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PyInstaller VS py2exe

Compare PyInstaller VS py2exe and see what are their differences

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PyInstaller logo PyInstaller

PyInstaller is a program that freezes (packages) Python programs into stand-alone executables...

py2exe logo py2exe

A distutils extension to create standalone Windows programs from Python scripts.
  • PyInstaller Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20
  • py2exe Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-04

PyInstaller features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    PyInstaller supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to create executables for multiple platforms from a single codebase.
  • Single Executable
    PyInstaller can bundle a Python application and all its dependencies into a single executable, simplifying distribution as users do not need to install Python separately.
  • Easy to Use
    PyInstaller has straightforward commands and a simple configuration process, making it accessible even for those with limited experience in creating executables.
  • Customizable
    PyInstaller provides various options for customization, allowing developers to specify which files to include or exclude, add data files, and more.
  • Active Community
    PyInstaller benefits from an active community that contributes to its development and provides support through forums and other platforms.

Possible disadvantages of PyInstaller

  • Executable Size
    The executable files generated by PyInstaller can be large since they include the Python interpreter and all dependencies, which may not be ideal for applications with size constraints.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While PyInstaller supports many third-party Python packages, some packages may not work out of the box, requiring additional configuration or adjustments.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Like any software tool, PyInstaller can have bugs, especially with new or less common Python features, which may require troubleshooting or code workarounds.
  • Limited Optimization
    The executables produced by PyInstaller may not be as optimized in terms of performance as those created by more complex methods or tools specifically designed for performance enhancements.
  • Dynamic Module Loading
    Handling dynamic imports can be challenging with PyInstaller, requiring developers to manually specify hidden imports to ensure all dependencies are included.

py2exe features and specs

  • Windows Executable
    py2exe allows you to convert Python scripts into standalone Windows executables without requiring the end-user to have Python installed.
  • Distribution Simplicity
    It simplifies distribution by packaging all necessary Python libraries and dependencies into a single executable file.
  • Customizable
    Offers a range of customization options, including the ability to include or exclude specific modules and packages, allowing for tailored executable creation.
  • Active Community
    Has a supportive community and ample online documentation, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.

Possible disadvantages of py2exe

  • Windows Only
    py2exe only works for creating Windows executables, which means it's not a cross-platform solution.
  • Configuration Complexity
    The setup process can be complex, especially for projects with many dependencies or special requirements.
  • Not Ideal for Large Applications
    The resulting executables can be quite large since they include a Python interpreter and necessary libraries, increasing both size and startup time.
  • Limited Continuity
    Though still usable, py2exe has had less active development compared to some other tools like PyInstaller, which may lead to potential issues with newer Python features.

PyInstaller videos

+ Add

Archivo ejecutable en Python | Windows| PyInstaller |PyQT5| Python | ¡Muy fácil!

More videos:

  • Review - python hack #8 reverse shell espionage cmd fichier py en exe pyinstaller part2
  • Review - python hack #8 reverse shell espionage cmd fichier py en exe pyinstaller part1

py2exe videos

+ Add

Bypass Anti­Virus using Pyinstaller and py2exe (demo)

More videos:

  • Review - Python Py2exe Compiler Screen De-Constructed

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PyInstaller and py2exe)

PyInstaller

py2exe

Website Builder
76 76%
Website Builder
24% 24
Website Design
72 72%
Website Design
28% 28
CMS
64 64%
CMS
36% 36
Programming Language
64 64%
Programming Language
36% 36

User comments

Share your experience with using PyInstaller and py2exe. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PyInstaller seems to be a lot more popular than py2exe. While we know about 31 links to PyInstaller, we've tracked only 1 mention of py2exe. 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.

PyInstaller mentions (31)

  • Cosmopolitan v3.5.0
    Looking forward toward somebody hooking together Python in APE [0], something like pex [1]/shiv[2]/pyinstaller[3], and the pants build system [4] to have a toolchain which spits out single-file python executables with baked-in venv and portable across mainstream OSes with native (or close enough) performance. 0 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40040342 2 - https://shiv.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ 3 -... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Playable Sandbox Now Available
    Normally games made with pygame are not playable from the web. They can only be run from the command line or use PyInstaller or cx_Freeze to create a standalone executable. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Python GUIs
    I have found PyInstaller [1] to work well for packaging everything into a single ZIP file that unzips to a folder with an executable binary and all accompanying files (or even a single EXE file that self-extracts when run, but that increases startup time). It knows how to package PyQt and its associated Qt libraries (or PySide, which I actually prefer) so that they can be shipped with your application. [1... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Advice on turning tcod python game into something I can share with others?
    PyInstaller is the main way to build a Python executable. I'd recommenced bundling your program in the default one-folder mode and uploading it to Itch. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What's the best way to ship a Python script?
    There are tools, not from Python Software Foundation (or officially supported by them), such as Pyinstaller, that will try to produce a single executable file that you can distribute for people to install. Of course, this would depend on the controls on the end user devices allowing such an installation. There can be some compatibility challenges, but if you are using reasonably standard Python it shall probably... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

py2exe mentions (1)

  • Games
    Sounds like you are on Windows. I think something like https://py2exe.org/ will be what you are after. I'm on Mac / Linux systems only, so I can't really provide info on how to use it, but I know there are some good tutorials out there. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PyInstaller and py2exe, you can also consider the following products

cx_Freeze - cx_Freeze is a set of scripts and modules for freezing Python scripts into executables in much the...

nuitka - Nuitka is a Python compiler.

Inno Setup - Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.

Cython - Cython is a language that makes writing C extensions for the Python language as easy as Python...

Numba - Numba gives you the power to speed up your applications with high performance functions written...

bbfreeze - create stand-alone executables from python scripts

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