PyQt vs Kivy

Side-by-side — pricing, strengths, tradeoffs, and fit.

PyQt

Python bindings for the Qt cross-platform application and UI framework.

Kivy

Create NUI applications for multiple platforms with Kivy.

At a glance

Open Source
● Established·From Contact sales
Open SourceFree Tier
● Established·From $0

Overview

One-liner

Python bindings for the Qt cross-platform application and UI framework.

One-liner

Create NUI applications for multiple platforms with Kivy.

Maturity

Established

Maturity

Established

Open source

✓ Yes

Open source

✓ Yes

Pricing

Free tier

✕ None

Free tier

✓ Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

Contact sales

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

✕ None

Enterprise

✕ None

Best for

✓ Best for

Developers building cross-platform desktop applications in Python who need a comprehensive UI toolkit.
Teams working on projects that require both rich graphical interfaces and the flexibility of Python.

✓ Best for

Developers looking to build cross-platform applications with multitouch support.
Teams needing a flexible UI toolkit for rapid prototyping.
Projects requiring natural user interface elements across multiple platforms.

Not ideal for

✕ Not for

Projects requiring real-time graphics or game development, as PyQt is more suited for standard GUI applications.
Developers looking for a purely web-based solution for application development.

✕ Not for

Applications that require real-time data streaming capabilities not supported by Kivy.
Large-scale enterprise applications where specific performance optimizations are critical and may not be available in Kivy.

Strengths

↑ Strengths

Cross-platform application development
Comprehensive set of UI controls and widgets
Signal-slot mechanism for event handling
Supports Pythonic syntax and idioms

↑ Strengths

Cross-platform support for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android and iOS.
Supports multitouch input.
Highly customizable UI components.
Built-in widgets for common interface elements.

Weaknesses

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-Python developers
Frequent breaking changes between versions
Limited native support for modern Python features
Complex setup process, especially on Windows

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-Python developers
Performance issues on complex UIs
Limited commercial support and small community
Frequent breaking changes between versions
Full PyQt profile →Full Kivy profile →