The Best Python AlternativesTop Programming Languages and other similar apps like Python

Python is described as 'Interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programming language. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, and is free and comprehensively ported' and is a leading programming language in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Python for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Web-based apps. The best Python alternative is Java. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Java or Ruby. Other great apps like Python are R (programming language), PHP, Rust and Lua.

More about Python
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Python alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Java icon

    Java

     663 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Java is a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.

    73 Java alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Java Mobile
    • Symbian S60
    • HP webOS
    • Blackberry
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Blackberry 10
    • Kindle Fire
    Java screenshot 1
     
    |
    9
    34
    Comments about Java as an Alternative to Python
    Top Positive Comment
    Arunmani
    1

    Java is tough, close-sourced, complicated license, and must be typed a lot. In simple words, troublesome for beginners. Python breaks 'em all.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    12

    Java is not a scripting language

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Java is a cross-platform complex language and it's good for backend, just like Python. Its syntax involves printing using parenthesis, just like Py and also, it's very restrictive. HOWEVER, Java is not the very best alternative since:

    • its syntax is more complex and complicated, unlike py, which focuses on "user-friendliness"
    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 9 comments
    Python Icon
    Java icon

    • Some users think Java is a great Python alternative, some don't.

    • Java is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Python.

    • Java is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Python.

    • Java is Free Personal and Open SourcePython is Free and Open Source
  2. Ruby icon

    Ruby

     269 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was initially developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Ruby screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    35
    Comments about Ruby as an Alternative to Python
    Buster_Blue
    Positive
    5

    Both are high level, general purpose programming languages, and they have a similar syntax.

    Rishabh Istwal
    Positive
    0

    Ruby can be used for web development Twitch like many big websites made on it .And rails framework gives much flexibility to made mobile apps and games can also be made.Simple and Powerful.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    The syntax is more forgiving and easier to read and write.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Python Icon
    Ruby icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Ruby is a great Python alternative.

    • Ruby is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  4. C# icon

    C#

     230 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    C# is a multi-paradigm programming language encompassing strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented (class-based), and component-oriented programming disciplines.

    79 C# alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    C# screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    23
    Comments about C# as an Alternative to Python
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    C# can do almost (if not) everything python is able to do. However, it does take more effort to do so, but you will be rewarded with more speed in the end.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    because c sharp is very easy to learn and can cover most of the types of development that is possible with python and has a strong community .

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -23

    C# is different. People make OS' in C# in python not. C# is compiled, python not.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Python Icon
    C# icon

    • Most users think C# is a great Python alternative.

    • C# is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  5. R (programming language) icon

    R (programming language)

     223 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is a GNU project which is similar to the S language and environment which was developed at Bell Laboratories (formerly AT&T, now Lucent Technologies) by John Chambers and colleagues. R can be consider.

    95 R (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    R (programming language) screenshot 1
     
    |
    5
    15
    Comments about R (programming language) as an Alternative to Python
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    6

    R can replace (or complement) Python in virtually any data-driven task.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    CeesT
    0

    R is not a general purpose programming language like Python.

    C03Packet
    Negative
    0

    they are very different.R is not a general purpose programming language like Python.

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Python Icon
    R (programming language) icon

    • Most users think R (programming language) is a great Python alternative.

    • R (programming language) is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
    • R (programming language) is CustomizablePython is not according to our users
  6. PHP icon

    PHP

     469 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open-source scripting language executed on the server, PHP embeds into HTML, fostering dynamic web development. Influenced by C, Java, and Perl, it supports database integration, offers extensive libraries, and remains easy for beginners while robust for seasoned developers.

    43 PHP alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PHP
    PHP screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    18
    Comments about PHP as an Alternative to Python
    Ash Skabo
    Positive
    1

    While PHP is made for the web, I don't think it should be regarded as a web only language, as it does have a non-web interpreter

    Mason Parker
    Positive
    0

    Python is easy to learn and you can easily create AI model using python with different framework.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Python can do way more, PHP is a web-only language.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Python Icon
    PHP icon

    • Most users think PHP is a great Python alternative.

