How to Create Desktop Apps with Python: Best Tools & Examples (2025)

Introduction

Python isn’t just for data science or web development — it’s a powerful language for building full-featured desktop applications too.
Whether you're creating a note-taking app, a media player, or a business tool, Python offers a wide range of libraries and frameworks to make desktop apps fast, cross-platform, and beautiful.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top libraries, how to get started, and what tools are best for different app types.

1. Why Use Python for Desktop Apps?

• Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Easy to learn and code.
• Tons of GUI libraries.
• Fast prototyping for MVPs.

Ideal for:

• Tools and utilities
• Dashboards
• Educational software
• Internal business apps

2. Top Python GUI Frameworks & Tools (2025)

✅ 1. Tkinter (Built-in)

• Comes with Python — no extra installation.
• Great for small/simple apps.
• Lightweight and easy to learn.

Use case: Basic calculators, form apps, text editors.

🎨 2. PyQt / PySide6

• Full-featured framework based on Qt.
• Beautiful UI, complex widgets, and animations.
• PySide is LGPL licensed (great for open-source).

Use case: Rich applications like media editors, design tools.

🖼️ 3. Kivy

• Open-source and great for touch UI.
• Supports mobile and desktop both.
• Modern look, GPU-accelerated.

Use case: Creative apps, mobile-first tools.

⚡ 4. Electron + Python (via Eel / Pywebview)

• Combine Python back-end with HTML/CSS/JS front-end.
• Looks modern, just like a web app.
• Use Eel or pywebview for integration.

Use case: Modern, responsive desktop tools.

🎯 5. Dear PyGui

• Simple API for modern GPU-accelerated GUIs.
• Fast rendering, especially for dashboards.

Use case: Data tools, dashboards, dev utilities.

6. Toga (BeeWare)

• Native widgets, cross-platform.
• Still maturing but promising.

3. Packaging Your Desktop App

Once your app is ready, package it as an executable:

• PyInstaller: Turn .py into .exe, .app, or .bin.
• cx_Freeze: Works well for Qt apps.
• Briefcase (BeeWare): Create installers and app bundles.

bashCopyEditpyinstaller --onefile my_app.py

4. Bonus: Add Features

• Database: SQLite or SQLAlchemy for local storage.
• Notifications: Use plyer, win10toast, or system-specific APIs.
• APIs: Use requests or httpx for web-connected features.
• Multithreading: Use threading or asyncio to avoid freezing the UI.

Conclusion

Python in 2025 is fully capable of building modern desktop applications. Whether you're building something small or powerful, there’s a tool to help you do it quickly and beautifully.
Choose the right framework, stay updated with trends, and start building your own desktop experience today!