Tkinter GUI Designer vs PyUiBuilder
Updated onCompare Tkinter GUI Designer and PyUiBuilder side-by-side. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and target market.
Tkinter GUI Designer
A focused visual Tkinter builder that provides drag-and-drop layout, code generation and a free/pro distribution model for desktop Python GUIs.
Starts at $0
vs
PyUiBuilder
A drag-and-drop Python GUI builder that generates clean, editable Python code for frameworks like Tkinter and CustomTkinter.
Starts at $0
Which should you choose?
Tkinter GUI Designer
Choose Tkinter GUI Designer if you primarily build Windows-based, Tkinter-heavy desktop apps and want a full MD Python Designer environment with drag-and-drop layout, integrated IDE, database/instrument widgets and exe packaging, even at a higher upfront cost and complexity.
PyUiBuilder
Choose PyUiBuilder if you want a lightweight, Canva-style GUI builder that runs in the browser or as a desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux, supports Tkinter/TTK and CustomTkinter today (with Kivy/PySide coming), and offers live preview plus integrated code editing with a low-cost lifetime license.
Typical cost comparison
Scenario: 1 solo developer in year 1, using the cheapest paid plan on each tool for professional/commercial work.
Tkinter GUI Designer
$70 per year
PyUiBuilder
$29 per year
PyUiBuilder saves you $41 per year in this scenario.
Key differences
| Category | Tkinter GUI Designer | PyUiBuilder | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use & UX Style | PyUiBuilder deliberately mimics Canva-style drag-and-drop design with live preview and in-app event handling aimed at students and prosumers, whereas Tkinter GUI Designer feels closer to a traditional engineering IDE with tutorials, documentation and a denser interface that may suit power users more than absolute beginners. | ||
| Feature Depth & Engineering Tooling | MD Python Designer bundles Tkinter GUI Designer with other GUI designers, a specialised Python IDE with debugger, database and hardware integrations, rich widgets and exe packaging, so A is stronger for end-to-end engineering and scientific applications than PyUiBuilder’s more focused GUI-only environment. | ||
| Framework Support & Flexibility | PyUiBuilder supports multiple Python GUI libraries from one tool (Tkinter/TTK, CustomTkinter and planned support for PySide and Kivy), whereas Tkinter GUI Designer is marketed primarily as a Tkinter-focused builder embedded in the MD Python Designer family, which offers other designers as separate modules. | ||
| Platform & Deployment of Builder | Tkinter GUI Designer / MD Python Designer run as native Windows software (other OSs are mentioned mainly via virtual machines), while PyUiBuilder runs as a browser app and ships an Electron desktop client for Windows, macOS and Linux, making cross-platform use easier. | ||
| Pricing | PyUiBuilder’s paid offering is a low one-time lifetime license (around $29–$49) with unlimited exports and desktop app, while Tkinter GUI Designer Pro requires purchasing MD Python Designer licenses from LabDeck starting around £56 and MatDeck/MD Python Designer subscriptions are positioned as higher-priced professional tools. |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tkinter GUI Designer | PyUiBuilder | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop app availability | Tkinter GUI Designer/MD Python Designer are Windows desktop applications, and PyUiBuilder provides a paid desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux built on Electron. | ||
| Entry-level paid pricing | TkinterBuilder advertises MD Python Designer Pro at about £56, while PyUiBuilder’s lifetime hobby license is marketed around $29 (with higher-priced commercial options), so B is significantly cheaper for an individual developer. },{ | ||
| Free tier availability and limits | Tkinter GUI Designer’s free/Lite offering is limited to five widgets per UI, whereas PyUiBuilder’s free plan allows around 6 code exports per month but with restrictions such as no desktop app and fewer premium widgets. | ||
| Integrated code editor and event-handler UI | MD Python Designer includes a full Python IDE with debugger where you edit the generated code, while PyUiBuilder embeds a VS-Code-style editor and UI panels for attaching event handlers directly in the builder. | ||
| Third-party plugins and advanced widgets | MD Python Designer integrates graphs, databases and hardware/instrument widgets, while PyUiBuilder offers plugin slots and premium widgets such as charts, calendars, map viewers and video players. | ||
| Visual drag-and-drop Tkinter editor | Both tools provide WYSIWYG drag-and-drop canvases for building Tkinter GUIs and generating equivalent Python code instead of writing layouts by hand. | ||
| Web-based editor | Tkinter GUI Designer is delivered as downloadable Windows desktop software, while PyUiBuilder runs directly in a Chromium-based browser as well as via a desktop app. | ||
| Asset upload / image management | PyUiBuilder explicitly supports uploading images and logos that stay on the local machine, whereas MD Python Designer lets you place image widgets but does not highlight a dedicated asset management feature. | ||
| Live UI preview inside builder | PyUiBuilder heavily promotes live preview and debugging during design, whereas MD Python Designer focuses on generating Python code and running GUIs from within its IDE, with live preview less emphasised in marketing. | ||
| Multi-framework GUI support (beyond Tkinter) | Tkinter GUI Designer itself targets Tkinter, but the surrounding MD Python Designer suite also includes designers for Kivy, CustomTkinter, PySide2 and Flet, whereas PyUiBuilder supports Tkinter/TTK and CustomTkinter today with Kivy and PySide support being added. | ||
| Templates and example projects | TkinterBuilder provides an examples gallery and tutorials users can replicate, while PyUiBuilder ships UI templates and demo apps accessible from within the tool and documentation. | ||
| Exe / installer packaging built-in | MD Python Designer/MatDeck can build standalone .exe files and deployable apps from your GUIs, whereas PyUiBuilder currently focuses on generating Python source code and mentions packaging (such as Python-to-EXE) only as a future enhancement. |
Review Consensus
Tkinter GUI Designer
"Overall, Tkinter GUI Designer (via MD Python Designer) is perceived as a powerful, Windows-centric professional suite with strong integrations and code generation, but it is heavier and pricier than lightweight Tkinter builders. "
Based on 20 reviews
- ● Community reviewers highlight that MD Python Designer’s GUI builder works across many use cases, integrating graphs, databases and device integrations with a drag-and-drop workflow.
