What it does
PythonAnywhere combines an online Python editor, Bash and Python consoles, file storage, scheduled tasks and hosted web applications. For a Django or Flask site, a developer brings or clones the code, prepares its Python environment, then configures a WSGI web app in the browser dashboard. The provider handles the web-server layer, so this is a focused Python environment rather than a general-purpose VPS. Its limited free account is useful for trying the workflow; paid plans add features such as custom domains and SSH access.
Deploying an existing Django project
The official guide's route starts with a copy of the project, commonly cloned from a code host in a Bash console. Create a virtual environment for the project and install its dependencies there. In the Web tab, add a web app with Manual Configuration and choose the same Python version as the environment. Then configure the platform's WSGI file to import the Django settings and expose the application. This is a useful distinction from local development: PythonAnywhere uses its own WSGI file for the hosted app, not simply the project's development server.
Set a working directory and static-file mappings when the project needs them, then reload the web app after configuration changes. The help guide points to the web app's error log as the first place to investigate a failed import or startup. Flask, Bottle and web2py have quickstart paths; other WSGI frameworks can use manual configuration.
What the managed layer buys you
The service provides the browser workspace and web server, so a small Python site does not require provisioning and patching a Linux machine. Paid accounts can attach custom domains and use SSH. The free Beginner account has one web app on a PythonAnywhere subdomain and two consoles, but outbound Internet access from code is restricted. Check plan limits before relying on external APIs or a particular amount of compute; the published CPU-second allowance applies to consoles and scheduled or always-on tasks, not the web app itself.
This is a practical fit for Python teaching, prototypes and modest WSGI applications. It is not a general VPS for arbitrary runtimes or system-level server configuration.
Strengths
- An in-browser Python IDE, Python and Bash consoles, and hosted web apps are available from the same account.
- The documented WSGI setup supports existing Django projects and can be adapted to other WSGI frameworks.
- The provider manages the web-server layer instead of requiring the user to maintain a Linux host.
Watch out for
- The free account restricts outbound Internet access from applications and includes only one web app on a PythonAnywhere subdomain.
- Custom domains and SSH access are paid-plan features.
Best for
- Deploying a small Django or Flask site without managing a Linux server
- Python learning and browser-based development with persistent cloud consoles
- Hosting a WSGI application whose framework and dependencies fit the service's environment
Sources
- Host, run, and code Python in the cloud: PythonAnywhere (Oct 25, 2026)
- Deploying an existing Django project on PythonAnywhere (Oct 25, 2026)
- Plans and pricing: PythonAnywhere (Oct 25, 2026)