CustomTkinter vs FTXUI
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Python library that gives Tkinter GUIs a modern, customizable look, including dark mode.
Open source · MIT
A C++ library for building terminal user interfaces with no dependencies.
The short answer
Choose CustomTkinter if you need…
- Python developers who already know Tkinter and want a newer look
- Students building simple desktop apps in Python
- Developers who want built-in dark mode for a Python desktop tool
Choose FTXUI if you need…
- C++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal
- Developers who want a library with no external dependencies
- Projects that need layouts like boxes, grids, and flexible spacing in a console
- Developers who want to use the library through CMake, Bazel, vcpkg, or Conan
Side-by-side
| CustomTkinter | FTXUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 13.6k | 10.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | Python | C++ |
| Last code update | 4 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
CustomTkinter
CustomTkinter is a Python UI library built on top of Tkinter, the standard GUI toolkit that ships with Python. It provides replacement widgets that look more modern and can be customized, with a dark theme option based on the repository's description and topics. People use it to build desktop windows and applications in Python without learning a new GUI framework.
FTXUI
FTXUI is a C++ library that lets programmers draw interactive interfaces inside a terminal window, with layouts, colors, borders, buttons and mouse or keyboard input. It uses a functional style where the interface is described as a tree of elements. It is meant for building text-based tools that run in a console rather than in a graphical window.
Best for
CustomTkinter
- Python developers who already know Tkinter and want a newer look
- Students building simple desktop apps in Python
- Developers who want built-in dark mode for a Python desktop tool
FTXUI
- C++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal
- Developers who want a library with no external dependencies
- Projects that need layouts like boxes, grids, and flexible spacing in a console
- Developers who want to use the library through CMake, Bazel, vcpkg, or Conan
Strengths
CustomTkinter
- Built on Tkinter, so it relies on the standard library rather than a separate GUI engine
- Widely starred and actively maintained, with a recent push date listed in the metadata
- Released under the permissive MIT license
FTXUI
- The README states it has no dependencies
- It is available through many package managers and build systems, including CMake FetchContent
- It includes examples, documentation, tests, and a WebAssembly build of its examples
Not ideal for
CustomTkinter
- Web or mobile app developers, since this produces desktop GUIs only (inferred from the Tkinter base)
- Projects needing a large ecosystem of ready-made complex widgets, since the README was not available to confirm its widget set
FTXUI
- People who are not writing C++ code, since the README describes only a C++ library
- Projects needing a graphical desktop window, because FTXUI renders to the terminal
- Teams that need Windows support as a primary target, since the README lists Linux and macOS as the main targets with Windows added by contributors
Trade-offs
CustomTkinter
- The README was truncated, so detailed features, setup steps, and limitations could not be verified here
- Being based on Tkinter means it inherits that toolkit's constraints on styling and widget choice
FTXUI
- It is a C++ library, so you need to be comfortable with C++ and a build system
- The README describes Windows support as added by contributors rather than as a main target
- The README is truncated here, so details about the full API and stability are not confirmed
Getting started
CustomTkinter
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/TomSchimansky/CustomTkinterFTXUI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ArthurSonzogni/FTXUIFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between CustomTkinter and FTXUI?
CustomTkinter: A Python library that gives Tkinter GUIs a modern, customizable look, including dark mode. FTXUI: A C++ library for building terminal user interfaces with no dependencies. CustomTkinter suits python developers who already know tkinter and want a newer look, while FTXUI suits c++ developers who want interactive text-based tools in the terminal.
Are CustomTkinter and FTXUI free?
CustomTkinter: Free and open source. FTXUI: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, CustomTkinter or FTXUI?
CustomTkinter is easier to get started with (rated beginner); FTXUI is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is CustomTkinter or FTXUI more popular?
CustomTkinter has more GitHub stars (13.6k) than FTXUI (10.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to CustomTkinter and FTXUI?
Other options people compare them with include Kivy, Mantine, Textual, tview, Terminal.Gui.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.