Rich

Python library for rich text and beautiful formatting in the terminal.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in

Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

Stable

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is Rich?

Rich is a Python library that provides rich text and beautiful formatting options for terminal output. It includes features like syntax highlighting, tables, progress bars, and a powerful log handler to enhance console applications.

Key differentiator

Rich stands out as a comprehensive library for enhancing terminal output with rich text formatting, making it ideal for developers looking to improve the visual appeal and usability of their console applications.

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Rich text and beautiful formatting for terminal outputmedium

Syntax highlighting for code in the consolemedium

Progress bars with rich styling optionsmedium

Powerful log handler (RichHandler) for enhanced loggingmedium

↓ 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 integrations with non-Python tools and frameworkshigh

Primarily designed for Python, lacks native support for other languages or ecosystems

Performance overhead when dealing with large datasetsmedium

Rich's formatting features can slow down output rendering for extensive data sets

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers building CLI tools who need rich text output for better UX

Projects requiring enhanced logging with colored and formatted messages

Teams working on console applications that benefit from visual improvements like tables and progress bars

✕ Not a fit for

Applications where minimal dependencies are required due to strict environment constraints

Scenarios where the overhead of additional styling libraries is undesirable or unnecessary

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 Rich

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

View Setup Guide →