pyqt5-tools
PyQt Designer and QML plugins
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are actively developing PyQt5 applications and need Qt Designer or QML tools. The low install friction, active maintenance, and straightforward dependencies make it a practical choice. The GPLv3 license is not a barrier for development use, only for redistribution of modifications. No known security vulnerabilities. Install only if you need the GUI design tools; it is not required for running PyQt5 applications.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires PyQt5 to be installed separately; the version of pyqt5-tools must match your PyQt5 version (e.g., 5.15.x for PyQt5 5.15).
- Windows and Linux are fully supported; macOS support is incomplete.
- Low friction installation via pip with a pure-wheel distribution.
License · maintenance · safety
GPLv3 (copyleft) — Licensed under GPLv3 (copyleft). Any derivative work or modification must also be released under GPLv3. If you are building proprietary applications, you may use this tool during development, but you cannot redistribute modified versions without complying with copyleft obligations.
last release 2023-03-27 (1236 days) · last repo commit 2026-03-11 · 255 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 81,385 downloads/mo, #14,231 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install 'pyqt5-tools~=5.15'
pyqt5-tools designer --help
pyqt5-tools qmlscene --help- Whether the package works with PyQt6 or only PyQt5 5.15.x versions
- Current status of macOS support and what limitations remain
- Whether custom widget paths persist across sessions or require .env file setup each time
What it is and what it does
pyqt5-tools bridges a gap left by PyQt5's wheel-only distribution: it packages Qt Designer, QML Scene, and QML Test Runner as command-line tools with Python wrappers. These tools are essential for GUI developers who need a visual designer to build interfaces and QML editors to prototype declarative UIs. The package wraps each tool with additional functionality, such as automatic PYQTDESIGNERPATH management via .env files and exception dialog support in Designer to catch Python errors that would otherwise crash silently.
The tools are accessed through subcommands (designer, qmlscene, qmltestrunner) and support passing custom widget paths and QML import paths. It depends on pyqt5, pyqt5-plugins, click for CLI handling, and python-dotenv for environment variable loading. The package is designed for developers working on PyQt5 projects who need the full Qt toolchain; it is not a runtime dependency for end-user applications.
Use it for
- Design PyQt5 GUI layouts visually in Qt Designer without manually writing widget code
- Develop and test QML interfaces using QML Scene with custom import paths configured via .env
- Run QML unit tests with QML Test Runner while managing plugin paths automatically
- Prototype custom PyQt5 widgets and test them in Designer with exception reporting
- Manage multiple PyQt5 projects with different widget paths using .env-based configuration
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are actively developing PyQt5 applications and need Qt Designer or QML tools.
The low install friction, active maintenance, and straightforward dependencies make it a practical choice. The GPLv3 license is not a barrier for development use, only for redistribution of modifications. No known security vulnerabilities. Install only if you need the GUI design tools; it is not required for running PyQt5 applications.
Install
pyqt5-tools on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation via pip with a pure-wheel distribution. The package is actively maintained with a recent commit history and has been stable since its initial release in 2016. Dependencies are straightforward: click, pyqt5, pyqt5-plugins, and python-dotenv.
Requires PyQt5 to be installed separately; the version of pyqt5-tools must match your PyQt5 version (e.g., 5.15.x for PyQt5 5.15). Windows and Linux are fully supported; macOS support is incomplete.
License in practice
Licensed under GPLv3 (copyleft). Any derivative work or modification must also be released under GPLv3. If you are building proprietary applications, you may use this tool during development, but you cannot redistribute modified versions without complying with copyleft obligations.
Quickstart
pip install 'pyqt5-tools~=5.15'
pyqt5-tools designer --help
pyqt5-tools qmlscene --helpVerify before relying
- Whether the package works with PyQt6 or only PyQt5 5.15.x versions
- Current status of macOS support and what limitations remain
- Whether custom widget paths persist across sessions or require .env file setup each time
Package facts
| License | GPLv3 copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 4 packagesclickpyqt5pyqt5-pluginspython-dotenv |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,236 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 81,385 / month, #14,231 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3)Operating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: pyqt5_tools-5.15.9.3.3-py3-none-any.whl
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See also PyQt5 · PyQt5-Qt5 · pytest-qt · superqt · QDarkStyle · pyqtgraph · aqtinstall · PyQt6-Qt6 · PyQtWebEngine-Qt5 · PySide6-Fluent-Widgets