Rich vs Shiki
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 Python library for colorful, formatted text, tables and progress bars in the terminal.
Open source · MIT
A syntax highlighter for code, based on TextMate grammars, published as an npm package.
The short answer
Choose Rich if you need…
- Python developers who write command-line scripts and want clearer output
- People building logging or debugging output for long-running Python programs
- Developers who want to show tables or progress bars in a terminal without building the layout by hand
- Learners who want to see how formatted terminal output works in Python
Choose Shiki if you need…
- Developers building documentation or blog sites that show code samples
- Teams that want highlighting that matches TextMate or VS Code grammar rules
- TypeScript or JavaScript projects that already use npm
Side-by-side
| Rich | Shiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 57.7k | 13.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Python | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Rich
Rich is a Python library that makes terminal output easier to read. You call it from your own Python code to add color and style, and to render things like tables, progress bars, Markdown, syntax-highlighted code and tracebacks. The README says it works out of the box with a simple print-style interface.
Shiki
Shiki colors source code so it is easier to read, using the same kind of grammar files that the TextMate and VS Code editors use. The README describes it as accurate and powerful, and it is published on npm as the package shiki. Developers typically use it to show highlighted code in documentation sites, blogs, or web pages.
Best for
Rich
- Python developers who write command-line scripts and want clearer output
- People building logging or debugging output for long-running Python programs
- Developers who want to show tables or progress bars in a terminal without building the layout by hand
- Learners who want to see how formatted terminal output works in Python
Shiki
- Developers building documentation or blog sites that show code samples
- Teams that want highlighting that matches TextMate or VS Code grammar rules
- TypeScript or JavaScript projects that already use npm
Strengths
Rich
- Simple, familiar interface: rich's print has the same signature as Python's built-in print
- Covers many output types (tables, progress bars, Markdown, tracebacks) in one library
- Works on Linux, macOS and Windows and in Jupyter notebooks with no extra setup, per the README
Shiki
- The README says it is based on TextMate grammars, so it follows a widely used grammar format
- It is published as an npm package with documentation at shiki.style
- It is released under the MIT license, which permits broad reuse
Not ideal for
Rich
- Non-Python projects, since the library is written for Python (the README requires Python 3.8 or later)
- Users who only need a finished application rather than a library to build into their own code
- Environments limited to the classic Windows terminal, where the README says color is limited to 16 colors
Shiki
- People who only need to edit code: the README describes a highlighter, not an editor
- Projects that cannot use npm or JavaScript, since the README only documents the npm package
- Users looking for a ready-made app: the README does not describe a standalone program
Trade-offs
Rich
- Color and emoji depend on the terminal; the README says the classic Windows terminal is limited to 16 colors
- The README excerpt is truncated, so some advanced features are not described here
- It is a library for developers, so it does nothing useful on its own without Python code
Shiki
- The README is short and points to external documentation for usage details
- The README does not list specific language counts or themes, so those details are unverified here
- Major versions are split across branches, so users must pick the right version (the README lists v0 through v4)
Getting started
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Rich and Shiki?
Rich: A Python library for colorful, formatted text, tables and progress bars in the terminal. Shiki: A syntax highlighter for code, based on TextMate grammars, published as an npm package. Rich suits python developers who write command-line scripts and want clearer output, while Shiki suits developers building documentation or blog sites that show code samples.
Are Rich and Shiki free?
Rich: Free and open source. Shiki: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Rich or Shiki?
Rich is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Shiki is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Rich or Shiki more popular?
Rich has more GitHub stars (57.7k) than Shiki (13.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Rich and Shiki?
Other options people compare them with include Textual, Docling, Spectre.Console, Filament, Linguist.
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.