--- title: "PythonAnywhere vs while: the French alternative" url: https://while.sh/en/comparisons/while-vs-pythonanywhere/ author: "Grégoire Mougeolle, co-founder of Nextmap" updated: 2026-11-02 --- # PythonAnywhere vs while: which one to choose when your AI agent deploys? PythonAnywhere puts Python in your browser, ideal for learning and for a first site. while is built for a real app: your AI agent deploys it over MCP, in France, with its database backed up every day. ## What changes between PythonAnywhere and while | What matters | PythonAnywhere | while | |---|---|---| | Who it's for | People who code and host Python in the browser (source 1) | People who build their apps with an AI agent, solo or as a team | | Your AI agent | An experimental MCP server that can delete files and apps (source 2) | Connected over MCP, with OAuth: it deploys, creates the database, reads the logs and fixes things | | What protects production | The advice to keep a human in the loop for deletions (source 2) | Sensitive actions, like deleting a production database, wait for a person | | The database | PostgreSQL as a paid option, with no point-in-time recovery: backups are up to you (source 3) | PostgreSQL in while, backed up every day, with point-in-time recovery | | Who opens your app | A username and a password for all visitors (source 4) | Everyone, a password, or the company account with the Pro plan | | In France | No, the United States or Frankfurt (source 5) | Yes, with Nextmap, a French company | | To get started | Free for one app that you renew every month, then $10 per month (source 6) | A trial without an account. Then €0 to get started, and €13.75 per month for an app and its database | ## PythonAnywhere, Python in the browser PythonAnywhere puts Python in your browser: you code, run and host your site without installing anything, with wizards for Django, Flask and web2py (source 1). For learning, it's an ideal playground, and teachers use it in class (source 1). ## With while, your AI agent does the rest - **No server to maintain.** No system to update, no disk to watch, no certificate to renew: your agent deploys, and while takes care of the rest. - **Your databases are backed up for you.** Every day, with point-in-time recovery, and a production backup tested every day. - **Nothing serious happens without you.** Deleting a production database waits for your approval, before it runs, and every action is recorded in a signed activity log. - **Your keys stay secret.** Your app uses them, your agent never sees them. - **Your colleagues sign in with the company account.** Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, on the Pro plan, with no sign-in page to code. ## Moving from PythonAnywhere to while ### Take over your app > You, to your agent: Move our PythonAnywhere app to while. Your agent writes while.yaml from your code or your Dockerfile, and deploys the app. ### Copy your PostgreSQL database > You, to your agent: Copy our PostgreSQL database to while. Your agent exports the database with `pg_dump`, then loads it into while. ### Carry over your variables > You, to your agent: Carry over our environment variables. Your agent carries your settings over to while. You enter your secret keys yourself: it never sees them. ## Which one to choose - **Choose PythonAnywhere** to learn Python and host a first site, without installing anything. - **Choose while** for a real Django or FastAPI app, which your AI agent deploys in France, with its database backed up every day. ## Next steps - [Deploy a FastAPI API](/en/guides/deploy-fastapi/) - [Deploy a Django app and its PostgreSQL database](/en/guides/deploy-django/) - [Compare Python API hosting](/en/comparisons/python-api-hosting/) ## Sources 1. [PythonAnywhere, home page](https://www.pythonanywhere.com/), 2026-11-02 2. [PythonAnywhere, the MCP server](https://github.com/pythonanywhere/pythonanywhere-mcp-server), 2026-11-02 3. [PythonAnywhere, backing up PostgreSQL](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/RegularPostgresBackups/), 2026-11-02 4. [PythonAnywhere, a password on a site](https://blog.pythonanywhere.com/199/), 2026-11-02 5. [PythonAnywhere, databases and the two systems](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/KindsOfDatabases/), 2026-11-02 6. [PythonAnywhere, pricing](https://www.pythonanywhere.com/pricing/), 2026-11-02 7. [PythonAnywhere, ASGI apps (experimental)](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/ASGICommandLine/), 2026-11-02 ## Questions ### Does FastAPI work on PythonAnywhere? Experimentally: ASGI apps are still in beta there (source 7). On while, FastAPI is detected and started with uvicorn. ### Where is my data hosted? At PythonAnywhere, in the United States or in Frankfurt (source 5). At while, in France, by Nextmap, a French company. ### Can my agent move from PythonAnywhere to while? Yes. It takes your code from GitHub, installs it from requirements.txt, copies the database and carries over your settings.