virtualenv
Virtual Python Environment builder
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. virtualenv is a foundational tool for Python development—actively maintained, widely trusted (top 100 PyPI by downloads), MIT-licensed, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install it unless you have a specific reason to use an alternative environment manager.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9 or later.
- Low friction installation.
- Actively maintained with a release 4 days ago, 5042 GitHub stars, and support for current Python versions (3.9 through 3.15).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute virtualenv with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for any project type.
last release 2026-08-10 (4 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 5,042 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 532,873,318 downloads/mo, #76 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install virtualenv
virtualenv /path/to/venv
source /path/to/venv/bin/activate- Whether the package handles all edge cases for PyPy implementations listed in classifiers
- Performance characteristics when creating many environments in rapid succession
- Behavior differences between Windows and POSIX activation scripts
What it is and what it does
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated Python environments on your system. Each environment is a self-contained directory with its own Python interpreter and package installation space, allowing you to work on multiple projects with conflicting dependencies without them interfering with each other or your system Python.
It depends on distlib, filelock, platformdirs, python-discovery, and typing-extensions for core functionality. The tool is production-stable, actively maintained, and runs on macOS, Windows, and POSIX systems.
Use it for
- Developing multiple Python projects with different package versions without conflicts
- Testing code against different Python versions by creating separate environments for each
- Isolating experimental or unstable packages from your main Python installation
- Setting up clean environments for CI/CD pipelines and automated testing
- Creating reproducible development setups across different machines
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
virtualenv is a foundational tool for Python development—actively maintained, widely trusted (top 100 PyPI by downloads), MIT-licensed, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install it unless you have a specific reason to use an alternative environment manager.
Install
virtualenv on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation. Actively maintained with a release 4 days ago, 5042 GitHub stars, and support for current Python versions (3.9 through 3.15). Five runtime dependencies are all lightweight utilities.
Requires Python 3.9 or later.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute virtualenv with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for any project type.
Quickstart
pip install virtualenv
virtualenv /path/to/venv
source /path/to/venv/bin/activateVerify before relying
- Whether the package handles all edge cases for PyPy implementations listed in classifiers
- Performance characteristics when creating many environments in rapid succession
- Behavior differences between Windows and POSIX activation scripts
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 5 packagesdistlibfilelockplatformdirspython-discoverytyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 4 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 532,873,318 / month, #76 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 :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXProgramming 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 :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: TestingTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: virtualenv-21.7.4-py3-none-any.whl
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See also isolate · nodeenv · pipx · virtualenvwrapper · twine · pip · ansible-dev-environment · selinux · build · rpm