Software Alternatives & Startups

wxPython VS CustomTkinter

Compare wxPython VS CustomTkinter and see what are their differences

wxPython

wxPython is a GUI toolkit for the Python programming language.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
CustomTkinter

CustomTkinter is a python desktop UI-library based on Tkinter, which provides modern looking and fully customizable widgets.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, CustomTkinter seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1 time since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 1
Rapid Application Development popularity
62% vs 38%
alternatives listed
52 vs 22

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

wxPython
CustomTkinter
Website wxpython.org customtkinter.tomschimansky.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

wxPython 5 features
CustomTkinter 5 features
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    wxPython is built on the wxWidgets C++ library, which supports multiple platforms, allowing developers to create applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux with minimal changes to the codebase.
  • Native Look and Feel
    Applications built with wxPython use native UI elements provided by the operating system, resulting in a more consistent and authentic look and feel across different platforms.
  • Rich Set of Widgets
    wxPython offers a wide range of widgets and controls, enabling developers to build complex and feature-rich GUIs with various functionalities and levels of customization.
  • Strong Community Support
    wxPython has been around for a long time and has accumulated a robust community. This support provides ample resources, tutorials, and examples that can assist developers in utilizing the library effectively.
  • Continuing Development
    wxPython continues to be actively developed and maintained, ensuring that it receives regular updates, bug fixes, and improvements to keep it viable for modern applications.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For beginners, wxPython can be more challenging to learn compared to other Python GUI libraries because of its comprehensive and sometimes complex API.
  • Larger Application Size
    Applications built with wxPython tend to have larger file sizes compared to those made with some other GUI libraries, potentially impacting distribution and storage demands.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    While wxPython excels in desktop application development, it offers limited support for mobile platforms, making it less suitable for developers looking to target mobile devices.
  • Dependency Overhead
    wxPython introduces additional dependencies that need to be managed, which can be cumbersome for developers aiming for lightweight applications or those trying to reduce build complexity.
  • Platform-specific Bugs
    Due to its reliance on native components, wxPython applications might encounter platform-specific bugs or inconsistencies that require platform-specific workarounds or additional testing.
  • Modern UI Appearance
    CustomTkinter provides a modern, flat, and visually appealing look for Tkinter applications, with rounded corners, better color schemes, and improved widget styling compared to standard Tkinter.
  • Easy Transition from Tkinter
    Since it's built on top of Tkinter and uses similar syntax and widget names, developers familiar with Tkinter can easily transition to CustomTkinter without a steep learning curve.
  • Built-in Dark and Light Mode
    CustomTkinter supports automatic and manual switching between dark and light appearance modes, making it easy to create apps that adapt to system themes or user preferences.
  • Customizable Themes
    The library allows for extensive customization through theme files (JSON), enabling developers to create and apply custom color schemes and styles across their entire application.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    CustomTkinter works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent look and feel across different operating systems, which is an improvement over native Tkinter's platform-dependent appearance.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Widget Set
    Compared to more mature GUI frameworks like PyQt or Kivy, CustomTkinter offers a smaller set of widgets, which may require additional custom development for complex applications.
  • Performance Overhead
    The additional styling and rendering logic on top of Tkinter can introduce slight performance overhead, especially in applications with many widgets or frequent UI updates.
  • Dependency on Tkinter Limitations
    Since it's built on Tkinter, CustomTkinter inherits some of Tkinter's inherent limitations, such as less flexible layout management and fewer built-in animations compared to modern frameworks.
  • Smaller Community and Ecosystem
    As a relatively newer library, CustomTkinter has a smaller community, fewer third-party extensions, and less extensive documentation compared to more established GUI frameworks.
  • Occasional Bugs and Inconsistencies
    Being under active development, users may encounter occasional bugs, inconsistent behavior across platforms, or breaking changes between version updates that require code adjustments.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

wxPython
CustomTkinter

No analysis of wxPython yet.

Overall verdict

  • CustomTkinter is a solid choice for Python developers who want to build modern-looking desktop GUIs without leaving the familiar Tkinter ecosystem. It provides a good balance between ease of use and visual polish, making it especially attractive for smaller to medium-sized projects.

Why this product is good

  • Built on top of standard Tkinter, so it's easy to learn if you already know Tkinter
  • Provides modern, flat-styled widgets with rounded corners and better default aesthetics than vanilla Tkinter
  • Supports light and dark mode theming out of the box, including system theme detection
  • Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Actively maintained with regular updates and a growing community
  • Free and open-source with a permissive license
  • Good documentation and examples to help beginners get started quickly
  • Customizable color themes and widget appearance without needing CSS-like styling

Recommended for

  • Python developers who want a quick way to modernize Tkinter-based UIs
  • Hobbyists and students building desktop apps for personal or academic projects
  • Small business or indie developers creating internal tools or utilities
  • Developers who prefer lightweight GUI frameworks over heavier alternatives like PyQt or Kivy
  • Projects that need dark mode support without complex theming systems
  • Anyone already familiar with Tkinter looking for an easy upgrade path

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

wxPython 3 videos + Add
CustomTkinter 0 videos + Add

Python Top 3 GUI Frameworks In 2019 (PyQt5, wxPython, TKinter)

More videos

  • - Starting on a GUI: WXpython vs Kivy #MP55
  • - How To Create Panel In wxPython GUI Programming #2

No CustomTkinter videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
wxPython
CustomTkinter
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
IDE
100% 100%
65% 65%
35% 35%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

wxPython no reviews yet
CustomTkinter no reviews yet

We have no reviews of CustomTkinter yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

wxPython 0 mentions
CustomTkinter 1 mention

Tracking wxPython since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to wxPython and CustomTkinter

When comparing wxPython and CustomTkinter, you can also consider the following products.