cx-Freeze
Create standalone executables from Python scripts
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. cx_Freeze is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive license, and solves a real problem—shipping Python applications as standalone executables. It's well-suited if you need cross-platform executable generation. The 9 runtime dependencies and requirement for Python 3.10 or later are reasonable trade-offs for the functionality provided.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later; platform-specific binary tools (patchelf on Linux, dmgbuild on macOS) must be available in the system environment.
- Low install friction with a pure-wheel distribution.
- Active maintenance with recent commits and a stable codebase.
License · maintenance · safety
PSF-2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under PSF-2.0 (Python Software Foundation License), a permissive license that allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it safe for most deployment scenarios.
last release 2026-04-13 (123 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 1,561 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 240,152 downloads/mo, #8,910 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install cx_Freeze
from cx_Freeze import setup
setup(
name="myapp",
version="0.0",
description="My application",
executables=[Executable("myapp.py")]
)- Exact behavior differences between frozen executables and original scripts under specific conditions.
- Performance overhead or size characteristics of generated executables compared to alternatives.
- Compatibility with other packaging tools for migration scenarios.
What it is and what it does
cx_Freeze is a tool that transforms Python scripts into standalone executables, eliminating the need for end users to have Python installed. It works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, preserving the original script's performance while bundling dependencies and the Python runtime into a single distributable binary.
The package integrates with setuptools and relies on platform-specific binary manipulation tools (patchelf, dmgbuild, lief) to handle the low-level work of creating native executables. It's designed for developers who need to ship Python applications as self-contained programs, particularly useful for service applications, command-line tools, or desktop software where users expect a traditional executable rather than a Python installation.
Use it for
- Package a command-line tool written in Python as a single executable for distribution to users without Python.
- Create cross-platform desktop applications from Python code that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Build service executables that can be installed and run as system services or daemons.
- Distribute Python applications through standard package managers that expect native binaries.
- Protect source code by compiling Python scripts into executables that are harder to reverse-engineer than .py files.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
cx_Freeze is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive license, and solves a real problem—shipping Python applications as standalone executables. It's well-suited if you need cross-platform executable generation. The 9 runtime dependencies and requirement for Python 3.10 or later are reasonable trade-offs for the functionality provided.
Install
cx-freeze on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-wheel distribution. Active maintenance with recent commits and a stable codebase. Requires Python 3.10 or later and pulls in 9 runtime dependencies including platform-specific tools like patchelf, dmgbuild, and lief for binary manipulation.
Requires Python 3.10 or later; platform-specific binary tools (patchelf on Linux, dmgbuild on macOS) must be available in the system environment.
License in practice
Licensed under PSF-2.0 (Python Software Foundation License), a permissive license that allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it safe for most deployment scenarios.
Quickstart
pip install cx_Freeze
from cx_Freeze import setup
setup(
name="myapp",
version="0.0",
description="My application",
executables=[Executable("myapp.py")]
)Verify before relying
- Exact behavior differences between frozen executables and original scripts under specific conditions.
- Performance overhead or size characteristics of generated executables compared to alternatives.
- Compatibility with other packaging tools for migration scenarios.
Package facts
| License | PSF-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 9 packagesfreeze-corepackagingsetuptoolstomlifilelockpatchelfdmgbuildliefpython-msilib |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 123 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 240,152 / month, #8,910 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Software DistributionTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: cx_freeze-8.6.4-py3-none-any.whl
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