> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anaconda.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Anaconda Distribution vs. Miniconda

export const GCell = ({children, className}) => <div className={`grid-table-cell ${className || ""}`} role="cell">
    {children}
  </div>;

export const GTH = ({children, className}) => <div className={`grid-table-th ${className || ""}`} role="columnheader">
    {children}
  </div>;

export const GRow = ({children}) => <div className="grid-table-row" role="row">{children}</div>;

export const GBody = ({children}) => <div className="grid-table-body" role="rowgroup">{children}</div>;

export const GHead = ({children}) => <div className="grid-table-head" role="rowgroup">{children}</div>;

export const GTable = ({children, className, cols}) => <div className={`grid-table not-prose overflow-hidden rounded-2xl ${className || ""}`} style={{
  "--grid-table-cols": cols
}} role="table">
    {children}
  </div>;

Both Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda include <Tooltip tip="An open-source package and environment manager that installs, updates, and removes packages with their dependencies in isolated environments, allowing multiple versions of the same software without conflicts.">conda</Tooltip>, but they differ in what's pre-installed.

<GTable cols="45% 30% 25%">
  <GHead>
    <GRow>
      <GTH>Feature</GTH>
      <GTH>Anaconda Distribution</GTH>
      <GTH>Miniconda</GTH>
    </GRow>
  </GHead>

  <GBody>
    <GRow>
      <GTH>Created and published by Anaconda</GTH>
      <GTH>Yes</GTH>
      <GTH>Yes</GTH>
    </GRow>

    <GRow>
      <GTH>Has conda</GTH>
      <GTH>Yes</GTH>
      <GTH>Yes</GTH>
    </GRow>

    <GRow>
      <GTH>Has [Anaconda Navigator](/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/main)</GTH>
      <GTH>Yes</GTH>
      <GTH>No</GTH>
    </GRow>

    <GRow>
      <GTH>Packages included</GTH>
      <GTH>600+</GTH>
      <GTH>130+</GTH>
    </GRow>

    <GRow>
      <GTH>Install space required</GTH>
      <GTH>\~9.7 GB</GTH>
      <GTH>\~900 MB</GTH>
    </GRow>
  </GBody>
</GTable>

### Watch: Anaconda Distribution vs Miniconda

<div class="video">
  <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3GjrIuiGxX8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" enablejsapi="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; fullscreen" allowfullscreen />
</div>

## Anaconda Distribution

Anaconda Distribution is a Python/R data science distribution that contains:

* [conda](https://docs.conda.io/en/latest): a package and environment manager for your command line interface.
* [Anaconda Navigator](/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/main): a desktop application built on conda, with options to launch other development applications from your managed environments.
* [Over 600 automatically installed packages](/docs/getting-started/anaconda/release-notes) that work well together out of the box. See the full list of packages in Anaconda Distribution's [release notes](/docs/getting-started/anaconda/release-notes).
* Access to the [Anaconda Public Repository](https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/), with 8000 open-source data science and machine learning packages. An [RSS feed](https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/rss.xml) is updated each time a new package is added to the Anaconda package repository.

## Miniconda

Miniconda is a free, miniature installation of Anaconda Distribution that includes only conda, Python, the packages they both depend on, and a small number of other useful packages. See the full list of packages in Miniconda's [release notes](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/release-notes).

If you need more packages, use the `conda install` command to install from thousands of packages available by default in Anaconda's public repo, or from other channels, like conda-forge or bioconda.

## Which installer is right for you?

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="I'm just starting out and don't know what packages I should use">
    Install Anaconda Distribution! It includes [hundreds of standard data science and machine learning packages](/docs/getting-started/anaconda/release-notes), which will give you a kickstart in your development journey.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I'm just getting started and don't have much experience at the command line">
    For beginners, Anaconda recommends using Anaconda Distribution. The installer includes Anaconda Navigator, a desktop application that lets you interface with conda without using the command line. You can use Navigator to create environments, install packages, and launch development applications like Jupyter Notebooks and Spyder. For more information on Navigator, see [Getting started with Navigator](/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/getting-started).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I'm comfortable at the command line and know what packages I need">
    For advanced users, Anaconda recommends installing Miniconda.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>