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Head-to-head · Code Formatting Tools

Black vs Ruff

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Black #6 in Code Formatting Tools 6.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Black
Ruff #7 in Code Formatting Tools 6.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Ruff

Black leads on 3 checks, Ruff on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBlack · 6.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresBlack · 3 of 4

Black scores higher on our rubric for code formatting tools: 6.9 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Black offers editor integration; Ruff doesn't publish it. Black offers ignore files; Ruff doesn't publish it. Black offers changed-lines formatting; Ruff doesn't publish it.

Black is the better fit for python formatting with stable conventions. Ruff is the better fit for python teams needing lint plus format.

  • Black fits best

    Python formatting with stable conventions

  • Ruff fits best

    Python teams needing lint plus format

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Black 6.9/10 Visit ↗ Ruff 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 6.9 6.8
Ranking #6 in Code Formatting Tools #7 in Code Formatting Tools
Best for Python formatting with stable conventions Python teams needing lint plus format
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Docs
Integrations 12 integrations 10 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Black 3/4 · Ruff 0/4
Editor integration ✓ (best) Not published
Ignore files ✓ (best) Not published
Changed-lines formatting ✓ (best) Not published
Library API — Not published
Specs
Supported languages Python Not published
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, local HTTP API Not published
License model Open_source Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Opinionated PEP 8-compliant formatting for consistent Python style
  • Changed-line, check-only, diff, and ignore-rule support
  • Integrations across editors, GitHub Actions, pre-commit, and notebooks
  • More than 900 built-in lint rules with automatic fixes
  • Built-in formatting for Python files and Jupyter Notebooks
  • Integrates with major editors, CI systems, pre-commit, and Docker
Cons
  • Supports Python rather than multiple programming languages
  • Jupyter Notebook formatting requires an optional installation extra
  • No library API is listed in the published category specifications
  • Supports one programming language: Python
  • Custom lint rules and third-party plugins are not supported
  • No AI features for teams seeking AI-assisted development
Our verdict

Black is an open-source Python code formatter for developers and teams that want repeatable style decisions and smaller diffs during code review. It reformats Python files in place and can process files, directories, standard input, and…

Read the review →

Ruff is an open-source Python linter and code formatter from Astral. It is designed for developers and teams that want lint checks, supported automatic fixes, formatting, and editor or CI integration in one focused tool. The ruff check…

Read the review →
  1. BlackCode Formatting Tools 6.9Free plan
  2. RuffCode Formatting Tools 6.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Black — where it wins

    • Opinionated PEP 8-compliant formatting for consistent Python style
    • Changed-line, check-only, diff, and ignore-rule support
    • Integrations across editors, GitHub Actions, pre-commit, and notebooks

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports Python rather than multiple programming languages
    • Jupyter Notebook formatting requires an optional installation extra
    • No library API is listed in the published category specifications

  • Ruff — where it wins

    • More than 900 built-in lint rules with automatic fixes
    • Built-in formatting for Python files and Jupyter Notebooks
    • Integrates with major editors, CI systems, pre-commit, and Docker

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports one programming language: Python
    • Custom lint rules and third-party plugins are not supported
    • No AI features for teams seeking AI-assisted development
  • Black6.9/10 · Free plan

    A focused open-source formatter for consistent Python style and smaller diffs.

    Visit BlackFull verdict →
  • Ruff6.8/10 · Free plan

    A focused Python tool that combines formatting, linting, autofixes, and CI support.

    Visit RuffFull verdict →

More comparisons

All code formatting tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update