Python GUI, PyQt or tkinter?

You can make a GUI with Python using the modules tkinter or PyQt. Wanna make a GUI application in Python 3?

You have to choose between the Tkinter and PyQt libraries.

I have been using Tkinter for some time now (as in 15 Years) and am familiar with it. In our current project we have started to use PyQt classes and I find them more intuitive.

Tkinter is a bit more verbose, Qt more convenient. Tkinter used to be part of the standard python library which is installed on most systems

PyQt

pyqt is an object-oriented Python binding of the cross-platform Qt GUI toolkit.

PyQt provides full access to all Qt 5.x stable widgets.
It is simple, mostly API compatible and very efficient. Another goal of PyQt is to be a bridge between the huge
number of existing Qt applications and Python programmers.

Some of the major features are:

• Python syntax in .py files, no need for .ui files;
• A unique Pythonic interface: Python variables can be used as properties;
• Powerful event system with multi-level undo/redo support;
• Full integration with the Python interpreter (call Python from Qt applications; call Qt application from Python);
• Access to all (nearly 400) non-deprecated functions and properties of the Qt 5.x API.
• Cross-platform on computers and embedded devices
• Supports many widgets, even a widget to play video

tkinter

Python includes a graphical user interface (GUI) toolkit called Tkinter. Tkinter is based on the original Tcl/Tk package and provides a set of classes to create and control graphical user interfaces.

Tkinter is the Python interface to the Tcl/Tk GUI system.
It is a wrapper around Tcl/Tk that allows for rapid GUI development in Python.

It provides both a traditional (Tkinter) interface and more modern Scrolled Canvas, and other Tkinter-like widgets.
It was written to provide a simple, portable and capable interface for Python programs that need a windowing environment.

It has been tested on MS-Windows, X-Windows (Linux, Solaris, ...), MacOS, BeOS, AmigaOS, QNX, VMS and pSOS+.

Comparison

The number of widgets is very limited in tkinter compared to PyQt. On top of that, PyQt comes with a drag and drop designer program.

Tkinter also has quite an old-fashioned look, as compared to PyQt which can mimick a native OS look.

If you are new to PyQt, this course is a good place to start.