Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GTK VS QT for Python

Compare GTK VS QT for Python and see what are their differences

GTK logo GTK

GTK+ is a multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces.

QT for Python logo QT for Python

Design GUI with Python: Python Bindings for Qt
  • GTK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • QT for Python Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

GTK features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    GTK supports multiple platforms including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it versatile for developing applications across different operating systems.
  • Rich Widget Set
    GTK provides a comprehensive set of widgets for GUIs, allowing developers to create complex and highly functional user interfaces.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, GTK offers developers the ability to inspect, modify, and distribute their modifications, fostering a community of collaboration and innovation.
  • Language Bindings
    GTK supports multiple programming languages through various bindings, including C, Python, and JavaScript, thereby offering flexibility to developers.
  • Consistent Look and Feel
    GTK strives to maintain a consistent look and feel across applications and platforms, providing a unified user experience.

Possible disadvantages of GTK

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For beginners, GTK can present a steep learning curve due to its comprehensive nature and the depth of its APIs.
  • Performance Overhead
    GTK applications can sometimes exhibit performance issues, especially on less powerful hardware, due to the extensive features and capabilities it includes.
  • Limited Native Support on macOS
    Although GTK is cross-platform, native support and integration on macOS can be limited compared to its support on Linux and Windows.
  • Heavy Dependencies
    GTK applications often require a significant amount of dependencies, which can lead to larger application sizes and more complex installation processes.
  • Documentation Quality
    While GTK has extensive documentation, the quality and depth can sometimes be inconsistent, which may hinder learning and troubleshooting for developers.

QT for Python features and specs

  • Comprehensive Framework
    Qt for Python provides a comprehensive set of libraries and functionalities for building complex and high-performance applications, making it a great tool for developers who need extensive capabilities in their applications.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    It allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and embedded devices, without significant modifications.
  • Consistent User Interface
    Qt for Python offers standardized widgets and UI components, ensuring that applications have a native look and feel on different platforms, enhancing the user experience.
  • Strong Community and Support
    A robust community and extensive documentation are available, which can be beneficial for learning, troubleshooting, and enhancing productivity.
  • Integration with C++
    Qt for Python can seamlessly integrate with existing C++ code, allowing developers to leverage the performance and features of C++ libraries.

Possible disadvantages of QT for Python

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and capabilities, Qt for Python may have a steep learning curve for beginners or developers who are new to the framework.
  • Complexity
    For simple applications, the complexity and overhead of the Qt framework might be overkill, making it less suitable for small-scale projects.
  • Licensing
    While Qt for Python is available under GPL and LGPL licenses, some features and tools are limited to commercial licenses, potentially increasing costs for commercial applications.
  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to native C++ Qt applications, Qt for Python might introduce a performance overhead due to the additional layer between Python and the Qt libraries.
  • Limited Native Python Feel
    Qt's C++ heritage sometimes means that the Python APIs may not feel as 'pythonic' as developers might expect, possibly requiring adjustments for Python developers used to a different programming style.

Analysis of GTK

Overall verdict

  • Yes, GTK is a good choice for developers looking to create cross-platform desktop applications. It is especially beneficial for those who prioritize open-source software and appreciate a well-documented, community-supported framework.

Why this product is good

  • GTK, which stands for GIMP Toolkit, is a highly versatile and widely-used open-source library for creating graphical user interfaces. It is praised for its ease of use, comprehensive documentation, and ability to produce visually appealing, native-looking interfaces across different operating systems. With a large community and a wealth of resources, GTK is continuously updated, ensuring it remains relevant for modern application development. Developers also appreciate its integration capabilities with various programming languages like C, C++, Python, and more.

Recommended for

  • Developers creating cross-platform desktop applications
  • Open-source software enthusiasts
  • Projects requiring consistent look and feel across different operating systems
  • Those seeking integration with programming languages like C, C++, and Python

GTK videos

GTK4 Is Here: Why You Should Even Care

QT for Python videos

No QT for Python videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GTK and QT for Python)
Development Tools
90 90%
10% 10
Developer Tools
78 78%
22% 22
Rapid Application Development
GUI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GTK and QT for Python

GTK Reviews

Best GUI frameworks for Go
The go-gtk package is a Go binding for the GTK toolkit. The package enables Go developers to use the GTK library in Go with similar features as the GTK library. The package is performant, well-documented, and actively maintained. The go-gtk package depends on the GTK library to function, and you’ll need to have GTK installed on your machine to build GUI applications in Go....

QT for Python Reviews

10 Best Python Libraries for GUI
Another top Python GUI library is PySide2, or QT for Python, which offers the official Python bindings for Qt (PySide2). It enables the use of its APIs in Python applications, and the binding generator tool can be used to expose C++ projects into Python.
Source: www.unite.ai

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GTK seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GTK mentions (6)

  • What GNOME needs to progress faster? (More contributors, money, better docs etc.)
    Wha? An example of a barebones GTK JavaScript app is right there on the front page. One click on the bindings link, will send you to the official GNOME-hosted GitLab repo for gjs, which in-turn, has links to official API documentation. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • GTK 4 & JavaScript - how to start?
    I think what is lacking is a kind of introduction similar to what you have written in your post now. Myself, I am totally new to GTK. I come as a user of Gnome. All I knew until today was that to develop applications for Gnome, preferably I should use something called GTK. And I heard so much about the recent version that came out - GTK 4. So I started to look for a Getting Started tutorial for GTK 4, to build... Source: over 4 years ago
  • GTK 4 & JavaScript - how to start?
    BTW, I think the GTK team should really step up their game in terms of how to encourage new people into their ecosystem. Seeing that windows screenshot in the official tutorial makes me think I'm dealing with some old technology. Also, the official gtk.org has two separate tutorials that show very similar applications being built. Source: over 4 years ago
  • CTA: We need Web Developers to Contribute to GNOME!
    Faces of GNOME Faces of GNOME is an initiative to create something similar to People of Mozilla / Mozillians which is a directory of active, current or past GNOME Contributors. Faces of GNOME (Current Demo HERE) aims to give a space for every GNOME Contributor, GNOME Foundation Member and more. It is being designed to showcase the list of current Maintainers, People that spoke at GNOME Conferences/Events, GNOME... Source: over 4 years ago
  • Software Engineering student looking to get started developing apps on the pinephone
    My advice is to basically learn how to write GTK apps using Python. Source: almost 5 years ago
View more

QT for Python mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of QT for Python yet. Tracking of QT for Python recommendations started around Apr 2023.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GTK and QT for Python, you can also consider the following products

wxWidgets - wxWidgets: Cross-Platform GUI Library

Kivy - Open source Python framework for rapid development of applications that make use of innovative user interfaces, such as multi-touch apps. Installation on WindowsInstallation on Windows. Installation; What are wheels .

Qt - Powerful, flexible and easy to use, Qt will help you not only meet your tight deadline, but also reduce the maintainable code by an astonishing percentage.

Tkinter - Tkinter is a Python wrapper for Tcl/Tk that offers classes to create various graphical user interfaces.

PyQt - Riverbank | Software | PyQt | What is PyQt?

WompMobile - WompMobile offers tow kind of functions – first creating new mobile apps and secondly converting the websites into mobile applications.