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Head-to-head · Linters

ESLint vs clang-tidy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score ESLint #1 in Linters 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ESLint
clang-tidy #5 in Linters 8.7/10 Open source ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit LLVM Project

ESLint leads on 0 checks, clang-tidy on 1, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreESLint · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly ESLint

ESLint scores higher on our rubric for linters: 9.4 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

clang-tidy leads on languages supported: 3 versus 1.

ESLint is the better fit for javaScript projects needing an extensible standard. clang-tidy is the better fit for C++ teams needing bug and style analysis.

  • ESLint fits best

    JavaScript projects needing an extensible standard

  • clang-tidy fits best

    C++ teams needing bug and style analysis

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Side by side

Feature ESLint 9.4/10 Visit ↗ clang-tidy 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.7
Ranking #1 in Linters #5 in Linters
Best for JavaScript projects needing an extensible standard C++ teams needing bug and style analysis
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 12 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ESLint 4/4 · clang-tidy 4/4
Autofix ✓ ✓
Custom rules ✓ ✓
Security rules ✓ ✓
CI support ✓ ✓
Specs
Languages supported 1 3 (best)
IDE support Ide Ide
Our review
Pros
  • Free, open-source static analysis with automatic fixing
  • Custom rules, plugins, parsers, and configurations
  • Integrates with editors, build tools, CI, and Node.js
  • Covers style, interface misuse, bugs, performance, portability, and maintainability.
  • Supports autofix, custom query checks, CUDA analysis, and changed-line workflows.
  • Integrates with clangd, CLion, Visual Studio, Qt Creator, and other IDEs.
Cons
  • Primary language scope is JavaScript and JSX
  • Additional languages depend on plugins
  • Autofix applies only to supported issues
  • Its main focus is C++ and Clang-based code analysis.
  • Autofix applies only to checks with supported fixes.
  • Configuration spans command-line globs, .clang-tidy files, and compilation databases.
Our verdict

ESLint is an open-source static-analysis tool for identifying and fixing problems in JavaScript code. It analyzes code without executing it, reports rule violations, and can automatically fix many supported issues through the --fix…

Read the review →

clang-tidy is an open-source, Clang-based linter for C++ teams that want more than basic style checking. It diagnoses style violations, interface misuse, statically detectable bugs, performance issues, portability problems, and…

Read the review →
  1. ESLintLinters 9.4Free plan
  2. clang-tidyLinters 8.7Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ESLint — where it wins

    • Free, open-source static analysis with automatic fixing
    • Custom rules, plugins, parsers, and configurations
    • Integrates with editors, build tools, CI, and Node.js

    Where it doesn't

    • Primary language scope is JavaScript and JSX
    • Additional languages depend on plugins
    • Autofix applies only to supported issues

  • clang-tidy — where it wins

    • Covers style, interface misuse, bugs, performance, portability, and maintainability.
    • Supports autofix, custom query checks, CUDA analysis, and changed-line workflows.
    • Integrates with clangd, CLion, Visual Studio, Qt Creator, and other IDEs.

    Where it doesn't

    • Its main focus is C++ and Clang-based code analysis.
    • Autofix applies only to checks with supported fixes.
    • Configuration spans command-line globs, .clang-tidy files, and compilation databases.

More comparisons

All linters comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update