diff --git a/_pytest/_code/code.py b/_pytest/_code/code.py
index 0230c5660..bec236876 100644
--- a/_pytest/_code/code.py
+++ b/_pytest/_code/code.py
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ from _pytest.compat import _PY2, _PY3, PY35, safe_str
 import py
 builtin_repr = repr
 
-reprlib = py.builtin._tryimport('repr', 'reprlib')
-
 if _PY3:
     from traceback import format_exception_only
 else:
@@ -235,7 +233,7 @@ class TracebackEntry(object):
             except KeyError:
                 return False
 
-        if py.builtin.callable(tbh):
+        if callable(tbh):
             return tbh(None if self._excinfo is None else self._excinfo())
         else:
             return tbh
diff --git a/_pytest/_code/source.py b/_pytest/_code/source.py
index e21fecb1e..2959d635a 100644
--- a/_pytest/_code/source.py
+++ b/_pytest/_code/source.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, generators, print_function
 
 from bisect import bisect_right
 import sys
+import six
 import inspect
 import tokenize
 import py
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ class Source(object):
                 partlines = part.lines
             elif isinstance(part, (tuple, list)):
                 partlines = [x.rstrip("\n") for x in part]
-            elif isinstance(part, py.builtin._basestring):
+            elif isinstance(part, six.string_types):
                 partlines = part.split('\n')
                 if rstrip:
                     while partlines:
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py b/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
index b0ef667d5..e9e39dae0 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 support for presenting detailed information in failing assertions.
 """
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
-import py
 import sys
+import six
 
 from _pytest.assertion import util
 from _pytest.assertion import rewrite
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def pytest_runtest_setup(item):
             if new_expl:
                 new_expl = truncate.truncate_if_required(new_expl, item)
                 new_expl = [line.replace("\n", "\\n") for line in new_expl]
-                res = py.builtin._totext("\n~").join(new_expl)
+                res = six.text_type("\n~").join(new_expl)
                 if item.config.getvalue("assertmode") == "rewrite":
                     res = res.replace("%", "%%")
                 return res
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py b/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
index 992002b81..956ff487f 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import imp
 import marshal
 import os
 import re
+import six
 import struct
 import sys
 import types
@@ -405,10 +406,10 @@ def _saferepr(obj):
 
     """
     repr = py.io.saferepr(obj)
-    if py.builtin._istext(repr):
-        t = py.builtin.text
+    if isinstance(repr, six.text_type):
+        t = six.text_type
     else:
-        t = py.builtin.bytes
+        t = six.binary_type
     return repr.replace(t("\n"), t("\\n"))
 
 
@@ -427,16 +428,16 @@ def _format_assertmsg(obj):
     # contains a newline it gets escaped, however if an object has a
     # .__repr__() which contains newlines it does not get escaped.
     # However in either case we want to preserve the newline.
-    if py.builtin._istext(obj) or py.builtin._isbytes(obj):
+    if isinstance(obj, six.text_type) or isinstance(obj, six.binary_type):
         s = obj
         is_repr = False
     else:
         s = py.io.saferepr(obj)
         is_repr = True
-    if py.builtin._istext(s):
-        t = py.builtin.text
+    if isinstance(s, six.text_type):
+        t = six.text_type
     else:
-        t = py.builtin.bytes
+        t = six.binary_type
     s = s.replace(t("\n"), t("\n~")).replace(t("%"), t("%%"))
     if is_repr:
         s = s.replace(t("\\n"), t("\n~"))
@@ -444,15 +445,15 @@ def _format_assertmsg(obj):
 
 
 def _should_repr_global_name(obj):
-    return not hasattr(obj, "__name__") and not py.builtin.callable(obj)
+    return not hasattr(obj, "__name__") and not callable(obj)
 
 
 def _format_boolop(explanations, is_or):
     explanation = "(" + (is_or and " or " or " and ").join(explanations) + ")"
-    if py.builtin._istext(explanation):
-        t = py.builtin.text
+    if isinstance(explanation, six.text_type):
+        t = six.text_type
     else:
-        t = py.builtin.bytes
+        t = six.binary_type
     return explanation.replace(t('%'), t('%%'))
 
 
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/truncate.py b/_pytest/assertion/truncate.py
index 1e1306356..2ed12e2e5 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/truncate.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/truncate.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Current default behaviour is to truncate assertion explanations at
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 import os
 
