Autoprefixer vs Browserslist
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A PostCSS plugin that adds vendor prefixes to CSS rules automatically, using Can I Use data.
Open source · MIT
A shared config file that tells front-end tools which browsers and Node.js versions to support.
The short answer
Choose Autoprefixer if you need…
- Front-end developers who write plain CSS and want to stop managing prefixes by hand
- Projects already using a build pipeline with PostCSS, Gulp, or Webpack
- Teams that want one shared browser-target config across several tools
Choose Browserslist if you need…
- Front-end developers using Autoprefixer, Babel, or Stylelint who want one shared browser list
- Teams that want to set browser support in one place for several build tools
- Projects that want support lists to update automatically as browser usage data changes
Side-by-side
| Autoprefixer | Browserslist | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 22.2k | 13.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 11 days ago | 11 days ago |
What each one is
Autoprefixer
Autoprefixer is a plugin for PostCSS, a tool that processes CSS. You write normal CSS without browser-specific prefixes, and it adds the prefixes that your target browsers need, based on data from Can I Use and current browser popularity. Which browsers it targets is set through Browserslist config files.
Browserslist
Browserslist is a config format and tool that lets a project declare which browsers and Node.js versions it targets. Tools like Autoprefixer and Babel read this one shared setting, so you do not have to configure each tool separately. Queries such as "last 2 versions" are resolved using Can I Use data, so the list can stay current without manual edits.
Best for
Autoprefixer
- Front-end developers who write plain CSS and want to stop managing prefixes by hand
- Projects already using a build pipeline with PostCSS, Gulp, or Webpack
- Teams that want one shared browser-target config across several tools
Browserslist
- Front-end developers using Autoprefixer, Babel, or Stylelint who want one shared browser list
- Teams that want to set browser support in one place for several build tools
- Projects that want support lists to update automatically as browser usage data changes
Strengths
Autoprefixer
- Uses Can I Use data, so prefixes track real browser support
- Works with a shared Browserslist config that other tools like Babel and Stylelint can also read
- Widely used, with 22k+ GitHub stars and an MIT license
Browserslist
- Single shared config that many popular front-end tools read automatically
- Queries like "last 2 versions" avoid manual updates to browser lists
- Mature project with an active maintainer group and a large user base
Not ideal for
Autoprefixer
- Projects that only need to support very old, prefix-only code: the README says it needs unprefixed properties to add prefixes, so legacy -webkit- only code needs a separate tool like postcss-unprefix first
- Anyone needing polyfills for missing JavaScript behavior: the README states it only adds prefixes and does not add polyfills
Browserslist
- People with no build tools or CSS/JavaScript toolchain, since the config has no effect without a tool that reads it
- Projects that already set browser targets directly in each tool and see no need for a shared list
Trade-offs
Autoprefixer
- Grid-to-IE translation is disabled by default and the README says it does not work in every case
- Only handles prefixes; it does not add polyfills or fix other browser bugs
- Output depends on the browser targets you set, so the config needs to be maintained
Browserslist
- Results depend on Can I Use data, so lists change over time as that data updates
- Query syntax has many combiners and can be hard to read for newcomers
- The README warns that some popular query choices can shape browser usage trends, so defaults need thought
Getting started
Autoprefixer
Install the package
git clone https://github.com/postcss/autoprefixerBrowserslist
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/browserslist/browserslistFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Autoprefixer and Browserslist?
Autoprefixer: A PostCSS plugin that adds vendor prefixes to CSS rules automatically, using Can I Use data. Browserslist: A shared config file that tells front-end tools which browsers and Node.js versions to support. Autoprefixer suits front-end developers who write plain css and want to stop managing prefixes by hand, while Browserslist suits front-end developers using autoprefixer, babel, or stylelint who want one shared browser list.
Are Autoprefixer and Browserslist free?
Autoprefixer: Free and open source. Browserslist: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Autoprefixer or Browserslist?
Browserslist is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Autoprefixer is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Autoprefixer or Browserslist more popular?
Autoprefixer has more GitHub stars (22.2k) than Browserslist (13.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Autoprefixer and Browserslist?
Other options people compare them with include Stylelint.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.