# Race uv against pip on a cold cache install

> Same packages, same box, cold cache: pip took 7.07 seconds, uv took 0.50 seconds.

Source: https://fullbytedeveloper.com/blog/uv-pip-cold-cache-install-race
Keyword: UV
Originally posted: 2026-11-06
Published here: 2026-11-07
Tested: 2026-11-02, Python 3.13.5, pip 25.1.1, uv 0.13.6 on Linux

Same packages, same box, cold cache: pip took 7.07 seconds, uv took 0.50 seconds. I ran this test on 2 November 2026 with Python 3.13.5, pip 25.1.1, and uv 0.13.6 on a single Linux box.

## Install uv

The fastest way is the standalone installer [1]:

```bash
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
```

Or install it as a Python tool:

```bash
pipx install uv
```

You should see uv available on your path.

## Use uv in place of pip

The pip interface supports common pip workflows, with differences documented in the compatibility guide [2][4]. Point it at your venv's Python:

```bash
uv pip install --python .venv/bin/python -r requirements.txt
```

You should see the packages installed into `.venv`. Measure the elapsed time on your own setup.

## Race them yourself

**Warning:** the commands below delete and recreate the `.venv` folder. Run these in a disposable benchmark directory, not in an existing project with a venv you want to keep.

Create a fresh venv and time pip with no cache:

```bash
python3 -m venv .venv && time .venv/bin/pip install --no-cache-dir requests flask pandas
```

Remove the venv and race uv:

```bash
rm -rf .venv
python3 -m venv .venv && time uv pip install --no-cache --python .venv/bin/python requests flask pandas
```

Run each two or three times. In my test:

| Run | pip (s) | uv (s) | Ratio |
|-----|---------|--------|-------|
| 1   | 7.07    | 0.50   | 14.1x |
| 2   | 6.37    | 0.43   | 14.8x |
| 3   | 6.28    | 0.55   | 11.4x |

Your numbers will depend on your network and the packages you install. The point is to measure on your own setup.

## What changed

The only difference between the pip and uv commands:

```text
Before: .venv/bin/pip install --no-cache-dir requests flask pandas
After:  uv pip install --no-cache --python .venv/bin/python requests flask pandas
```

uv is free and open source under Apache 2.0 or MIT, developed by Astral [3].

Repeat the comparison with the packages you actually use.

## Sources

1. [uv installation docs](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/)
2. [uv pip interface docs](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/pip/)
3. [uv repo](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv)
4. [uv pip compatibility](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/pip/compatibility/)

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