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PyCaret
What PyCaret is
PyCaret is a free, open-source, low-code Python tool for automating machine-learning workflows. Its experiment APIs cover classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, and time-series forecasting. Users can fit experiments, compare and tune models, make predictions, and save or load results. Fitted outputs can be used as scikit-learn pipelines, with forecasting pipelines for time-series work. The engine installs from PyPI using `pip install pycaret`; Python 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13 are listed as supported. Forecasting, explainability, and dashboard dependencies are optional extras. The default workflow runs on CPU, while GPU-accelerated estimators are available if their required libraries are installed. An optional React dashboard and FastAPI backend can be self-hosted for multi-user and deployment workflows. Saved pipelines can be served behind FastAPI, and the optional PyCaret server has an HTTP prediction endpoint. The backend can be connected to existing authentication and is JWT-friendly. The FAQ directs questions to GitHub Discussions and bug reports to GitHub Issues. PyCaret is MIT-licensed, with no paid or enterprise plan stated.
Who it suits
PyCaret suits Python users automating model workflows across its supported machine-learning tasks. Its optional self-hosted dashboard and backend may suit teams working on multi-user or deployment workflows.
What it does well
- Covers classification, regression, clustering, and more.
- Supports model comparison, tuning, and prediction.
- Fitted outputs can be portable pipelines.
- Free and MIT-licensed.
What to know first
- GPU estimators require relevant libraries.
- Dashboard and other dependencies are optional extras.
- The 4.0 release removes the 3.x module-level functional API.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PyCaret | MIT-licensed open source; no paid tier or enterprise plan stated | Free |
| PyCaret open-source | No paid tier · MIT open-source engine · self-hosted | Free |
As pycaret.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Install the core engine from PyPI with `pip install pycaret`.
- Use Python 3.11, 3.12, or 3.13.
- Add optional forecasting, explainability, or dashboard dependencies if needed.
- Choose an experiment API for classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, or time-series forecasting.
- Fit and compare models, then tune them and make predictions.
- Save or load a model; use its pipeline for deployment if needed.
Verdict
PyCaret brings several machine-learning workflows into a low-code Python tool, with pipelines and optional serving components. Existing code using the 3.x module-level functional API may need to stay on 3.x; the FAQ recommends 4.0 for new work.
Questions
How much does PyCaret cost?
PyCaret is free and MIT-licensed. No paid or enterprise plan is stated.
What machine-learning tasks does PyCaret cover?
Its experiment APIs cover classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, and time-series forecasting.
Which Python versions are supported?
The installation page lists Python 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13.
Can PyCaret use a GPU?
The default path runs on CPU. GPU-accelerated estimators are available when the required libraries are installed.
Can I deploy a saved PyCaret model?
Yes. A saved pipeline can be served behind FastAPI, and the optional PyCaret server provides an HTTP prediction endpoint.
What should existing 3.x users know about version 4.0?
PyCaret 4.0 removes the 3.x module-level functional API. The FAQ advises pinning 3.x for existing code and using 4.0 for new work.
Facts from PyCaret's own pages
- Anomaly detection
- AnomalyExperiment uses pyod adapters including Isolation Forest, KNN, COPOD, ECOD, LOF, PCA, MCD, ABOD, CBLOF, HBOS, OCSVM, SOS, and SOD. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Backend API
- The optional pycaret-server backend is a FastAPI service with CRUD, run orchestration, WebSockets, pipeline deployment, and plot endpoints. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Classification
- ClassificationExperiment handles categorical targets and includes metrics such as accuracy, AUC, recall, precision, F1, kappa, and MCC. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Clustering
- ClusteringExperiment offers KMeans, affinity propagation, mean shift, spectral, hierarchical, DBSCAN, OPTICS, Birch, KMode, and HDBSCAN adapters. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Company description
- LinkedIn describes PyCaret as an open-source, low-code machine-learning library and a nonprofit software-development organization. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company location
- LinkedIn lists Toronto, Canada as PyCaret's headquarters and primary location. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists PyCaret's company size as 11–50 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility break
- Version 4.0 removes the 3.x module-level functional API and requires the new Experiment object-oriented API; mixing 3.x and 4.0 is unsupported. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- PyCaret 4.0 removes the 3.x module-level functional API, so the FAQ advises pinning 3.x for existing code and using 4.0 for new work. · pycaret.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Current maturity
- The GitHub repository labels the 4.0 line as work in progress and says the 3.x line is frozen at 3.4.0. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Dashboard
- An optional React dashboard and FastAPI backend can be self-hosted for multi-user and deployment workflows. · pycaret.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Models can be saved as portable scikit-learn pipelines, served behind FastAPI, or deployed through the optional pycaret-server layer. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The official site includes concepts, tutorials, preprocessing references, function guides, FAQs, a cheat sheet, and generated API reference. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Explainability and plots
- The plotting modules expose diagnostic charts for classification, regression, features, clustering, anomalies, time series, and exploratory analysis. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Forecasting
- TimeSeriesExperiment is built on sktime and supports models such as ARIMA, AutoARIMA, exponential smoothing, ETS, Theta, STLF, Croston, and reduced-regressor adapters. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- LinkedIn lists PyCaret as founded in 2020. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- The default path runs on CPU, and GPU-accelerated estimators are available when the relevant libraries are installed. · pycaret.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Canada · pycaret.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Hyperparameter tuning
- tune_model performs configurable iterative hyperparameter searches and returns tuned pipelines and parameters. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documented installation is pip install pycaret, with dashboard, explainability, and forecasting extras available. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- PyCaret wraps or interoperates with scikit-learn, XGBoost, Microsoft LightGBM, spaCy, sktime, pyod, FastAPI, React, and Plotly. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Known limitations
- The 4.0 changelog lists incomplete plot rewrites, legacy internals still being replaced, and no Python 3.14 support. · pycaret.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- PyCaret 4.0 licenses the engine under MIT and the control-plane components under BUSL-1.1 with a later Apache-2.0 change date and an additional-use grant. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: comparative performance
- A 2023 healthcare study reported PyCaret accuracy below AutoGluon on several Cleveland, combined, and Hungarian dataset tests, with Hungarian unreduced accuracy around 68%. · scribd.com, 15 Oct 2026
Where PyCaret stands on Freedom251
- Predictive Analytics Software#1 of 37