conda vs pip
conda
conda.iopip
pip.pypa.ioSide by side
| Figure | conda | pip |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Python Package Managers | 7.8 (#12) | 8.3 (#3) |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 7.8 (#43) | 8.8 (#7) |
| Authentication | Conda supports authenticated channels through authentication handler plugins, including token and HTTP basic authentication workflows. | pip supports basic HTTP authentication, credentials from a .netrc file, and credentials stored in keyring when configured. |
| Dependency resolution | Yes | pip can determine and install package dependencies, and its resolver can backtrack when version choices are incompatible. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | Conda packages can contain system libraries, language modules, executable programs, and metadata, and use the .conda or .tar.bz2 file formats. | sdist,wheel |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Conda provides package, dependency, and environment management for any language. | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux | The current pip version is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and maintainers do not support other operating systems. |
Plans
In their own words
pip
pip installs Python packages from PyPI and other package indexes, as well as from version control URLs, local project directories, and source archives. It supports source distributions and wheels, resolves dependencies, and can install an environment specified in a requirements file. Its install command can produce a JSON report of installed packages. pip runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the current version supports CPython 3.10 through 3.15 and the latest PyPy3. Other operating systems and Python versions are not supported by its maintainers. It is commonly included in virtual environments and Python downloads from python.org; ensurepip and get-pip.py are also installation options. An experimental standalone zip application is available, but its documentation advises against production use. pip is free. It does not collect telemetry, though it sends non-identifying details such as Python version and operating system to the remote indexes it accesses. Remote tampering checks are not enabled by default; hash-checking mode and binary-only installs are listed as more secure options.