PIP vs PIP3: Key Differences Every Python Developer Should Know
pip is the standard package installer for Python 2.x and 3.x when it’s the only interpreter on the system. pip3 is a copy of pip that explicitly targets Python 3.x, shipped alongside the interpreter so you can keep Python 2 packages untouched.
Developers on macOS or Debian often type pip install only to see “command not found” or end up installing into Python 2. The confusion grows when virtual-envs alias pip to the active Python, making pip3 feel like a separate tool instead of a safety flag.
Key Differences
Internally, pip3 is pip with its shebang pointing to python3. On most systems, pip maps to whichever interpreter appears first in PATH. If you have both Python 2 and 3, pip3 guarantees the package lands in site-packages for Python 3, while plain pip might go to Python 2.
Which One Should You Choose?
Use pip inside a virtual environment—its interpreter decides the target. On a global install or CI image with multiple Pythons, call pip3 to be explicit. When Python 2 is absent, pip and pip3 are identical; keep the shorter command.
Can I alias pip to pip3?
Yes, but it hides Python 2 and may break legacy scripts. Prefer virtual-envs or full paths instead.
Why does pip install fail on Ubuntu?
Ubuntu splits packages; install python3-pip to get pip3, then use pip3 install.