Best setuptools Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from Python package managers ranked against setuptools on the same published basis.
- 1setuptools vs ActiveState Platform
- 2setuptools vs pip-tools
- 3setuptools vs Pixi
- 4setuptools vs Anaconda Notebooks
- 5setuptools vs Hatch
- 6setuptools vs uv
- 7setuptools vs Astral
- 8setuptools vs conda-lock
- 9setuptools vs Miniconda
- 10setuptools vs PDM
- 11setuptools vs conda
- 12setuptools vs Miniforge
- 13setuptools vs Poetry
- 14setuptools vs pip
- 15setuptools vs Spack
- 16setuptools vs Twine
- 17setuptools vs Maturin
- 19setuptools vs build
- 20setuptools vs Mamba
- 21setuptools vs Rattler
setuptools alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ActiveState Platform | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | pip-tools | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 3 | Pixi | 7.3 | Free plan | €42/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 4 | Anaconda Notebooks | 7.2 | Free plan | $15/mo | Web |
| 5 | Hatch | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 6 | uv | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 7 | Astral | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 8 | conda-lock | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | Miniconda | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | PDM | 6.5 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 11 | conda | 6.4 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 12 | Miniforge | 6.4 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 13 | Poetry | 6.4 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 14 | pip | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Spack | 6.1 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 16 | Twine | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 17 | Maturin | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 19 | build | 5.9 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 20 | Mamba | 5.9 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 21 | Rattler | 5.9 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
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Questions about setuptools alternatives
What is the best alternative to setuptools?
ActiveState Platform, number 1 in Python package managers with a score of 7.9 out of 10. The others here: pip-tools, Pixi, Anaconda Notebooks and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to setuptools?
ActiveState Platform is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 10 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.