Comparison
lightly vs lightly-train
Verdict
Pick lightly if lightly specializes in self-supervised learning for image data to improve computer vision models without labeled datasets; pick lightly-train if lightly-train is a Python-based framework focused on training vision models including YOLO, ViTs, RT-DETR, and DINOv3, offering comprehensive features like pretraining, fine-tuning, and distillation.
Markdown twin · lightly alternatives · lightly-train alternatives
GraphCanon updated 3d
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | lightly | lightly-train |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of 3d · github_public_v1 | Active (7d since push) As of 3d · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 3d · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 3d · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- lightly
- A python library for self-supervised learning on images.
- lightly-train
- All-in-one training for vision models: pretraining, fine-tuning, distillation.
Stars
- lightly
- 3.8k
- lightly-train
- 1.6k
Forks
- lightly
- 354
- lightly-train
- 107
Open issues
- lightly
- 97
- lightly-train
- 68
Language
- lightly
- Python
- lightly-train
- Python
Adopt for
- lightly
- Lightly specializes in self-supervised learning for image data to improve computer vision models without labeled datasets.
- lightly-train
- Lightly-train is a Python-based framework focused on training vision models including YOLO, ViTs, RT-DETR, and DINOv3, offering comprehensive features like pretraining, fine-tuning, and distillation.
Persona
- lightly
- -
- lightly-train
- -
Runtime
- lightly
- -
- lightly-train
- -
License
- lightly
- MIT
- lightly-train
- AGPL-3.0
Last pushed
- lightly
- Aug 21, 2026
- lightly-train
- Aug 14, 2026
Categories
- lightly
- Computer Vision, Model Training
- lightly-train
- Computer Vision, Model Training
Trust and health
Maintenance
- lightly
- Very active (96%)
- lightly-train
- Active (82%)
Days since push
- lightly
- 0d
- lightly-train
- 7d
Open issues (now)
- lightly
- 97
- lightly-train
- 68
Stars delta
- lightly
- +11 (30d)
- lightly-train
- +28 (30d)
Open issues delta
- lightly
- +4 (30d)
- lightly-train
- +5 (30d)
Full report
- lightly
- Trust report
- lightly-train
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · lightly: Python runtime · lightly-train: Python runtime
Choose lightly if…
- License: lightly is MIT, lightly-train is AGPL-3.0.
- Tags unique to lightly: self-supervised-learning.
- You need to enhance model performance with unlabeled image data.
When NOT to use lightly
- Labeled datasets are abundant and of high quality for your use case.
- Project requirements strictly limit the use of Python-based libraries.
Choose lightly-train if…
- License: lightly-train is AGPL-3.0, lightly is MIT.
- Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM.
- Tags unique to lightly-train: depth-estimation, dinov2, dinov3, distillation.
- Lightly-train is a Python-based framework focused on training vision models including YOLO, ViTs, RT-DETR, and DINOv3, offering comprehensive features like pretraining, fine-tuning, and distillation.
When NOT to use lightly-train
- Model Training: Try prompting and RAG first; fine-tuning is the answer to style/format, not missing knowledge.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (lightly-ai/lightly) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- GitHub forks (lightly-ai/lightly) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- Last push (lightly-ai/lightly) · observed Aug 21, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 12, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (lightly-ai/lightly-train) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- GitHub forks (lightly-ai/lightly-train) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- Last push (lightly-ai/lightly-train) · observed Aug 14, 2026
- License file (AGPL-3.0) · observed Aug 22, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 12, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: lightly 3.8k · lightly-train 1.6k (synced Aug 22, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between lightly and lightly-train?
- lightly: A python library for self-supervised learning on images.. lightly-train: All-in-one training for vision models: pretraining, fine-tuning, distillation.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose lightly over lightly-train?
- Choose lightly over lightly-train when License: lightly is MIT, lightly-train is AGPL-3.0; Tags unique to lightly: self-supervised-learning; You need to enhance model performance with unlabeled image data.
- When should I choose lightly-train over lightly?
- Choose lightly-train over lightly when License: lightly-train is AGPL-3.0, lightly is MIT; Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM; Tags unique to lightly-train: depth-estimation, dinov2, dinov3, distillation; Lightly-train is a Python-based framework focused on training vision models including YOLO, ViTs, RT-DETR, and DINOv3, offering comprehensive features like pretraining, fine-tuning, and distillation.
- When should I avoid lightly?
- Labeled datasets are abundant and of high quality for your use case. Project requirements strictly limit the use of Python-based libraries.
- When should I avoid lightly-train?
- Model Training: Try prompting and RAG first; fine-tuning is the answer to style/format, not missing knowledge.
- Is lightly or lightly-train more popular on GitHub?
- lightly has more GitHub stars (3,795 vs 1,650). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are lightly and lightly-train open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (lightly: MIT, lightly-train: AGPL-3.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to lightly or lightly-train?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at lightly alternatives and lightly-train alternatives (lightly markdown twin, lightly-train markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, lightly or lightly-train?
- lightly: Very active. lightly-train: Active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for lightly and lightly-train?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: lightly trust report; lightly-train trust report.