diff --git a/python/CONTRIBUTING.md b/python/CONTRIBUTING.md
index fefded45d..c0431731c 100644
--- a/python/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/python/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ uv sync --all-extras --dev
 
 ```bash
 cd python/x402
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+pip install -e . --group dev
 ```
 
 ## Development Workflow
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ From the `python/x402/` directory:
 
 | Command | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
-| `uv sync --dev` | Install/update dependencies |
+| `uv sync` | Install/update dependencies |
 | `uv run pytest` | Run tests |
 | `uvx ruff check` | Lint code |
 | `uvx ruff check --fix` | Lint and fix |
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class x402YourClient(BaseX402Client):
     # Implement payment handling hooks
 ```
 
-2. Export from `src/x402/clients/__init__.py`
+2. Add friendly `ImportError` wrapper at the top of your module (see `src/x402/clients/httpx.py` for example)
 
 3. Add tests in `tests/clients/test_your_client.py`
 
@@ -137,13 +137,11 @@ src/x402/your_framework/
    - Call facilitator to verify and settle payments
    - Add `X-PAYMENT-RESPONSE` header on success
 
-4. Add the dependency to `pyproject.toml`:
+4. Add the dependency to `pyproject.toml` as an optional extra:
 
 ```toml
-dependencies = [
-    # ... existing deps
-    "your-framework>=1.0.0",
-]
+[project.optional-dependencies]
+your-framework = ["your-framework>=1.0.0"]
 ```
 
 5. Add tests in `tests/your_framework_tests/`
diff --git a/python/x402/README.md b/python/x402/README.md
index f6441e9f2..225a8c96a 100644
--- a/python/x402/README.md
+++ b/python/x402/README.md
@@ -4,8 +4,22 @@ Python package for the x402 payments protocol.
 
 ## Installation
 
+Install the core package with your preferred framework/client:
+
 ```bash
-pip install x402
+# Server frameworks (pick one based on your stack)
+pip install x402[fastapi]    # FastAPI middleware
+pip install x402[flask]      # Flask middleware
+
+# HTTP clients (pick one based on your preference)
+pip install x402[httpx]      # Async httpx client
+pip install x402[requests]   # Sync requests client
+
+# Or install multiple extras
+pip install x402[fastapi,httpx]
+
+# Install everything (for development)
+pip install x402[all]
 ```
 
 ## Overview
@@ -17,6 +31,8 @@ The x402 package provides the core building blocks for implementing the x402 Pay
 - httpx client for paying resources
 - requests client for paying resources
 
+Each integration is an optional dependency - install only what you need to keep your environment lean.
+
 ## FastAPI Integration
 
 The simplest way to add x402 payment protection to your FastAPI application:
diff --git a/python/x402/pyproject.toml b/python/x402/pyproject.toml
index a34e26bab..edd50f051 100644
--- a/python/x402/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/x402/pyproject.toml
@@ -14,14 +14,26 @@ dependencies = [
     "eth-account>=0.13.7",
     "eth-typing>=4.0.0",
     "eth-utils>=3.0.0",
-    "fastapi[standard]>=0.115.12",
-    "flask>=3.0.0",
     "pydantic>=2.10.3",
     "pydantic-settings>=2.2.1",
     "python-dotenv>=1.0.1",
     "web3>=6.0.0",
 ]
 
+[project.optional-dependencies]
+# Server frameworks - install one based on your stack
+flask = ["flask>=3.0.0"]
+fastapi = ["fastapi[standard]>=0.115.12"]
+
+# HTTP clients - install one based on your preference
+httpx = ["httpx>=0.28.0"]
+requests = ["requests>=2.31.0"]
+
+# Convenience bundles
+servers = ["x402[flask,fastapi]"]
+clients = ["x402[httpx,requests]"]
+all = ["x402[flask,fastapi,httpx,requests]"]
+
 [project.scripts]
 
 
@@ -34,6 +46,11 @@ dev = [
     "pytest>=8.3.5",
     "pytest-asyncio>=1.0.0",
     "ruff>=0.11.9",
+    # Include all optional deps for testing
+    "flask>=3.0.0",
+    "fastapi[standard]>=0.115.12",
+    "httpx>=0.28.0",
+    "requests>=2.31.0",
 ]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/__init__.py b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/__init__.py
index feffaa396..eda4b72b6 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/__init__.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/__init__.py
@@ -1,20 +1,18 @@
+"""
+HTTP client integrations for x402 payment handling.
+
+Core exports (always available):
+    - x402Client: Base client for payment handling
+    - decode_x_payment_response: Decode X-Payment-Response header
+
+Optional clients (install separately):
+    pip install x402[httpx]     → from x402.clients.httpx import x402HttpxClient
+    pip install x402[requests]  → from x402.clients.requests import x402_requests
+"""
+
 from x402.clients.base import x402Client, decode_x_payment_response
-from x402.clients.httpx import (
-    x402_payment_hooks,
-    x402HttpxClient,
-)
