cx_Freeze vs py2exe

Struggling to choose between cx_Freeze and py2exe? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

cx_Freeze is a Development solution with tags like python, compilation, executable, distribution.

It boasts features such as Converts Python programs into stand-alone executables, Includes Python interpreter and all necessary modules, Supports console and windowed executables, Customizable using config files, Works with Python 2.7 and 3.x and pros including Easy way to distribute Python programs without needing Python installed, No need to worry about dependencies and imports, Can obfuscate source code, Good for building GUI applications, Wide platform support including Windows, Mac and Linux.

On the other hand, py2exe is a Development product tagged with packaging, executable, compiler, python.

Its standout features include Bundles Python scripts into standalone Windows executables, Includes Python interpreter and all necessary modules, Supports console and Windows GUI applications, Allows distribution of Python programs without requiring Python installation, Works with most popular Python packages like PyQt, NumPy, etc, Customizable through configuration files and command line options, and it shines with pros like Easy way to distribute Python programs to end users, No need for recipients to install Python or modules, Good for delivering commercial applications, Makes Python GUI apps feel more like native Windows apps, Allows Python apps to run on computers without Python.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

cx_Freeze

cx_Freeze

cx_Freeze is a Python utility to compile Python code into standalone executable files for distribution. It works by analyzing the Python scripts, finding all imports, and putting them along with the Python interpreter into a folder structure that can be compressed into a single executable file.

Categories:
Development Python Utilities
python compilation executable distribution

Cx_Freeze Features

  1. Converts Python programs into stand-alone executables
  2. Includes Python interpreter and all necessary modules
  3. Supports console and windowed executables
  4. Customizable using config files
  5. Works with Python 2.7 and 3.x

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy way to distribute Python programs without needing Python installed

No need to worry about dependencies and imports

Can obfuscate source code

Good for building GUI applications

Wide platform support including Windows, Mac and Linux

Cons

Larger executable file size compared to pure Python

Startup can be slower than running Python directly

Difficult to apply updates or patches

Limited configuration options compared to tools like PyInstaller

May not work with some complex Python packages

py2exe

py2exe

py2exe is a Python module that allows you to easily create standalone Windows executable programs from Python scripts. It bundles all necessary parts so you can distribute the resulting executables to end users who do not have Python installed.

Categories:
Development Python
packaging executable compiler python

Py2exe Features

  1. Bundles Python scripts into standalone Windows executables
  2. Includes Python interpreter and all necessary modules
  3. Supports console and Windows GUI applications
  4. Allows distribution of Python programs without requiring Python installation
  5. Works with most popular Python packages like PyQt, NumPy, etc
  6. Customizable through configuration files and command line options

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Easy way to distribute Python programs to end users

No need for recipients to install Python or modules

Good for delivering commercial applications

Makes Python GUI apps feel more like native Windows apps

Allows Python apps to run on computers without Python

Cons

Limited support for some Python packages

Can produce large executable files

Not designed for web applications

Requires some understanding of Python packaging

Debugging exe files harder than source code

May need tweaking to handle complex programs