Cargo vs Poetry
Cargo
doc.rust-lang.orgPoetry
python-poetry.orgSide by side
| Figure | Cargo | Poetry |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#6) | 7.8 (#45) |
| Dependency management | Cargo downloads and builds package dependencies and helps ensure repeatable builds. | It installs and updates declared project libraries and provides a lockfile for repeatable installs. |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Extensibility | Cargo supports new subcommands without modifying Cargo itself. | Poetry supports plugins that can add or change functionality. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | Rust crates; crates.io packages; alternate registry packages; Git dependencies; local path dependencies | source distributions,wheels |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Cargo is the Rust package manager. | Poetry manages Python dependencies and packaging, installs and updates declared libraries, provides a lockfile for repeatable installs, and builds projects for distribution. |
| Supported platforms | Windows; macOS; Linux; other Unix-like systems | Linux,macOS,Windows |
Plans
In their own words
Cargo
Cargo is the free package manager and build tool for Rust, used through a command-line interface. It downloads dependencies, builds packages, and supports repeatable builds with lockfiles. Developers can compile, check, document, test, run, package, install, and publish Rust projects. The `cargo new` command creates a package, defaulting to a binary; adding `--lib` creates a library. Cargo uses crates.io by default and also handles alternate registries, Git dependencies, and local paths. Workspaces allow multiple packages to share a lockfile and output directory. Package features can enable conditional compilation and optional dependencies. In offline mode, Cargo avoids network access and attempts to use cached data. It supports authentication options for registries and new subcommands without modifying Cargo itself. Rustup installs Cargo with the stable Rust release, and installation instructions cover Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems. Cargo is open source under the MIT and Apache License, Version 2.0. Some documented capabilities remain unstable and require a nightly toolchain and `-Z` flags.