pip vs Pipenv
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
The standard tool for installing Python packages from the Python Package Index.
Open source · MIT
A tool that manages a Python project's virtual environment and dependencies in one place.
The short answer
Choose pip if you need…
- Python developers who need to install and manage third-party libraries
- Students setting up a Python environment for coursework
- Anyone maintaining a requirements file for a Python project
- Teams that want a standard, widely used packaging tool
Choose Pipenv if you need…
- Python application developers who want one command set for environments and dependencies
- Teams that want reproducible installs from a lock file with hash checking
- People moving away from manually maintained requirements.txt files
- Developers working across Linux, macOS, and Windows
Side-by-side
| pip | Pipenv | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.3k | 25k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Python | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
pip
pip is the Python package installer, the command you use to add third-party Python libraries to your system or project. It downloads packages and their dependencies, typically from PyPI, so code others have written can be reused in your own programs. The README provided here was empty or truncated, so this description relies mainly on the repository's description and topics.
Pipenv
Pipenv is a command-line tool for Python projects that creates and manages a virtual environment for each project and tracks its packages in a Pipfile. When you install or remove a package, it updates the Pipfile automatically and writes a Pipfile.lock so that other people or machines can recreate the same set of versions. It is meant to combine pip and virtualenv into a single workflow.
Best for
pip
- Python developers who need to install and manage third-party libraries
- Students setting up a Python environment for coursework
- Anyone maintaining a requirements file for a Python project
- Teams that want a standard, widely used packaging tool
Pipenv
- Python application developers who want one command set for environments and dependencies
- Teams that want reproducible installs from a lock file with hash checking
- People moving away from manually maintained requirements.txt files
- Developers working across Linux, macOS, and Windows
Strengths
pip
- Maintained under the PyPA (Python Packaging Authority) organization
- Open source under the MIT license
- Widely used as the default Python package installer
Pipenv
- Keeps package declarations and exact locked versions in separate files with hash verification
- Handles the virtualenv lifecycle so users do not need to activate or manage it manually for most tasks
- The README states that Linux, macOS, and Windows are all supported
Not ideal for
pip
- People who do not use Python, since pip only manages Python packages
- Users who need a full environment and dependency manager in one tool, as the README provided did not confirm pip's scope beyond installing packages
Pipenv
- Users who already have a working workflow with pip-tools or Poetry and no reason to switch, since the README does not compare these tools
- Projects that are not Python, because the tool only manages Python environments
- Anyone needing a tool that runs on a system without Python 3.10 or newer, since the README states that is the minimum for installing Pipenv
Trade-offs
pip
- The README provided was truncated, so detailed features and commands could not be verified here
- Installing packages globally can cause version conflicts; using virtual environments is commonly advised but not confirmed by the README provided
Pipenv
- The README does not describe the project's current maintenance status beyond a recent last-push date, so long-term support is unclear from this text
- Some features depend on optional tools such as pyenv or asdf, which must be installed separately
- Shell completion setup changed in version 2026.5.0, so older guides may be out of date
Getting started
Pipenv
Install with pip (recommended for most users)
pip install --user pipenvAlternative install with pipx
pipx install pipenvFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between pip and Pipenv?
pip: The standard tool for installing Python packages from the Python Package Index. Pipenv: A tool that manages a Python project's virtual environment and dependencies in one place. pip suits python developers who need to install and manage third-party libraries, while Pipenv suits python application developers who want one command set for environments and dependencies.
Are pip and Pipenv free?
pip: Free and open source. Pipenv: Free and open source.
Is pip or Pipenv more popular?
Pipenv has more GitHub stars (25k) than pip (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to pip and Pipenv?
Other options people compare them with include Poetry, TSDX.
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.