pip vs Swift Package Manager
pip
pip.pypa.ioSwift Package Manager
swift.orgSide by side
| Figure | pip | Swift Package Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Package Managers | 8.8 (#7) | 8.6 (#15) |
| Dependency resolution | pip can determine and install package dependencies, and its resolver can backtrack when version choices are incompatible. | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | sdist,wheel | source packages,system libraries,binary targets,package registry archives |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. | Swift Package Manager lets developers share code as packages, use other shared packages, and build, test, document, and run code. |
| Supported platforms | The current pip version is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and maintainers do not support other operating systems. | macOS,Linux,Windows; packages can target Apple platforms |
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.
Swift Package Manager
Swift Package Manager is a free tool for sharing Swift code as packages, using dependencies, and building, testing, documenting, and running code. A package uses a Package.swift manifest alongside source files, resources, and other assets. Packages can provide library, executable, or plugin products, and can depend on other Swift packages, system libraries, or binary dependencies. Commands such as swift build and swift test support builds and tests; package dependencies are resolved automatically when swift build or swift run is invoked. Plugins can add build capabilities or commands, including generating source files and resources, and run in a sandbox that blocks network and most file-system access unless the user approves additional permissions. Swift Package Manager works from the command line and is integrated into Xcode. It supports macOS, Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Amazon Linux, as well as Windows; tools on macOS can build for Apple platforms including iOS. Swift 6.4 made Swift Build the default build system in Swift Package Manager.