conda vs. pip vs. virtualenv

conda vs. pip vs. virtualenv

If you’ve used pip and virtualenv in the past, you can use conda to perform all of the same operations. Pip is a package manager, and Virtualenv is an environment manager. Conda is both.

Task	Conda package and environment manager command	Pip package manager command	Virtualenv environment manager command
Install a package	conda install $PACKAGE_NAME	pip install $PACKAGE_NAME	X
Update a package	conda update --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME $PACKAGE_NAME	pip install --upgrade $PACKAGE_NAME	X
Update package manager	conda update conda	Linux/OSX: pip install -U pip Win: python -m pip install -U pip	X
Uninstall a package	conda remove --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME $PACKAGE_NAME	pip uninstall $PACKAGE_NAME	X
Create an environment	conda create --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME python	X	cd $ENV_BASE_DIR; virtualenv $ENVIRONMENT_NAME
Activate an environment	source activate $ENVIRONMENT_NAME	X	source $ENV_BASE_DIR/$ENVIRONMENT_NAME/bin/activate
Deactivate an environment	source deactivate	X	deactivate
Search available packages	conda search $SEARCH_TERM	pip search $SEARCH_TERM	X
Install package from specific source	conda install --channel $URL $PACKAGE_NAME	pip install --index-url $URL $PACKAGE_NAME	X
List installed packages	conda list --name $ENVIRONMENT_NAME	pip list	X
Create requirements file	conda list --export	pip freeze	X
List all environments	conda info --envs	X	Install virtualenv wrapper, then lsvirtualenv
Install other package manager	conda install pip	pip install conda	X
Install Python	conda install python=x.x	X	X
Update Python	conda update python *	X	X

• conda update python updates to the most recent in the series, so Python 2 to latest 2.x, Python 3 to latest 3.x, and so on.