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.

Feature	cx_Freeze	py2exe
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

cx_Freeze

Description: 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.

py2exe

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

cx_Freeze Features

• 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

py2exe Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

cx_Freeze

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

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

Pricing Comparison

cx_Freeze

• Open Source

py2exe

• Free
• Open Source