pysqlite3-binary
DB-API 2.0 interface for Sqlite 3.x
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need a specific SQLite version, custom extensions, or features not in your Python's standard library. The permissive license, active maintenance, and zero runtime dependencies make it low-risk. However, note that the maintainer is directing new development elsewhere, so consider whether that project better suits your long-term needs. Pre-built wheels are available for common platforms, reducing install friction.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a compatible Python version (wheels provided for cp38 through cp314 on Linux x86_64); other platforms or Python versions may require building from source with SQLite development headers present.
- Medium install friction due to compiled binary wheels, but pre-built wheels are available for multiple Python versions on Linux x86_64.
- Actively maintained as of 2026-05-27, though the maintainer notes new development is moving elsewhere.
License · maintenance · safety
zlib/libpng (permissive) — Licensed under zlib/libpng (permissive), so you can use this in proprietary or open-source projects with minimal restrictions; attribution is typically required but no copyleft obligations apply.
last release 2025-12-03 (254 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-27 · 243 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 918,286 downloads/mo, #4,723 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pysqlite3-binary
import pysqlite3.dbapi2 as sqlite3
conn = sqlite3.connect(':memory:')
cursor = conn.cursor()
cursor.execute('CREATE TABLE test (id INTEGER, name TEXT)')
conn.commit()- Exact bundled SQLite version and which extensions are included in the binary wheels.
- Performance characteristics compared to the standard library sqlite3 module.
- Full scope of user-defined window functions and other advanced features mentioned.
- Whether this package is suitable for new projects given the maintainer's note about development moving to cysqlite.
What it is and what it does
pysqlite3-binary packages SQLite as a standalone, separately-installable Python module rather than relying on the standard library's sqlite3. This is useful when you need a specific version of SQLite, want to use custom extensions, or need features not available in your Python's bundled version. The package offers pre-built wheels containing a statically-linked, self-contained SQLite binary with no external dependencies, or you can build it against your system SQLite if you prefer.
The package includes several enhancements: user-defined window functions (requires SQLite >= 3.25), customizable flags and VFS when opening connections, incremental BLOB I/O, improved error messages, and native SQLite backup API. It follows the DB-API 2.0 interface, so it can often be used as a drop-in replacement for the standard sqlite3 module. However, the maintainer notes that new development is moving to a different project, so this package is in maintenance mode.
Use it for
- Use it when you need a newer version of SQLite than what your Python distribution provides.
- Use it to enable SQLite extensions or custom features compiled into the bundled binary.
- Use it as a portable, dependency-free SQLite driver for applications that must run on multiple systems.
- Use it to access advanced SQLite features like user-defined window functions in older Python versions.
- Use it when you need to link against a specific system SQLite version or configuration.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need a specific SQLite version, custom extensions, or features not in your Python's standard library.
The permissive license, active maintenance, and zero runtime dependencies make it low-risk. However, note that the maintainer is directing new development elsewhere, so consider whether that project better suits your long-term needs. Pre-built wheels are available for common platforms, reducing install friction.
Install
pysqlite3-binary on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled binary wheels, but pre-built wheels are available for multiple Python versions on Linux x86_64. Actively maintained as of 2026-05-27, though the maintainer notes new development is moving elsewhere.
Requires a compatible Python version (wheels provided for cp38 through cp314 on Linux x86_64); other platforms or Python versions may require building from source with SQLite development headers present.
License in practice
Licensed under zlib/libpng (permissive), so you can use this in proprietary or open-source projects with minimal restrictions; attribution is typically required but no copyleft obligations apply.
Quickstart
pip install pysqlite3-binary
import pysqlite3.dbapi2 as sqlite3
conn = sqlite3.connect(':memory:')
cursor = conn.cursor()
cursor.execute('CREATE TABLE test (id INTEGER, name TEXT)')
conn.commit()Verify before relying
- Exact bundled SQLite version and which extensions are included in the binary wheels.
- Performance characteristics compared to the standard library sqlite3 module.
- Full scope of user-defined window functions and other advanced features mentioned.
- Whether this package is suitable for new projects given the maintainer's note about development moving to cysqlite.
Package facts
| License | zlib/libpng permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 254 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 918,286 / month, #4,723 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 :: zlib/libpng LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Database :: Database Engines/ServersTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp310-cp310-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp311-cp311-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp312-cp312-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp313-cp313-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp314-cp314-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp38-cp38-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl; pysqlite3_binary-0.5.4.post2-cp39-cp39-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl
Tags
Let your AI agent find packages like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 14,416 PyPI packages by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “sqlite replacement package”
- pysqlite3-binaryProvides a self-contained SQLite database driver for Python that can…
- sqlean.pyA drop-in replacement for Python's sqlite3 module that bundles sqlean…
- historydictHistoryDict provides a persistent dictionary backed by SQLite that…
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat.
More Python Modules packages
Converts domain names between Unicode and ASCII-compatible encoding (Punycode) according to IDNA 2008 and Unicode Technical Standard 46, with security validation and broader script coverage than the standard library.
Install it if you work with internationalized domain names, need to validate domains, or use HTTP clients that depend on it transitively.
Setuptools is a Python build backend and package management tool that handles building, distributing, and installing Python packages, including support for C/C++ extension modules.
PyYAML parses and emits YAML 1.1 data format, enabling serialization and deserialization of configuration files and Python objects to and from human-readable YAML text.
Pydantic validates Python data structures against type hints, coercing and checking input at runtime to ensure it matches a declared schema.
Provides reusable metadata objects for use with PEP-593 `typing.Annotated` to express common constraints like bounds, collection sizes, and predicates on types.
Install it if you use or build libraries that need to express type constraints in a standardized, inspectable way—or if you want to annotate your own types with…
Provides runtime tools to inspect and introspect Python type annotations, enabling programmatic examination of type hints at execution time.
See also pysqlite3 · sqlean.py · sqlcipher3-binary · sqlcipher3 · sqlcipher3-wheels · aiosqlite · anysqlite · libsql-experimental · apsw · xraydb