Python
FreeThe Python programming language and standard library, distributed by the Python Software Foundation.
About Python
Python is a general purpose programming language known for readable syntax and a large standard library. It is used in web development, data analysis, machine learning, automation, scripting and education, and it is one of the most widely taught first programming languages.
The installer from python.org provides the interpreter, the standard library, the pip package manager and IDLE, a simple editor. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is released under the PSF licence, which is free and permissive. The winget package here is Python 3.13, with a fresh patch release in August 2026.
It suits beginners, scientists, developers and sysadmins. Python needs no account and costs nothing. Installing several versions side by side is common, so tools like virtual environments help keep projects isolated. Performance is lower than compiled languages for some workloads, although many libraries use native code to compensate. Its packaging tool pip installs third party libraries from the Python Package Index, which is how most projects add functionality beyond the standard library.
Use virtual environments for each project. On Windows, tick the option to add Python to PATH during setup.
Version history
1 release tracked- Windows: Bug fixes and performance improvements
Frequently asked
Is Python free?
Yes. It is free and open source.
Does it need an account?
No.
Does it work offline?
Yes. The interpreter and standard library run locally, though pip needs internet to download packages.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to python.org or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.