-from x402.clients.requests import (
-    x402HTTPAdapter,
-    x402_http_adapter,
-    x402_requests,
-)
 
 __all__ = [
     "x402Client",
     "decode_x_payment_response",
-    "x402_payment_hooks",
-    "x402HttpxClient",
-    "x402HTTPAdapter",
-    "x402_http_adapter",
-    "x402_requests",
 ]
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/httpx.py b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/httpx.py
index 430cfb8ee..09509a280 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/httpx.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/httpx.py
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 from typing import Optional, Dict, List
-from httpx import Request, Response, AsyncClient
+
+try:
+    from httpx import Request, Response, AsyncClient
+except ImportError as e:
+    raise ImportError(
+        "httpx client requires the httpx package. Install with: pip install x402[httpx]"
+    ) from e
+
 from eth_account import Account
 from x402.clients.base import (
     x402Client,
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/requests.py b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/requests.py
index fee534694..50bf100c6 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/clients/requests.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/clients/requests.py
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 from typing import Optional
-import requests
 import json
-from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+
+try:
+    import requests
+    from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+except ImportError as e:
+    raise ImportError(
+        "requests client requires the requests package. Install with: pip install x402[requests]"
+    ) from e
+
 from eth_account import Account
 from x402.clients.base import (
     x402Client,
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/__init__.py b/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/__init__.py
index e69de29bb..9eb2bb6b3 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/__init__.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+"""
+FastAPI middleware for x402 payment requirements.
+
+Install: pip install x402[fastapi]
+Usage:   from x402.fastapi.middleware import require_payment
+
+Example:
+    from fastapi import FastAPI
+    from x402.fastapi.middleware import require_payment
+
+    app = FastAPI()
+    app.middleware("http")(require_payment(price="$0.001", pay_to_address="0x..."))
+"""
+
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/middleware.py b/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/middleware.py
index ebb983231..4048392d1 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/middleware.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/fastapi/middleware.py
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@
 import logging
 from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, get_args, cast
 
-from fastapi import Request
-from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse, HTMLResponse
+try:
+    from fastapi import Request
+    from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse, HTMLResponse
+except ImportError as e:
+    raise ImportError(
+        "FastAPI middleware requires the fastapi package. Install with: pip install x402[fastapi]"
+    ) from e
+
 from pydantic import validate_call
 
 from x402.common import (
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/flask/__init__.py b/python/x402/src/x402/flask/__init__.py
index e69de29bb..db614ccec 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/flask/__init__.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/flask/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+"""
+Flask middleware for x402 payment requirements.
+
+Install: pip install x402[flask]
+Usage:   from x402.flask.middleware import PaymentMiddleware
+
+Example:
+    from flask import Flask
+    from x402.flask.middleware import PaymentMiddleware
+
+    app = Flask(__name__)
+    middleware = PaymentMiddleware(app)
+    middleware.add(path="/weather", price="$0.001", pay_to_address="0x...")
+"""
+
diff --git a/python/x402/src/x402/flask/middleware.py b/python/x402/src/x402/flask/middleware.py
index 8f99c8d66..2d969a8fe 100644
--- a/python/x402/src/x402/flask/middleware.py
+++ b/python/x402/src/x402/flask/middleware.py
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 import base64
 import json
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Union, get_args, cast
-from flask import Flask, request, g
+
+try:
+    from flask import Flask, request, g
+except ImportError as e:
+    raise ImportError(
+        "Flask middleware requires the flask package. Install with: pip install x402[flask]"
+    ) from e
 from x402.path import path_is_match
 from x402.types import (
     Price,