py2app

Freezes Python scripts into standalone Mac OS X applications.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in
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Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

→Stable

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is py2app?

Py2app is a tool that converts Python scripts into standalone Mac OS X applications, making it easier to distribute your software without requiring the end user to have Python installed. It's particularly useful for developers who need to package their applications for distribution on macOS.

Key differentiator

“Py2app stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness in converting Python scripts into standalone applications specifically for macOS users, without requiring them to have a Python environment installed.”

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Converts Python scripts into standalone Mac OS X applicationsmedium

Supports packaging of dependencies and resources within the application bundlemedium

Provides flexibility in customizing the application's appearance and behaviormedium

↓ Weaknesses

Limited to macOS environmentshigh

py2app is specifically designed for creating standalone applications on Mac OS X and does not support other operating systems like Windows or Linux.

Complex setup processmedium

Requires a detailed understanding of Python packaging, environment management, and macOS application structure to properly configure and build the standalone applications.

Poor documentation for advanced configurationshigh

While basic usage is well-documented, more complex scenarios such as customizing application behavior or handling specific dependencies are not thoroughly covered in the official documentation.

Performance overhead due to bundling Python interpretermedium

The resulting standalone applications include a full Python runtime which can increase the size of the final executable and potentially affect performance compared to native applications.

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Python developers looking to package and distribute their applications on macOS

Developers needing to create self-contained executables without requiring the user to install Python

✕ Not a fit for

Developers targeting platforms other than Mac OS X, as py2app is specific to this operating system.

Projects that require cross-platform compatibility out of the box.

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

Works well with

Pythonvirtualenv

Next step

Get Started with py2app

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

View Setup Guide →