ESLint vs Prettier
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 JavaScript linter that finds and reports problematic code patterns, with rules you can configure.
Open source · MIT
An opinionated code formatter that rewrites your code in one consistent style.
The short answer
Choose ESLint if you need…
- JavaScript developers who want automatic checks on their code
- Teams that want consistent rules enforced in a shared configuration
- Projects that need to customize which code patterns are flagged
- Developers working with React who add a React-specific plugin on top
Choose Prettier if you need…
- Teams that want one shared code style without writing their own rules
- Developers who want formatting handled automatically on save
- Projects that use JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, or Markdown
- Setups that run formatting in a pre-commit hook or CI check
Side-by-side
| ESLint | Prettier | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 27.6k | 52.4k |
| 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 | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
ESLint
ESLint is a tool that scans JavaScript (ECMAScript) code and reports patterns that may be problems or bad practice. It works by parsing code into a syntax tree and checking it against rules, and every rule is a pluggable piece you can turn on, off, or adjust. Developers use it to catch mistakes and keep code style consistent across a project.
Prettier
Prettier reads your source code, parses it, and reprints it using its own fixed formatting rules, wrapping lines when they exceed a maximum length. It supports many languages, including JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, JSON, Markdown, and YAML. Teams use it so everyone's code looks the same and code reviews don't turn into debates about spacing and line breaks.
Best for
ESLint
- JavaScript developers who want automatic checks on their code
- Teams that want consistent rules enforced in a shared configuration
- Projects that need to customize which code patterns are flagged
- Developers working with React who add a React-specific plugin on top
Prettier
- Teams that want one shared code style without writing their own rules
- Developers who want formatting handled automatically on save
- Projects that use JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, or Markdown
- Setups that run formatting in a pre-commit hook or CI check
Strengths
ESLint
- Highly pluggable: every rule is a plugin and rules can be added at runtime, per the README
- Mature and widely used, with an MIT license and about 27,600 GitHub stars
- Clear three-level severity model (off, warn, error) that controls the exit code
Prettier
- Removes formatting debates from code review by applying one consistent style
- Supports many languages in one tool, as listed in the README
- Widely used, with an active repository and a recent release (3.9.10)
Not ideal for
ESLint
- People who only want code formatting; the README says Prettier is the formatter and ESLint is a linter
- Users of experimental or non-standard syntax without a suitable parser, since ESLint officially supports only the latest final ECMAScript standard
- Environments that cannot run a supported Node.js version (^20.19.0, ^22.13.0, or >=24)
Prettier
- People who want to customize every formatting detail, since Prettier is opinionated and offers limited options (the README links to an Options page, which was not reviewed here)
- Projects in languages not listed in the README, unless a plugin exists for them
Trade-offs
ESLint
- Requires a supported Node.js version and, for TypeScript type definitions, TypeScript 5.3 or later
- Does not lock dependency versions by design, so behavior can change as dependencies update
- Parser officially supports only the latest final ECMAScript standard; newer experimental syntax may need other parsers
Prettier
- Its opinionated style means limited control over individual formatting choices
- Teams with an established, different style may need to reformat existing code, which creates large diffs
Getting started
ESLint
Install and configure ESLint
npm init @eslint/config@latestRun ESLint on a file
npx eslint yourfile.jsPrettier
Install with npm (from the project's install docs; README excerpt does not include the command)
git clone https://github.com/prettier/prettierFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between ESLint and Prettier?
ESLint: A JavaScript linter that finds and reports problematic code patterns, with rules you can configure. Prettier: An opinionated code formatter that rewrites your code in one consistent style. ESLint suits javascript developers who want automatic checks on their code, while Prettier suits teams that want one shared code style without writing their own rules.
Are ESLint and Prettier free?
ESLint: Free and open source. Prettier: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, ESLint or Prettier?
Prettier is easier to get started with (rated beginner); ESLint is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is ESLint or Prettier more popular?
Prettier has more GitHub stars (52.4k) than ESLint (27.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to ESLint and Prettier?
Other options people compare them with include typescript-eslint, standard, lint-staged, RuboCop, PostCSS.
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.