pyinstaller
PyInstaller bundles a Python application and all its dependencies into a single package.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. PyInstaller is a mature, actively maintained tool with no known vulnerabilities, broad platform support, and built-in compatibility for major Python packages. The medium install friction (8 dependencies, platform-specific wheels) is offset by its proven track record and active development. Install it if you need to distribute Python applications as standalone executables.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a C compiler (gcc or clang) and zlib development headers on non-Windows platforms; Python 3.10.0 is unsupported; not a cross-compiler—target platform must match build platform.
- Medium install friction due to 8 runtime dependencies and platform-specific wheels; however, the project is actively maintained (last commit 2026-08-13) with mature status and no known vulnerabilities, making it a stable choice despite the dependency footprint.
License · maintenance · safety
copyleft license (copyleft) — Licensed under GPLv2-or-later with a special exception permitting use to build and distribute non-free and commercial programs. The copyleft treatment applies to PyInstaller itself, but the exception means you can bundle proprietary code without inheriting GPL obligations on your application.
last release 2026-08-08 (6 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-13 · 13,065 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 12,067,723 downloads/mo, #1,346 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyinstaller
pyinstaller /path/to/yourscript.py- Whether the 8 runtime dependencies (altgraph, importlib-metadata, macholib, packaging, pefile, pyinstaller-hooks-contrib, pywin32-ctypes, setuptools) introduce any transitive security concerns or version conflicts in your environment.
- Performance characteristics and bundle size overhead for large applications with many dependencies.
What it is and what it does
PyInstaller is a mature Python packaging tool that analyzes your Python script, discovers all its dependencies, and bundles them together with a Python interpreter into a single executable or folder. The resulting package runs on target systems without requiring Python or any modules to be pre-installed. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and handles major packages out-of-the-box through integrated compatibility hooks.
The tool is not a cross-compiler: you must run it on the target platform to build for that platform. It supports Python 3.8-3.15 and includes platform-specific wheels for multiple architectures on Linux, plus Windows and macOS. The project is actively maintained with no known vulnerabilities and has been in development since 2012.
Use it for
- Distribute a Python CLI tool or desktop application to end users who do not have Python installed.
- Create a standalone executable for Windows, macOS, or Linux from a Python script for easier deployment.
- Bundle a data science application into a single distributable file without requiring users to manage Python environments.
- Package a GUI application for cross-platform delivery without requiring users to manage Python environments.
- Build a standalone tool for system administrators or non-technical users who need to run Python code without a development setup.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
PyInstaller is a mature, actively maintained tool with no known vulnerabilities, broad platform support, and built-in compatibility for major Python packages. The medium install friction (8 dependencies, platform-specific wheels) is offset by its proven track record and active development. Install it if you need to distribute Python applications as standalone executables.
Install
pyinstaller on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to 8 runtime dependencies and platform-specific wheels; however, the project is actively maintained (last commit 2026-08-13) with mature status and no known vulnerabilities, making it a stable choice despite the dependency footprint.
Requires a C compiler (gcc or clang) and zlib development headers on non-Windows platforms; Python 3.10.0 is unsupported; not a cross-compiler—target platform must match build platform.
License in practice
Licensed under GPLv2-or-later with a special exception permitting use to build and distribute non-free and commercial programs. The copyleft treatment applies to PyInstaller itself, but the exception means you can bundle proprietary code without inheriting GPL obligations on your application.
Quickstart
pip install pyinstaller
pyinstaller /path/to/yourscript.pyVerify before relying
- Whether the 8 runtime dependencies (altgraph, importlib-metadata, macholib, packaging, pefile, pyinstaller-hooks-contrib, pywin32-ctypes, setuptools) introduce any transitive security concerns or version conflicts in your environment.
- Performance characteristics and bundle size overhead for large applications with many dependencies.
Package facts
| License | copyleft license copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release <3.16,>=3.8 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 8 packagesaltgraphimportlib-metadatamacholibpackagingpefilepyinstaller-hooks-contribpywin32-ctypessetuptools |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 6 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 12,067,723 / month, #1,346 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Other AudienceIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v2 (GPLv2)Natural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXOperating System :: POSIX :: AIXOperating System :: POSIX :: BSDOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxOperating System :: POSIX :: SunOS/SolarisProgramming Language :: CProgramming 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 :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: InterpretersTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Installation/SetupTopic :: System :: Software DistributionTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-macosx_10_13_universal2.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_i686.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_ppc64le.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_s390x.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_1_aarch64.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-musllinux_1_1_x86_64.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-win32.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-win_amd64.whl; pyinstaller-6.22.0-py3-none-win_arm64.whl
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See also auto-py-to-exe · pyinstxtractor-ng · pyinstaller-hooks-contrib · pex · Nuitka · types-pyinstaller · executable-application · pyinstaller-versionfile · ray-haproxy · cx-Freeze