-import py
+import six
 
 
 DEFAULT_MAX_LINES = 8
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ def _truncate_explanation(input_lines, max_lines=None, max_chars=None):
         msg += ' ({0} lines hidden)'.format(truncated_line_count)
     msg += ", {0}" .format(USAGE_MSG)
     truncated_explanation.extend([
-        py.builtin._totext(""),
-        py.builtin._totext(msg),
+        six.text_type(""),
+        six.text_type(msg),
     ])
     return truncated_explanation
 
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/util.py b/_pytest/assertion/util.py
index 41e66448d..69cd9c630 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/util.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/util.py
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@ import pprint
 
 import _pytest._code
 import py
+import six
 try:
     from collections import Sequence
 except ImportError:
     Sequence = list
 
 
-u = py.builtin._totext
+u = six.text_type
 
 # The _reprcompare attribute on the util module is used by the new assertion
 # interpretation code and assertion rewriter to detect this plugin was
@@ -174,9 +175,9 @@ def _diff_text(left, right, verbose=False):
     """
     from difflib import ndiff
     explanation = []
-    if isinstance(left, py.builtin.bytes):
+    if isinstance(left, six.binary_type):
         left = u(repr(left)[1:-1]).replace(r'\n', '\n')
-    if isinstance(right, py.builtin.bytes):
+    if isinstance(right, six.binary_type):
         right = u(repr(right)[1:-1]).replace(r'\n', '\n')
     if not verbose:
         i = 0  # just in case left or right has zero length
diff --git a/_pytest/capture.py b/_pytest/capture.py
index a4171f0fa..1a5d8cf8d 100644
--- a/_pytest/capture.py
+++ b/_pytest/capture.py
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ import io
 from io import UnsupportedOperation
 from tempfile import TemporaryFile
 
-import py
+import six
 import pytest
 from _pytest.compat import CaptureIO
 
-unicode = py.builtin.text
 
 patchsysdict = {0: 'stdin', 1: 'stdout', 2: 'stderr'}
 
@@ -246,7 +245,7 @@ class EncodedFile(object):
         self.encoding = encoding
 
     def write(self, obj):
-        if isinstance(obj, unicode):
+        if isinstance(obj, six.text_type):
             obj = obj.encode(self.encoding, "replace")
         self.buffer.write(obj)
 
@@ -377,7 +376,7 @@ class FDCapture:
         if res:
             enc = getattr(f, "encoding", None)
             if enc and isinstance(res, bytes):
-                res = py.builtin._totext(res, enc, "replace")
+                res = six.text_type(res, enc, "replace")
             f.truncate(0)
             f.seek(0)
             return res
@@ -402,7 +401,7 @@ class FDCapture:
 
     def writeorg(self, data):
         """ write to original file descriptor. """
-        if py.builtin._istext(data):
+        if isinstance(data, six.text_type):
             data = data.encode("utf8")  # XXX use encoding of original stream
         os.write(self.targetfd_save, data)
 
diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index bdfe99b99..dedffd5a6 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import traceback
 import types
 import warnings
 
+import six
 import py
 # DON't import pytest here because it causes import cycle troubles
 import sys
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ def _prepareconfig(args=None, plugins=None):
     try:
         if plugins:
             for plugin in plugins:
-                if isinstance(plugin, py.builtin._basestring):
+                if isinstance(plugin, six.string_types):
                     pluginmanager.consider_pluginarg(plugin)
                 else:
                     pluginmanager.register(plugin)
@@ -421,7 +422,7 @@ class PytestPluginManager(PluginManager):
         # "terminal" or "capture".  Those plugins are registered under their
         # basename for historic purposes but must be imported with the
         # _pytest prefix.
-        assert isinstance(modname, (py.builtin.text, str)), "module name as text required, got %r" % modname
+        assert isinstance(modname, (six.text_type, str)), "module name as text required, got %r" % modname
         modname = str(modname)
         if self.get_plugin(modname) is not None:
             return
@@ -634,7 +635,7 @@ class Argument:
             pass
         else:
             # this might raise a keyerror as well, don't want to catch that
-            if isinstance(typ, py.builtin._basestring):
+            if isinstance(typ, six.string_types):
                 if typ == 'choice':
                     warnings.warn(
                         'type argument to addoption() is a string %r.'
@@ -947,7 +948,7 @@ class Config(object):
                                   )
         res = self.hook.pytest_internalerror(excrepr=excrepr,
                                              excinfo=excinfo)
-        if not py.builtin.any(res):
+        if not any(res):
             for line in str(excrepr).split("\n"):
                 sys.stderr.write("INTERNALERROR> %s\n" % line)
                 sys.stderr.flush()
diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index bfcbd6b48..f05cb7ff3 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 
 import functools
 import os
+import six
 import sys
 
