Arrow

Human-friendly date and time handling in Python.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in

Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

Stable

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Verified · Jul 12, 2026

Overview

What is Arrow?

Arrow is a Python library that simplifies the creation, manipulation, formatting, and conversion of dates, times, and timestamps. It provides an intuitive interface for working with datetime objects, making it easier to handle temporal data in applications.

Key differentiator

Arrow stands out by providing a more intuitive and user-friendly interface compared to Python's built-in datetime module, making it easier for developers to work with temporal data.

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Simplified date and time manipulationmedium

Human-friendly datetime formattingmedium

Support for timezone conversionsmedium

Easy creation of relative dates and timesmedium

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-Python developershigh

API requires Python-specific patterns, TypeScript SDK is community-maintained

Frequent breaking changes between versionsmedium

v0.1 to v0.2 migration required rewriting chain definitions

Limited support for non-Python environmentshigh

Primary language is Python, and official support is limited to this ecosystem.

Documentation can be sparse in certain areasmedium

Some advanced features lack comprehensive documentation or examples

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers who need to handle complex datetime operations in their Python projects

Projects requiring human-readable date and time representations

Applications that require timezone conversions without manual calculations

✕ Not a fit for

Projects that do not involve handling dates or times

Users looking for a full-fledged calendar application (Arrow is a library, not an app)

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Next step

Get Started with Arrow

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →