uv is a Python package and project manager from Astral, the makers of Ruff. Written in Rust, it installs and resolves packages far faster than traditional tools and combines dependency management, virtual environments, Python version management and script running in one binary.
Key features
- Very fast dependency resolution and installs
- Project management with lockfiles
- Virtual environment creation
- Installs and manages Python versions
- Runs scripts and tools (uvx)
- pip-compatible interface
Who it's for
uv suits Python developers, data scientists and CI pipelines that want faster, reproducible environments.
Common use cases
- Replacing pip and virtualenv
- Speeding up CI installs
- Managing multiple Python versions
- Running one-off CLI tools with uvx
Pricing
uv is free and open source. Check the official site for current plan details.
Why uv is trending
Astral keeps a fast release cadence: uv 0.13.3, 0.13.4 and 0.13.5 shipped between Oct 20 and Oct 22, 2026.
Sources: github.com
How to get started with uv
- Visit the official uv website at https://docs.astral.sh/uv/ and read the quickstart in the docs.
- Sign up or install it, depending on whether you use the hosted service or the open-source version.
- Try it on a small project first, then connect it to your existing stack and CI.
- Review the pricing page before scaling usage so costs stay predictable.
Is uv worth it?
uv is a well-established tool with an active team and frequent releases in October 2026. For teams that match the use cases above, it's worth evaluating against the alternatives listed here, and the free model makes it easy to try before committing.
Alternatives
- Poetry: Python dependency manager
- pip: Python's default installer
FAQ
What is uv?
uv by Astral is an extremely fast Python package and project manager written in Rust that replaces pip, pip-tools, virtualenv and pyenv workflows.
Is uv free?
Yes, uv is free and open source.
Does uv replace pip?
It offers a pip-compatible interface and can replace pip, pip-tools and virtualenv in most workflows.
Who makes uv?
Astral, the company behind the Ruff linter.