 import _pytest
@@ -371,7 +372,7 @@ class Node(object):
         ``marker`` can be a string or pytest.mark.* instance.
         """
         from _pytest.mark import MarkDecorator, MARK_GEN
-        if isinstance(marker, py.builtin._basestring):
+        if isinstance(marker, six.string_types):
             marker = getattr(MARK_GEN, marker)
         elif not isinstance(marker, MarkDecorator):
             raise ValueError("is not a string or pytest.mark.* Marker")
diff --git a/_pytest/monkeypatch.py b/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
index 39ac77013..40ae560f0 100644
--- a/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
+++ b/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 import os
 import sys
 import re
-
-from py.builtin import _basestring
+import six
 from _pytest.fixtures import fixture
 
 RE_IMPORT_ERROR_NAME = re.compile("^No module named (.*)$")
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ def annotated_getattr(obj, name, ann):
 
 
 def derive_importpath(import_path, raising):
-    if not isinstance(import_path, _basestring) or "." not in import_path:
+    if not isinstance(import_path, six.string_types) or "." not in import_path:
         raise TypeError("must be absolute import path string, not %r" %
                         (import_path,))
     module, attr = import_path.rsplit('.', 1)
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ class MonkeyPatch:
         import inspect
 
         if value is notset:
-            if not isinstance(target, _basestring):
+            if not isinstance(target, six.string_types):
                 raise TypeError("use setattr(target, name, value) or "
                                 "setattr(target, value) with target being a dotted "
                                 "import string")
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ class MonkeyPatch:
         """
         __tracebackhide__ = True
         if name is notset:
-            if not isinstance(target, _basestring):
+            if not isinstance(target, six.string_types):
                 raise TypeError("use delattr(target, name) or "
                                 "delattr(target) with target being a dotted "
                                 "import string")
diff --git a/_pytest/nose.py b/_pytest/nose.py
index d246c5603..c81542ead 100644
--- a/_pytest/nose.py
+++ b/_pytest/nose.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 
 import sys
 
-import py
 from _pytest import unittest, runner, python
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def is_potential_nosetest(item):
 def call_optional(obj, name):
     method = getattr(obj, name, None)
     isfixture = hasattr(method, "_pytestfixturefunction")
-    if method is not None and not isfixture and py.builtin.callable(method):
+    if method is not None and not isfixture and callable(method):
         # If there's any problems allow the exception to raise rather than
         # silently ignoring them
         method()
diff --git a/_pytest/pastebin.py b/_pytest/pastebin.py
index 9d689819f..b588b021b 100644
--- a/_pytest/pastebin.py
+++ b/_pytest/pastebin.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 
 import pytest
+import six
 import sys
 import tempfile
 
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
 
 @pytest.hookimpl(trylast=True)
 def pytest_configure(config):
-    import py
     if config.option.pastebin == "all":
         tr = config.pluginmanager.getplugin('terminalreporter')
         # if no terminal reporter plugin is present, nothing we can do here;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
 
             def tee_write(s, **kwargs):
                 oldwrite(s, **kwargs)
-                if py.builtin._istext(s):
+                if isinstance(s, six.text_type):
                     s = s.encode('utf-8')
                 config._pastebinfile.write(s)
 
diff --git a/_pytest/pytester.py b/_pytest/pytester.py
index 2c558183b..2d2683574 100644
--- a/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import os
 import platform
 import re
 import subprocess
+import six
 import sys
 import time
 import traceback
@@ -482,8 +483,8 @@ class Testdir:
     def _makefile(self, ext, args, kwargs, encoding="utf-8"):
         items = list(kwargs.items())
         if args:
-            source = py.builtin._totext("\n").join(
-                map(py.builtin._totext, args)) + py.builtin._totext("\n")
+            source = six.text_type("\n").join(
+                map(six.text_type, args)) + six.text_type("\n")
             basename = self.request.function.__name__
             items.insert(0, (basename, source))
         ret = None
@@ -493,12 +494,12 @@ class Testdir:
             source = Source(value)
 
             def my_totext(s, encoding="utf-8"):
-                if py.builtin._isbytes(s):
-                    s = py.builtin._totext(s, encoding=encoding)
+                if isinstance(s, six.binary_type):
+                    s = six.text_type(s, encoding=encoding)
                 return s
 
             source_unicode = "\n".join([my_totext(line) for line in source.lines])
-            source = py.builtin._totext(source_unicode)
+            source = six.text_type(source_unicode)
             content = source.strip().encode(encoding)  # + "\n"
             # content = content.rstrip() + "\n"
             p.write(content, "wb")
diff --git a/_pytest/python.py b/_pytest/python.py
index e7bb9ad62..bdf14d841 100644
--- a/_pytest/python.py
+++ b/_pytest/python.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from textwrap import dedent
 from itertools import count
 