    • PHP is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  7. Rust icon

    Rust

     147 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Rust is a multi-paradigm, general-purpose programming language that emphasizes performance, type safety, and concurrency. It enforces memory safety—meaning that all references point to valid memory—without a garbage collector.

    47 Rust alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Rust screenshot 1
     
  9. Lua icon

    Lua

     184 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Lua is a powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language.

    Lua combines simple procedural syntax with powerful data description constructs based on associative arrays and extensible semantics. Lua is dynamically typed, runs by interpreting bytecode for a register-based.

    84 Lua alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Android Wear
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • Playstation
    • MorphOS
    Lua screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    18
    Comments about Lua as an Alternative to Python
    Tubby 9417
    Positive
    0

    I found lua to be easier to use and learn than python. It also works great as a scripting language for some games like Roblox, MegaGlest, Spring.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Easy to learn and similar to python

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    gnramires
    Positive
    0

    Very fast and lightweight. Easy to learn.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Python Icon
    Lua icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Lua is a great Python alternative.

    • Lua is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Python.

    • Lua is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  10. C (programming language) icon

    C (programming language)

     327 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    C is a general-purpose programming language. It was created in the 1970s by Dennis Ritchie and remains very widely used and influential. By design, C's features cleanly reflect the capabilities of the targeted CPUs.

    61 C (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    C (programming language) screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    14
    Comments about C (programming language) as an Alternative to Python
    superluminar
    Negative
    13

    C is much more close to the hardware than Python.

    Guest
    Negative
    4

    python is high-level, c is low level

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    5

    Whereas Python is interpreted, 'C' must be compiled. Python supports object-orientated programming, 'C' does not. 'C' is strongly typed, Python is not.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Python Icon
    C (programming language) icon

    • Some users think C (programming language) is a great Python alternative, some don't.

    • C (programming language) is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Python.

    • C (programming language) is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  11. Go (Programming Language) icon

    Go (Programming Language)

     151 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open-source programming language by Google, offering C-style syntax and automatic memory management. Features built-in concurrency and vast libraries, ideal for cloud services, web, and CLI development, supporting DevOps with fast builds and an expansive ecosystem.

    68 Go (Programming Language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    Go (Programming Language) screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    21
    Comments about Go (Programming Language) as an Alternative to Python
    Guest
    Negative
    -2

    They are made for very different purposes.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Python Icon
    Go (Programming Language) icon

    • Most users think Go (Programming Language) is a great Python alternative.

    • Go (Programming Language) is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  12. Perl icon

    Perl

     140 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language with over 22 years of development.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
     
    |
    1
    17
    Comments about Perl as an Alternative to Python
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    its fast and its easier to write stuff in (relative to python)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Python Icon
    Perl icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Perl is a great Python alternative.

    • Perl is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  13. Julia icon

    Julia

     66 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Julia is a high-level, high-performance dynamic programming language for technical computing, with syntax that is familiar to users of other technical computing environments. It provides a sophisticated compiler, distributed parallel execution, numerical accuracy, and an...

    51 Julia alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Julia screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    11
    Comments about Julia as an Alternative to Python
    Marcin
    Positive
    1

    Julia competes with Python

    Python Icon
    Julia icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Julia is a great Python alternative.

    • Julia is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
  14. Nim (programming language) icon

    Nim (programming language)

     40 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Nim is a statically typed, imperative programming language with a powerful macro system that tries to give the programmer ultimate power without compromises on runtime efficiency.

    91 Nim (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Nim (programming language) screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    7
    Comments about Nim (programming language) as an Alternative to Python
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    Based off of Python, similar modules system, and indention based. Probably the best alternative!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Syntax is same but speed is greater than Python. Only draw back is, that Nim has a minimal support for object oriented programming. Module system is horrible. Compiler wants us to write all the code in single file. If you are using file A and it is importing something from file B. But this file B is also importng something from file A, that means mutual imports. In that case, you can't compile.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Python Icon
    Nim (programming language) icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Nim (programming language) is a great Python alternative.

    • Nim (programming language) is Free and Open SourcePython is also Free and Open Source
12 of 94 Python alternatives