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virtualenvwrapper vs virtualenv: catalog facts
virtualenvwrapper	virtualenv
Best for: Python developers who manage multiple virtual environments from a shell	Best for: Python developers who need separate environments per project
Free Free to use and distribute under the license stated in its documentation.	Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.
Command line	Command line
Keeps virtual environments organized in one location Provides commands for switching and managing environments All 3 strengths for virtualenvwrapper Keeps virtual environments organized in one location Provides commands for switching and managing environments Supports hooks and shareable extensions	Keeps project dependencies separate from the system Python Lets you choose the Python version for each environment All 4 strengths for virtualenv Keeps project dependencies separate from the system Python Lets you choose the Python version for each environment Plugin system for extending how environments are created Releases can be verified against the official release workflow
Requires virtualenv	Much of its core function is also covered by the built-in venv module Does not manage dependency lock files by itself
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: MIT
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for virtualenvwrapper virtualenvwrapper.readthedocs.io Catalog checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for virtualenv virtualenv.pypa.io Catalog checked October 1, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.