Anaconda is No Longer Free! Best Alternative for Python Library & Environment Management 2025
Anaconda has changed its pricing policy, requiring institutions with over 200 employees to pay $600 per person per year. This also applies for research institutes like Max Planck Institutes and Helmholtz Centers. And even universities are not necessarily excluded. This video compares all major Python package and environment managers to find the best free alternative. After testing pip/venv, micromamba, pixi, and miniforge, I recommend Miniforge as the replacement - it's completely free, works identically to Anaconda, and supports both conda and mamba. In this tutorial, you'll learn: Why Anaconda's new pricing model affects universities and research institutions The limitations of pip/venv for scientific computing (no CUDA, limited performance libraries) Why performance libraries matter (MKL, OpenBLAS, Accelerate for different CPUs) Micromamba's IDE compatibility issues with PyCharm and VS Code Pixi's project-specific approach and when it's (not) suitable for beginners Why Miniforge gives you the best of both worlds (conda + mamba + free) How to ensure you're using conda-forge channels instead of paid Anaconda channels Perfect for Python instructors, data scientists, researchers, and anyone doing scientific computing who needs a reliable, free environment manager that handles non-Python dependencies and optimizes performance for your specific hardware. ▬ Read the full blog post ▬▬▬▬ https://training-scientists.com/blog/... ▬ What's Coming Next ▬▬▬▬ Next Video: Comparing Python IDEs (JupyterLab Desktop alternatives) - • Best Beginner friendly Python & Jupyter ID... Two Videos from Now: Complete setup guide for environment manager + IDE integration (coming soon) ▬ Key Timestamps ▬▬▬▬ 00:00 Introduction and Anaconda Pricing Changes 00:47 Challenges with Pip and VNV 02:01 Introducing Micro Mamba 02:54 Mini Forge: The Best of Both Worlds 04:07 Exploring Pixie: A New Contender 05:34 Final Recommendations ▬ Tools Compared in This Video ▬▬▬▬ Anaconda (now paid for institutions) pip + venv (basic Python-only) pip + virtualenv / pipenv / poetry (Python-only alternatives) micromamba (lightweight but compatibility issues) miniforge (recommended - free conda + mamba) pixi (modern but beginner-unfriendly) ▬ References ▬▬▬▬ Source MKL Benchmark: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/D... ▬ Follow Training Scientists on social media ▬▬▬▬ LinkedIn: ▶️ / dr-maurice-maurer Instagram ▶️ / dr.mauricemaurer ✅ Subscribe here: / @trainingscientists 🖥 Master Python for science & engineering through our specialized courses at https://Training-Scientists.com/ 💬 Did you enjoy this video? Share your thoughts in the comments below! ▬ About Training Scientists ▬▬▬▬ Led by computational physicist Dr. Maurice Maurer (TU Munich Ph.D.), Training Scientists offers specialized Python courses for researchers and engineers. Our curriculum covers scientific data analysis, visualization, and performance optimization, available through self-paced or interactive formats. With 20+ years of programming experience and work at UCLA and Max Planck Institute, Dr. Maurer brings real-world expertise to help you advance your scientific programming skills. ▬ Hashtags ▬▬▬▬ #Python #Anaconda #Miniforge #DataScience #PythonProgramming #ScientificComputing #CondaForge #PythonSetup #TrainingScientists #Micromamba #Pixi #PackageManagement #PythonEnvironments #CondaAlternative #OpenSource #ResearchComputing #PythonTools #MachineLearning #CodingTools #TechEducation