 import py
+import six
 from _pytest.mark import MarkerError
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 
@@ -613,7 +614,7 @@ class Generator(FunctionMixin, PyCollector):
         if not isinstance(obj, (tuple, list)):
             obj = (obj,)
         # explicit naming
-        if isinstance(obj[0], py.builtin._basestring):
+        if isinstance(obj[0], six.string_types):
             name = obj[0]
             obj = obj[1:]
         else:
@@ -725,7 +726,7 @@ class Metafunc(fixtures.FuncargnamesCompatAttr):
         self.cls = cls
 
         self._calls = []
-        self._ids = py.builtin.set()
+        self._ids = set()
         self._arg2fixturedefs = fixtureinfo.name2fixturedefs
 
     def parametrize(self, argnames, argvalues, indirect=False, ids=None,
@@ -827,7 +828,7 @@ class Metafunc(fixtures.FuncargnamesCompatAttr):
                 raise ValueError('%d tests specified with %d ids' % (
                                  len(parameters), len(ids)))
             for id_value in ids:
-                if id_value is not None and not isinstance(id_value, py.builtin._basestring):
+                if id_value is not None and not isinstance(id_value, six.string_types):
                     msg = 'ids must be list of strings, found: %s (type: %s)'
                     raise ValueError(msg % (saferepr(id_value), type(id_value).__name__))
         ids = idmaker(argnames, parameters, idfn, ids, self.config)
diff --git a/_pytest/runner.py b/_pytest/runner.py
index a1daa9761..003ce242f 100644
--- a/_pytest/runner.py
+++ b/_pytest/runner.py
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ class SetupState(object):
         is called at the end of teardown_all().
         """
         assert colitem and not isinstance(colitem, tuple)
-        assert py.builtin.callable(finalizer)
+        assert callable(finalizer)
         # assert colitem in self.stack  # some unit tests don't setup stack :/
         self._finalizers.setdefault(colitem, []).append(finalizer)
 
diff --git a/_pytest/skipping.py b/_pytest/skipping.py
index 2fd61448a..5f927a6b4 100644
--- a/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 
 import os
+import six
 import sys
 import traceback
 
-import py
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 from _pytest.mark import MarkInfo, MarkDecorator
 from _pytest.outcomes import fail, skip, xfail, TEST_OUTCOME
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class MarkEvaluator:
                         args = (kwargs['condition'],)
                     for expr in args:
                         self.expr = expr
-                        if isinstance(expr, py.builtin._basestring):
+                        if isinstance(expr, six.string_types):
                             d = self._getglobals()
                             result = cached_eval(self.item.config, expr, d)
                         else:
diff --git a/_pytest/terminal.py b/_pytest/terminal.py
index 7dd10924a..0a023d1f3 100644
--- a/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from _pytest.main import EXIT_OK, EXIT_TESTSFAILED, EXIT_INTERRUPTED, \
     EXIT_USAGEERROR, EXIT_NOTESTSCOLLECTED
 import pytest
 import py
+import six
 import sys
 import time
 import platform
@@ -174,8 +175,8 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         self._tw.write(content, **markup)
 
     def write_line(self, line, **markup):
-        if not py.builtin._istext(line):
-            line = py.builtin.text(line, errors="replace")
+        if not isinstance(line, six.text_type):
+            line = six.text_type(line, errors="replace")
         self.ensure_newline()
         self._tw.line(line, **markup)
 
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         self._tw.line(msg, **kw)
 
     def pytest_internalerror(self, excrepr):
-        for line in py.builtin.text(excrepr).split("\n"):
+        for line in six.text_type(excrepr).split("\n"):
             self.write_line("INTERNALERROR> " + line)
         return 1
 
diff --git a/changelog/2642.trivial b/changelog/2642.trivial
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bae449dba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/2642.trivial
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Refactored internal Python 2/3 compatibility code to use ``six``.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 55607912b..792be6b41 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def has_environment_marker_support():
 
 
 def main():
-    install_requires = ['py>=1.4.33', 'setuptools']  # pluggy is vendored in _pytest.vendored_packages
+    install_requires = ['py>=1.4.33', 'six>=1.10.0','setuptools']  # pluggy is vendored in _pytest.vendored_packages
     extras_require = {}
     if has_environment_marker_support():
         extras_require[':python_version=="2.6"'] = ['argparse', 'ordereddict']