The Best Linters in 2026
We researched linters through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core linting job, value for money, and verified features for development teams and CI workflows.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
ESLint#1 of 339.4/10A free, extensible JavaScript linter with autofix, plugins, and broad developer-tool integrations.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Ruff#2 of 339.2/10Free Python linting and formatting with more than 900 built-in rules.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
ShellCheck#3 of 339.0/10A free, open-source linter for shell syntax, portability, robustness and security checks.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 33 tools, best first
-
Best forJavaScript projects needing an extensible standard
A free, extensible JavaScript linter with autofix, plugins, and broad developer-tool integrations.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
9.4/10★★★★★Visit ESLint -
Best forPython teams wanting linting and formatting together
Free Python linting and formatting with more than 900 built-in rules.
- Security rules
- Autofix
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Ruff -
Best forShell-script quality and portability checks
A free, open-source linter for shell syntax, portability, robustness and security checks.
- Autofix
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit ShellCheck -
Best forCSS and CSS-like language teams
A capable, extensible CSS linter for teams that want configurable rules and CI support.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Stylelint -
Best forC++ teams needing bug and style analysis
A deep C++ linter for style, bugs, custom checks, CUDA, and IDE workflows.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit LLVM Project -
Best forRust developers seeking extensive lint coverage
A deeply configurable Rust linter with more than 800 checks and CI support.
- Security rules
- Autofix
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Clippy -
Best forElixir teams checking style and complexity
A focused, free Elixir linter for style, complexity, refactoring, and custom checks.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Credo -
Best forTeams linting and formatting web code
An open-source web toolchain combining linting, formatting, fixes, and editor support.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Biome -
Best forMultilanguage static-analysis programs
A broad, open-source linter for teams managing static analysis across 16 languages.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PMD -
Best forPython teams seeking linting, fixes, and formatting
An open-source Python linter and formatter with fixes, editor support, and CI integration.
- Security rules
- Autofix
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Astral -
Best forMarkdown documentation teams
A focused, configurable Markdown linter for documentation workflows.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit markdownlint -
Best forSwift teams using Xcode
A focused, free Swift linter with configurable rules, autofix, and CI integrations.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit SwiftLint -
Best forJava teams enforcing configurable standards
A focused, open-source Java linter with deep checks and flexible custom rules.
- Custom rules
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Checkstyle -
Best forGo teams prioritizing correctness checks
A focused, free Go linter with broad checks, editor fixes, and CI support.
- Autofix
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Staticcheck -
Best forGo teams wanting many linters in one tool
A focused open-source tool for running and managing many Go linters.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit golangci-lint -
Best forSQL and dbt teams
A configurable open-source SQL linter for SQL and dbt teams.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit SQLFluff -
Best forC and C++ static-analysis users
A flexible C/C++ analyzer with free access and paid safety and security coverage.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Cppcheck -
Best forRuby teams wanting style and security checks
A free, configurable Ruby linter with formatting, autocorrection, security cops, and CI support.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit RuboCop -
Best forPHP teams enforcing coding standards
A focused, free PHP linter with custom rules, autofix, reporting, and CI support.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit PHPCS -
Best forKotlin teams using Gradle or IntelliJ
A focused, open-source Kotlin linter with strong Gradle and IntelliJ support.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit detekt -
Best forTeams linting Dockerfiles in CI
A focused, open-source Dockerfile linter with configurable checks and CI workflow support.
- Custom rules
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Hadolint -
Best forGitHub Actions workflow validation
A focused open-source linter for validating GitHub Actions workflows in CI and editors.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit actionlint -
Best forPython teams enforcing PEP 8
A free, extensible Python linter for teams enforcing consistent code standards.
- Custom rules
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Flake8 -
Best forGo teams needing configurable policy rules
A configurable, open-source Go linter with strong integration and output options.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit revive -
Best forHaskell developers wanting refactoring suggestions
A focused Haskell linter for style guidance, custom hints, and refactoring support.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit HLint -
Best forPHP teams targeting maintainability and security
A configurable, CI-ready PHP linter for teams focused on code quality and security.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit PHPMD -
Best forJavaScript teams needing basic configurable analysis
A configurable JavaScript linter with web, CLI, API, and editor support.
- Security rules
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit JSHint -
Best forYAML configuration and CI repositories
A focused, configurable YAML linter for repositories, editors, hooks, and CI.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit yamllint -
Best forLua developers and game-tooling projects
A focused, free Lua linter with broad diagnostics and practical CI support.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Luacheck -
Best forC++ teams following Google's style guide
A focused, configurable choice for C++ teams applying Google's style guide.
- Autofix
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit cpplint -
Best forRuby teams focused on code smells
A focused, configurable Ruby linter for finding and reporting code smells.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Reek -
Best forPython teams needing focused PEP 8 checks
A focused, free PEP 8 checker for Python development and CI.
- Custom rules
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit pycodestyle -
Best forJavaScript teams covering modern web formats
A broad open-source linter for modern JavaScript repositories and editor workflows.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Oxlint
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Languages supported | Autofix | Custom rules | Security rules | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ESLint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Ruff | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | ShellCheck | Yes | Free | 4 | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | Stylelint | Yes | Free | 8 | Yes | Yes | No | 8.8 |
| 5 | clang-tidy | Free | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Clippy | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Credo | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Biome | Yes | Free | 17 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 9 | PMD | Yes | Free | 16 | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 10 | Astral | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 8.2 |
| 11 | markdownlint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 12 | SwiftLint | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | No | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Checkstyle | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | Staticcheck | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | 7.8 | ||
| 15 | golangci-lint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 16 | SQLFluff | Yes | Free | 28 | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 17 | Cppcheck | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | ||
| 18 | RuboCop | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 19 | PHP_CodeSniffer | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 20 | detekt | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 21 | Hadolint | Yes | Free | 2 | Yes | 7.1 | ||
| 22 | actionlint | Free | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | |||
| 23 | Flake8 | Yes | Free | 1 | No | Yes | No | 6.9 |
| 24 | revive | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 6.8 | |
| 25 | HLint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 26 | PHPMD | Yes | Free | 1 | No | Yes | Yes | 6.6 |
| 27 | JSHint | Free | 1 | Yes | 6.5 | |||
| 28 | yamllint | Yes | Free | 1 | No | No | 6.4 | |
| 29 | Luacheck | Free | 1 | 6.3 | ||||
| 30 | cpplint | Free | 2 | Yes | 6.2 | |||
| 31 | Reek | Free | 1 | No | 6.1 | |||
| 32 | pycodestyle | Yes | Free | 1 | No | Yes | 6.0 | |
| 33 | Oxlint | Yes | Free | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.9 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- ESLint vs Ruff
- ESLint vs ShellCheck
- ESLint vs Stylelint
- ESLint vs clang-tidy
- ESLint vs Clippy
- ESLint vs Credo
- ESLint vs Biome
- Ruff vs ShellCheck
- Ruff vs Stylelint
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How we rank linters
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update