betterproto2
A better Protobuf / gRPC generator & library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are starting a new async gRPC project in Python 3.10+ and want modern, readable generated code with type support. Conditional caution: the project explicitly warns of active development and potential breaking changes, so pin versions carefully and review release notes before upgrading. Not suitable if you require long-term API stability or need to support Python versions below 3.10.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or higher; Protobuf 3 and a protoc compiler setup.
- Low install friction with only two lightweight runtime dependencies (python-dateutil and typing-extensions).
- Active maintenance with recent commits; however, the project is in active development and explicitly warns of potential breaking changes.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; attribution required.
last release 2026-05-10 (96 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-01 · 170 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 916,789 downloads/mo, #4,728 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install betterproto2
import betterproto2
# Generated code uses modern Python dataclasses and async/await- Whether generated code is fully compatible with existing protoc-generated code in mixed projects
- Current state of Pydantic model generation support and completeness
- Scope and timeline of documented breaking changes still expected during active development
What it is and what it does
Betterproto2 is a code generator and runtime library that converts Protobuf and gRPC definitions into readable, idiomatic Python code. Unlike the official Google protoc plugin, it generates modern Python using dataclasses, type hints, async/await syntax, and timezone-aware datetime objects, making the output both more Pythonic and easier to work with in contemporary codebases.
The library targets Protobuf 3 and modern Python (3.10+), and can generate Pydantic models alongside standard dataclasses. It handles both binary and JSON serialization natively. The project is a ground-up redesign of the original betterproto, still in active development with known breaking changes possible; it trades stability for the ability to fix bugs and add features the official plugin lacks.
Use it for
- Building async gRPC services in Python where the official protoc plugin's lack of native async support is a blocker.
- Generating type-checkable Protobuf message classes that work seamlessly with mypy and IDE code completion.
- Creating Pydantic-compatible models from Protobuf definitions for validation and serialization in modern frameworks.
- Modernizing Protobuf workflows to use Python idioms (e.g., None instead of special wrapped types, datetime instead of Timestamp).
- Replacing Google's protoc plugin when import path issues or name-clash bugs affect your project.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are starting a new async gRPC project in Python 3.10+ and want modern, readable generated code with type support.
Conditional caution: the project explicitly warns of active development and potential breaking changes, so pin versions carefully and review release notes before upgrading. Not suitable if you require long-term API stability or need to support Python versions below 3.10.
Install
betterproto2 on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with only two lightweight runtime dependencies (python-dateutil and typing-extensions). Active maintenance with recent commits; however, the project is in active development and explicitly warns of potential breaking changes.
Requires Python 3.10 or higher; Protobuf 3 and a protoc compiler setup.
License in practice
MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; attribution required.
Quickstart
pip install betterproto2
import betterproto2
# Generated code uses modern Python dataclasses and async/awaitVerify before relying
- Whether generated code is fully compatible with existing protoc-generated code in mixed projects
- Current state of Pydantic model generation support and completeness
- Scope and timeline of documented breaking changes still expected during active development
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release <4.0,>=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespython-dateutiltyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 96 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 916,789 / month, #4,728 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: betterproto2-0.10.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also betterproto2-compiler · betterproto-rust-codec · betterproto · betterproto-fw · aristaproto · protobuf-py · envoy_data_plane · grpc-gateway-protoc-gen-openapiv2 · protoc-gen-openapiv2 · protobuf-py-ext