Getting started with Anaconda#

Welcome to Anaconda! This topic can help you decide which Anaconda installer to download and whether to use conda (CLI) or Anaconda Navigator (GUI) for managing environments and packages. You’ll also find several resources to build your understanding of Anaconda’s most popular offerings.

Should I use Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda?#

Both the Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda installers include the conda package and environment manager, but how you plan to use the software will determine which installer you want to choose.

Install Anaconda Distribution

Install Miniconda

Anaconda Distribution

Miniconda

Created and published by Anaconda

Yes

Yes

Has conda

Yes

Yes

Has Anaconda Navigator

Yes

No

# of packages

300+

< 70

Install space required

~4.4 GB

~480 MB

What’s your experience level?#

I’m just starting out and don’t know what packages I should use.: Install Anaconda Distribution! It includes over 300 standard data science and machine learning packages, which will give you a kickstart in your development journey.
I don’t have much experience with the command line.: Install Anaconda Distribution! The install includes Anaconda Navigator, a desktop application that is built on top of conda. You can use Navigator’s graphical user interface (GUI) to create environments, install packages, and launch development applications like Jupyter Notebooks and Spyder. For more information on Navigator, see Getting started with Navigator.
I know exactly what packages I want to use and I don’t want a large download.: Install Miniconda! Miniconda is a minimal installer that only includes a very small installation of Anaconda’s distribution—conda, Python, and a few other packages. For more information, see the Miniconda documentation.
I only use the command line.: Install Miniconda or Anaconda Distribution! Both installations include conda, the command line package and environment manager. For more information on conda, see the conda Getting Started page or download the conda cheatsheet.

Should I use Anaconda Navigator or conda?#

Anaconda Navigator is a desktop application that is included with every installation of Anaconda Distribution. It is built on top of conda, the open-source package and environment manager, and allows you to manage your packages and environments from a graphical user interface (GUI). This is especially helpful when you’re not comfortable with the command line.

Note

Anaconda Navigator is not included with Miniconda. Use the command conda install anaconda-navigator to manually install Navigator onto your computer.

A command line interface (or CLI) is a program on your computer that processes text commands to do various tasks. Conda is a CLI program, which means it can only be used via the command line. On Windows computers, Anaconda recommends that you use the Anaconda Prompt CLI to work with conda. On macOS and Linux, users can use their built-in command line applications.

Navigator resources

Conda resources

Free Anaconda Learning course#

In the Get Started with Anaconda entry-level course, you’ll learn about packages, conda environments, Jupyter Notebooks, and more. We’ll also guide you through initiating a Python program (in both a notebook and several popular IDEs) and show you what happens when a bug is identified in Python code.

Get Started with Anaconda

Anaconda Notebooks#

Anaconda Notebooks allow anyone, anywhere to begin their data science journey. Spin up awesome data science projects directly from your browser with all the packages and computing power you need.

Launch Anaconda Notebooks

IDE tutorials#

The following tutorials show you the basics of using some popular IDEs (integrated development environments) with Anaconda:

	Anaconda Distribution	Miniconda
Created and published by Anaconda	Yes	Yes
Has conda	Yes	Yes
Has Anaconda Navigator	Yes	No
# of packages	300+	< 70
Install space required	~4.4 GB	~480 MB