Pythonista 3
A full Python 3 environment on iPhone and iPad, with editor, console and hooks into iOS for automation
by Ole Zorn · listed Nov 2, 2026
Quick verdict
If you want to write real Python on iOS and tie it into your phone's features, Pythonista 3 is worth the one-time price. Just accept that updates are slow and some libraries are off the table.
Best for Python learners and tinkerers who want to code and automate tasks on an iPad or iPhone
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Nov 2, 2026. How we review
Pythonista 3 review
Pythonista 3 puts a working Python 3.10 setup on your iPhone or iPad. You get a code editor, an interactive console and a debugger, plus a bundle of common libraries such as requests, numpy, matplotlib and pandas already installed. It also ships iOS-specific modules, so scripts can read the clipboard, photos, contacts, reminders, location and motion sensors. It suits people learning Python, developers who want to tinker away from a laptop, and anyone who wants to automate their phone with real code.
Day to day it feels like a compact desktop editor. Syntax highlighting, code completion and the offline Python docs make it practical on an iPad with a keyboard. On a phone it is more of a quick-fix tool. The share sheet extension, custom keyboard and Shortcuts and Siri support let you run scripts from inside other apps without switching over.
Why we picked it: It is one of the most complete and established ways to write and run Python locally on iOS, and the iOS integration makes it useful beyond practice.
Watch out for: Updates have been infrequent, and you cannot freely pip-install packages that rely on compiled code, so some libraries will not work.
What we like
- One-time purchase with no subscription
- Popular libraries like numpy, pandas and matplotlib included
- Scripts can access clipboard, photos, contacts, location and sensors
- Runs from the share sheet, a custom keyboard, Shortcuts and Siri
- Full Python documentation available offline
What could be better
- Updates have been slow and infrequent
- Packages with compiled extensions generally cannot be added
- Editing on iPhone screens is cramped
- iOS and iPadOS only
Questions about Pythonista 3
How much does Pythonista 3 cost?
It is a paid app at 9.99 USD on the App Store. The store listing shows no in-app purchases or subscription.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Python runs locally on the device and the documentation is bundled, so you only need a connection for scripts that use the network.
Is there an Android version?
No. Pythonista is built for iPhone and iPad and relies on iOS-specific features.
Which Python version does it use?
The current release runs Python 3.10, according to the App Store listing.
What are the alternatives?
On iOS, options include Pyto and a-Shell, and Juno for Jupyter notebooks. On a computer, a standard Python install with any editor gives you more flexibility.
From the developer: how Pythonista 3 describes itself
Pythonista is a complete scripting environment for Python 3.10, running right on your iPad or iPhone, so you can develop and run Python scripts on the go.
Like Python itself, "batteries are included" – from popular third-party modules like requests, numpy, matplotlib, pandas (and many more) to modules that are tailor-made for iOS. With Pythonista, your scripts can access sensor/location data, your photo library, contacts, reminders, the clipboard, and more, allowing you to harness the full potential of both Python and iOS.
Pythonista is designed with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to get started with coding, regardless of skill level. The complete Python documentation is also available for offline reading in the app.
Pythonista is not just for learning and practicing Python – it's also a powerful tool for automating iOS with multiple app extensions. You can invoke scripts directly from the share sheet or a custom system keyboard in almost any app, and integrate scripts with Shortcuts and Siri. With Pythonista, it's easy to run your scripts whenever you need them, without having to switch between different apps.
Features:
> Powerful code editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and scripting support
> Interactive prompt with code completion, command history, and support for showing images
> Integrated visual debugger and object inspector
> Complete offline documentation with quick lookup directly from the editor
> Various beautiful light and dark color themes, and a theme editor to make your own
> UI editor for quick prototyping
> Integrated PEP 8 style checker and code formatter
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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