Ruff vs RustPython
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 very fast Python linter and code formatter, written in Rust.
Open source · MIT
A Python 3 interpreter written in Rust, aiming for full Python 3 compatibility.
The short answer
Choose Ruff if you need…
- Python developers who want one tool for linting and formatting
- Teams with large Python codebases where slow checks are a problem
- People running checks in a pre-commit hook or editor on save
- Projects that already use pyproject.toml for configuration
Choose RustPython if you need…
- Developers who want to experiment with a Python interpreter written in Rust
- Rust developers who want to embed Python scripting in their applications
- People interested in running Python in WebAssembly or WASI environments
- Contributors interested in interpreter internals
Side-by-side
| Ruff | RustPython | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | Other |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 50.4k | 22.5k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | Rust | Rust |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Ruff
Ruff checks Python code for style problems and likely bugs, and can automatically format code and fix some errors. It is a single command-line tool that aims to replace several older Python tools such as Flake8, Black, and isort. The README says it is much faster than those tools, and it is installed through pip, uv, or pipx.
RustPython
RustPython is an implementation of the Python programming language, written in Rust rather than C like the standard CPython interpreter. You can use it to run Python scripts or an interactive Python shell. Its README says it is still in development and not fully production-ready, but it can run in a browser via WebAssembly and can be embedded into Rust applications.
Best for
Ruff
- Python developers who want one tool for linting and formatting
- Teams with large Python codebases where slow checks are a problem
- People running checks in a pre-commit hook or editor on save
- Projects that already use pyproject.toml for configuration
RustPython
- Developers who want to experiment with a Python interpreter written in Rust
- Rust developers who want to embed Python scripting in their applications
- People interested in running Python in WebAssembly or WASI environments
- Contributors interested in interpreter internals
Strengths
Ruff
- The README reports speeds of 10-100x over Flake8 and Black, with testimonials citing larger gains
- Combines linting, formatting, and import sorting behind one interface
- Supports hierarchical configuration for monorepos
RustPython
- Written entirely in Rust, not built on CPython bindings, according to its stated goals
- Supports compilation to WebAssembly and WASI, including an online demo
- Has an MIT license and an active, public contributor community with a Discord
Not ideal for
Ruff
- Non-Python projects, since it only handles Python code
- People who need to keep using specific Flake8 plugins not covered by its rules (the README says it re-implements many popular ones, not all)
- Users who want a tool with no configuration decisions to learn; it has over 900 rules to choose from
RustPython
- Production workloads, because the README says RustPython is not totally production-ready
- Users who need a fully packaged Python with reliable pip and venv support, because the README says it lacks a well-packaged installation
- Projects relying on CPython-specific C extensions, since the README describes the goal as a pure Rust Python environment, not CPython bindings
Trade-offs
Ruff
- Speed figures and testimonials come from the project and its users, not independent benchmarks
- Rule coverage is broad but may not match every plugin or edge case of the tools it replaces
- Version is under 1.0 (0.17.3), so behavior may change between releases
RustPython
- The README describes it as in development and not totally production-ready
- Packaging is limited; the README notes there is no well-packaged installation, and pip needs extra SSL setup
- The JIT compiler is described as very experimental
Getting started
Ruff
Install with uv (recommended)
uv tool install ruff@latestInstall with pip
pip install ruffRustPython
Clone the source code
git clone https://github.com/RustPython/RustPythonChange into the project directory
cd RustPythonFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ruff and RustPython?
Ruff: A very fast Python linter and code formatter, written in Rust. RustPython: A Python 3 interpreter written in Rust, aiming for full Python 3 compatibility. Ruff suits python developers who want one tool for linting and formatting, while RustPython suits developers who want to experiment with a python interpreter written in rust.
Are Ruff and RustPython free?
Ruff: Free and open source. RustPython: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Ruff or RustPython?
Ruff is easier to get started with (rated beginner); RustPython is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Ruff or RustPython more popular?
Ruff has more GitHub stars (50.4k) than RustPython (22.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Ruff and RustPython?
Other options people compare them with include Black, ast-grep.
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.