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Head-to-head · Code Formatting Tools

clang-format vs Ruff

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score clang-format #4 in Code Formatting Tools 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit clang-format
Ruff #7 in Code Formatting Tools 6.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Ruff

clang-format leads on 4 checks, Ruff on 0, and 1 is 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 scoreclang-format · 7.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresclang-format · 4 of 4

clang-format scores higher on our rubric for code formatting tools: 7.4 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

clang-format offers editor integration; Ruff doesn't publish it. clang-format offers ignore files; Ruff doesn't publish it. clang-format offers changed-lines formatting; Ruff doesn't publish it. clang-format offers library api; Ruff doesn't publish it.

clang-format is the better fit for C and C++ projects. Ruff is the better fit for python teams needing lint plus format.

  • clang-format fits best

    C and C++ projects

  • 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 clang-format 7.4/10 Visit ↗ Ruff 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.4 6.8
Ranking #4 in Code Formatting Tools #7 in Code Formatting Tools
Best for C and C++ projects Python teams needing lint plus format
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs Docs
Integrations 7 integrations 10 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features clang-format 4/4 · Ruff 0/4
Editor integration ✓ (best) Not published
Ignore files ✓ (best) Not published
Changed-lines formatting ✓ (best) Not published
Library API ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Supported languages C, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protocol Buffers, C#, TableGen, TextProto, Verilog Not published
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Not published
License model Open_source Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Predefined LLVM, GNU, Google, Chromium, Microsoft, Mozilla, and WebKit styles
  • Changed-line formatting, ignore files, patches, and unified-diff scripts
  • Integrations for Vim, Emacs, CLion, Visual Studio, VS Code, and Git
  • 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
  • Configuration can require project-specific .clang-format files and style decisions
  • Its command-line and editor integration model may be more technical than hosted tools
  • Formatting scope and behavior vary across its supported languages
  • 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

clang-format is an open-source source-code formatter from the LLVM Project, built on Clang and LibFormat. It formats source files or standard input from the command line and supports C, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protocol…

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. clang-formatCode Formatting Tools 7.4Free plan
  2. RuffCode Formatting Tools 6.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • clang-format — where it wins

    • Predefined LLVM, GNU, Google, Chromium, Microsoft, Mozilla, and WebKit styles
    • Changed-line formatting, ignore files, patches, and unified-diff scripts
    • Integrations for Vim, Emacs, CLion, Visual Studio, VS Code, and Git

    Where it doesn't

    • Configuration can require project-specific .clang-format files and style decisions
    • Its command-line and editor integration model may be more technical than hosted tools
    • Formatting scope and behavior vary across its supported languages

  • 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

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