Shiv vs cx_Freeze

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

Shiv

Build fully self-contained zipapps with all dependencies included.

cx_Freeze

Convert Python scripts into standalone executables and installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

At a glance

Open SourceFree Tier
● Established·From $0
Open SourceFree Tier
● Established·From $0

Overview

One-liner

Build fully self-contained zipapps with all dependencies included.

One-liner

Convert Python scripts into standalone executables and installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Maturity

Established

Maturity

Established

Open source

✓ Yes

Open source

✓ Yes

Pricing

Free tier

✓ Available

Open source — free to use

Free tier

✓ Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

✕ None

Enterprise

✕ None

Best for

✓ Best for

Developers who need to distribute Python apps with minimal setup requirements.
Teams working in environments with strict dependency management policies.
Individuals looking for a simple way to share Python scripts without complex installations.

✓ Best for

Developers who need to distribute Python applications across different platforms without requiring users to have Python installed.
Teams building cross-platform desktop applications in Python that require a seamless installation process.

Not ideal for

✕ Not for

Projects requiring real-time updates or dynamic dependencies that change frequently.
Scenarios where the size of the distributed application is critical and must be minimized.

✕ Not for

Projects needing real-time updates or continuous integration with the latest Python libraries.
Applications that heavily rely on dynamic dependencies not supported by cx_Freeze.

Strengths

↑ Strengths

Creates self-contained zipapps with all dependencies included.
Easy to distribute and run Python applications in isolated environments.
Supports PEP 441 for creating standalone executable files.

↑ Strengths

Converts Python scripts into standalone executables and installers.
Supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Does not require the end-user to have Python installed.

Weaknesses

↓ Weaknesses

Limited to Python applications only
Potential issues with complex dependency trees
Manual intervention required for certain package configurations

↓ Weaknesses

Limited documentation and community support
Performance overhead for large applications
Complex setup and configuration for complex projects
Limited support for certain Python packages
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