clang-format vs Scalafmt

CFclang-format7.4Visit Scalafmt6.6Visit

Higher score CF clang-format #4 in Code Formatting Tools 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit clang-format

vs

Scalafmt #8 in Code Formatting Tools 6.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Scalafmt

• clang-format fits best

  C and C++ projects

• Scalafmt fits best

  Scala projects using build tools

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	CFclang-format 7.4/10 Visit ↗	Scalafmt 6.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.4	6.6
Ranking	#4 in Code Formatting Tools	#8 in Code Formatting Tools
Best for	C and C++ projects	Scala projects using build tools
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Self-hosted, Desktop
Support	Docs	Community, Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features clang-format 4/4 · Scalafmt 4/4
Editor integration	✓	✓
Ignore files	✓	✓
Changed-lines formatting	✓	✓
Library API	✓	✓
Specs
Supported languages	C, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protocol Buffers, C#, TableGen, TextProto, Verilog	Scala 2, Scala 3, sbt, Scala scripts
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	CLI, editors, build tools, standalone library
License model	Open_source	Open_source
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	Supports Scala 2 and Scala 3 dialects Integrates with sbt, Maven, Gradle, and Mill Offers editor, changed-file, and library API options
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	Focused on Scala, sbt, and Scala scripts rather than many languages Configuration is managed through a .scalafmt.conf file Not a hosted commercial service with paid support tiers
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 →	Scalafmt is an open-source code formatter for Scala projects, including Scala 2, Scala 3, sbt, and Scala script files. It reformats code according to settings in a .scalafmt.conf file and can run through the command line, editors, build… Read the review →

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

• Scalafmt — where it wins

  • Supports Scala 2 and Scala 3 dialects
  • Integrates with sbt, Maven, Gradle, and Mill
  • Offers editor, changed-file, and library API options

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on Scala, sbt, and Scala scripts rather than many languages
  • Configuration is managed through a .scalafmt.conf file
  • Not a hosted commercial service with paid support tiers

• CFclang-format7.4/10 · Free plan

  A flexible open-source formatter suited to C and C++ projects with broad workflow support.

  Visit clang-formatFull verdict →
• Scalafmt6.6/10 · Free plan

  A configurable, open-source formatter for Scala code, scripts, and build files.

  Visit ScalafmtFull verdict →