- ● Users report that it works well with Python and multiple GUI toolkits, reducing the need to hand-code large amounts of boilerplate UI logic.
- ● The suite is seen as suitable for building complex engineering and scientific applications where GUI, analysis and hardware I/O live in the same environment.
- ● Some reviewers note that the visual appearance of generated UIs is less polished than designs created with newer GUI frameworks or pure design tools.
- ● Because it is part of a larger Windows-centric product line, installation footprint and learning curve can feel heavier than lightweight web-based builders.
- ● Licensing is framed as professional software, which can be more expensive than indie-oriented tools and may be more than casual users need.
Data as of 12/20/2025
- ● Marketing materials emphasise that Tkinter GUI Designer lets users build much faster by visually designing Tkinter UIs and generating clean Python code.
- ● The free/Lite tier plus MD Python Designer Pro provide an upgrade path from learning Tkinter to building professional apps with an integrated IDE, debugger and code completion.
- ● Official docs and tutorials include step-by-step guides and an application gallery that help new users learn Tkinter patterns visually.
- ● The tooling is tied to LabDeck’s ecosystem, so users rely on that vendor for updates, licensing and long-term compatibility.
- ● Native support focuses on Windows, with macOS and Linux typically mentioned via virtual machine setups rather than first-class installers.
- ● The distinction between TkinterBuilder, MD Python Designer and other LabDeck SKUs can be confusing, requiring careful reading of multiple product pages.
Data as of 12/20/2025
PyUiBuilder
"Across community and marketing sources, PyUiBuilder is seen as an accessible, fast-evolving Canva-style GUI builder with strong value for individuals, though some frameworks and packaging features are still maturing and serious use typically requires the paid tier. "
- ● The open-source repository shows active development, a growing community and support for Tkinter/TTK, CustomTkinter and planned Kivy/PySide integrations from a single codebase.
- ● Example output and docs demonstrate that the generated Python code is clean and editable, which is attractive to developers who want to hand-tune logic after designing visually.
- ● The tool is built and maintained by a single indie developer but backed by community contributions and mentions in ecosystems like LibHunt and dev.to, suggesting healthy early traction.
- ● Some frameworks such as Kivy and PySide are noted as upcoming or in progress, meaning multi-framework workflows may be incomplete depending on version.
- ● Premium features (desktop app, unlimited exports, advanced widgets) are maintained in a separate closed-source codebase, creating a split between open and paid functionality.
- ● As a relatively young project maintained by one primary author, long-term roadmap and support depend heavily on that maintainer, which may concern risk-averse teams.
Data as of 12/20/2025
- ● Positioned as a Canva-style GUI builder, PyUiBuilder markets itself as easy for students and hobbyists while still useful for professionals wanting to prototype Python GUIs quickly.
- ● Marketing and lifetime-deal pages emphasise a generous one-time license with unlimited code exports, live preview, desktop app and premium widgets, which many users perceive as good value.
- ● Tutorial articles and videos show real projects (for example signup forms and multi-screen apps) being built in minutes, reinforcing its positioning as a fast prototyping tool.
- ● Product Hunt and other marketplaces currently show limited formal review data compared with older commercial GUI suites, so third-party validation is still emerging.
- ● Free users are constrained by export limits and missing features like save/load and desktop app, which pushes serious usage toward the paid license.
- ● Desktop binaries are not yet code-signed and can trigger warnings or antivirus friction on Windows, which may worry less technical users.
Data as of 12/20/2025
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