package managers: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

conda is the better fit for cross-platform Conda package management. pip is the better fit for standard PyPI installation and dependency workflows.

  • conda fits best

    Cross-platform Conda package management

  • pip fits best

    Standard PyPI installation and dependency workflows

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature conda 8.8/10 Visit ↗ pip 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #4 in Python Package Managers #5 in Python Package Managers
Best for Cross-platform Conda package management Standard PyPI installation and dependency workflows
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features conda 1/5 · pip 1/5
Lockfile support ✓ ✓
Environment management Not checked yet Not checked yet
Package publishing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Private registry Not checked yet Not checked yet
Dependency groups Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Resolves dependencies and platform requirements
  • Creates isolated environments with cloning and rollback
  • Supports native lockfiles, private channels, and offline installation
  • Installs packages from PyPI, private indexes, VCS URLs, and local projects
  • Resolves dependencies and supports requirements and constraints files
  • Supports caching, private-index authentication, and offline wheelhouses
Cons
  • Uses .conda and .tar.bz2 package formats
  • Channel configuration adds an administrative decision
  • Bundled distributions and repositories may have separate terms
  • The pylock.toml lock command is experimental
  • Supported runtimes are CPython 3.10–3.15 and latest PyPy3
  • Its workflow is centered on command-line package installation
Our verdict

Conda is an open-source, cross-platform, language-agnostic binary package and environment manager. It installs and removes packages, resolves dependencies and platform requirements, and creates isolated environments for Python and other…

Read the review →

pip is an open-source command-line package installer for Python projects that need to obtain, resolve, and install dependencies. It fits teams working with PyPI, private package indexes, version-control systems, local project directories,…

Read the review →
  1. condaPython Package Managers 8.8Free plan
  2. pipPython Package Managers 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • conda — where it wins

    • Resolves dependencies and platform requirements
    • Creates isolated environments with cloning and rollback
    • Supports native lockfiles, private channels, and offline installation

    Where it doesn't

    • Uses .conda and .tar.bz2 package formats
    • Channel configuration adds an administrative decision
    • Bundled distributions and repositories may have separate terms

  • pip — where it wins

    • Installs packages from PyPI, private indexes, VCS URLs, and local projects
    • Resolves dependencies and supports requirements and constraints files
    • Supports caching, private-index authentication, and offline wheelhouses

    Where it doesn't

    • The pylock.toml lock command is experimental
    • Supported runtimes are CPython 3.10–3.15 and latest PyPy3
    • Its workflow is centered on command-line package installation
  • conda8.8/10 · Free plan

    An open-source manager for binary packages, dependencies, and isolated environments.

    Visit condaFull verdict →
  • pip8.6/10 · Free plan

    A capable open-source choice for standard PyPI installs and dependency workflows.

    Visit pipFull verdict →

More comparisons

All python package managers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update