Overview

uv is a free Python package and project manager for developers who want to manage dependencies, environments, Python versions, scripts, and command-line tools in one place. Its wide scope and stated speed make it a strong candidate for Python workflows, provided its command differences and credential handling fit the way you work.

Built by Astral, uv is designed to take on tasks commonly handled by pip, pip-tools, pipx, Poetry, pyenv, twine, and virtualenv. The documentation describes it as 10–100x faster than pip, but that is not a promise of the same gain in every workflow. Its pip-compatible interface also differs in command details and behavior from the tools it draws on, so teams should account for adjustment when replacing established processes.

Browse our Python Package Managers and Package Managers directories for other options.

Key features

Project dependencies and environments

uv resolves dependencies and manages project environments, lockfiles, and workspaces. It works with source distributions, wheels, requirements.txt, and pylock.toml, and supports both private registry authentication and offline installation. That combination suits projects that need reproducible dependency management or work with internal package sources, including environments with limited connectivity.

Its default first-index strategy limits package candidates to the first index where a package is found, helping reduce dependency-confusion risk. Credentials are not stored in uv.lock; uv can use environment variables, URLs, netrc, and keyring for credentials. However, uv currently stores credentials in a plaintext file. Native system secret storage is available only as an experimental preview, so teams handling sensitive registry credentials should weigh that limitation before adopting it.

Python versions, scripts, and tools

uv can install, list, pin, and uninstall Python versions. It can also run Python scripts with dependencies and run or install command-line tools distributed through Python packages. These capabilities broaden its appeal beyond package installation: developers can consolidate more of their Python setup and day-to-day tooling in one manager.

Integrations and installation

Official integration guides cover Docker, Jupyter, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Pre-commit, PyTorch, FastAPI, Bazel, and package registries. uv uses rustls with aws-lc-rs for TLS and bundled Mozilla root certificates by default. It is distributed through a standalone installer, PyPI, Homebrew, MacPorts, WinGet, Scoop, Docker, GitHub Releases, and Cargo. On platforms without a prebuilt PyPI wheel, installing from PyPI requires a Rust toolchain to build from source.

Pricing

uv is free: its open-source Python package and project manager is free. There is no paid tier or trial to weigh against the free offering. The free plan is the tool itself, rather than a reduced edition with stated feature or usage caps.

Platforms

uv supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as CPython, PyPy, Pyodide, and GraalPy. Its package workflows cover source distributions, wheels, requirements.txt, and pylock.toml. The PyPI route has a practical caveat on platforms without a prebuilt wheel: building from source requires a Rust toolchain. Other installation routes include native package managers, Docker, GitHub Releases, and Cargo.

Who it's for

uv is a good fit for Python developers who want one manager for project dependencies, environments, Python versions, scripts, and command-line tools, especially when lockfiles, workspaces, offline installation, or private registries matter. Its supported platforms and integration guides also make it relevant to teams incorporating Python into varied development and automation workflows.

It is a less comfortable choice for workflows that depend on exact pip-like command behavior or require credentials to be stored in native system secret storage today. The experimental status of that storage and the current plaintext credential file deserve particular attention in organizations with strict secret-handling requirements.

Pros and cons

Broad Python tooling scope: It is designed to replace several separate package, environment, version, and command-line tool workflows.
Strong project management: Dependency resolution, lockfiles, workspaces, private registry authentication, and offline installation cover demanding project setups.
Wide compatibility: It supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, with CPython, PyPy, Pyodide, and GraalPy.
Command differences complicate migration: The pip-compatible interface does not exactly reproduce the commands and behavior of the tools uv draws on.
Credential storage is a material caveat: Credentials currently go to a plaintext file; native system storage remains experimental.
Some PyPI installs need build tooling: Platforms without a prebuilt wheel require a Rust toolchain to build from source.

Alternatives

Choose pip if you want the free Python package installer and do not need uv's broader project, environment, and Python-version management scope. For projects in another language or ecosystem, npm is the package manager to consider for public package authors, while Cargo is the free Rust package manager and build tool.

Yarn is another free package manager for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Gradle is a free open-source build system, and Apache Maven is a free option for Java builds that require JDK 8 or later for Maven 3.10. For PHP dependency management, consider Composer. Hex is an alternative package registry with an open-source plan for public packages.

Verdict

Choose uv if you want a free, broad Python manager that brings dependencies, environments, Python versions, scripts, and command-line tools together, with lockfiles and workspaces for project management. Look elsewhere if your workflow requires close command-for-command compatibility with existing tools or dependable native secret storage now: the interface differs, and system secret storage is still experimental.

	RPM	uv
Free plan		Yes
Free trial		No
Paid from		Free
Platforms	Linux	Linux, macOS, Windows
Package formats	RPM v4, RPM v6	source distributions, wheels, requirements.txt, pylock.toml
Supported platforms	Linux	macOS, Linux, Windows, CPython, PyPy, Pyodide, GraalPy
Dependency resolution	No	Yes
Free plan		Yes
Lockfile support		Yes
Workspace support		Yes
Private registry auth		Yes
Offline installation		Yes

RPM vs uv

RPM

uv