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Head-to-head · Code Formatting Tools

Spotless vs Ruff

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Spotless #3 in Code Formatting Tools 7.7/10 Open source ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Spotless
Ruff #7 in Code Formatting Tools 6.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Ruff

Spotless leads on 4 checks, Ruff on 1, and 0 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 scoreSpotless · 7.7/10
  • Free planonly Ruff
  • Most featuresSpotless · 4 of 4

Spotless scores higher on our rubric for code formatting tools: 7.7 against 6.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

Ruff offers free plan; Spotless doesn't publish it. Spotless offers editor integration; Ruff doesn't publish it. Spotless offers ignore files; Ruff doesn't publish it. Spotless offers changed-lines formatting; Ruff doesn't publish it. Spotless offers library api; Ruff doesn't publish it.

Spotless is the better fit for JVM build-driven projects. Ruff is the better fit for python teams needing lint plus format.

  • Spotless fits best

    JVM build-driven 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 Spotless 7.7/10 Visit ↗ Ruff 6.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.7 6.8
Ranking #3 in Code Formatting Tools #7 in Code Formatting Tools
Best for JVM build-driven projects Python teams needing lint plus format
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan Not published ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Support Docs Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 10 integrations
Features Spotless 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 ANTLR, C, C#, C++, CSS, Flow, GraphQL, Groovy, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, JSX, Kotlin, Less, Markdown, Objective-C, Protobuf, Python, Scala, SCSS, Shell, SQL, TypeScript, Vue, YAML, Gherkin, Go, RDF, Anything Not published
Supported platforms Gradle, Maven, SBT, other build systems Not published
License model Open_source Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Supports many programming, markup, configuration, and data languages
  • Deep Gradle and Maven integration with external SBT support
  • Ratcheting, exclusions, hooks, linting, and custom formatter steps
  • 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
  • Build-system plugins may not suit teams seeking a hosted SaaS product
  • Its workflow centers on build automation rather than a standalone editor
  • Broad configuration options may require more setup than a narrow formatter
  • 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

Spotless is an open-source code-formatting and linting tool for software projects. It is designed for developers and teams that want formatting checks and automatic fixes inside their build process, particularly JVM projects using Gradle,…

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. SpotlessCode Formatting Tools 7.7Open source
  2. RuffCode Formatting Tools 6.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Spotless — where it wins

    • Supports many programming, markup, configuration, and data languages
    • Deep Gradle and Maven integration with external SBT support
    • Ratcheting, exclusions, hooks, linting, and custom formatter steps

    Where it doesn't

    • Build-system plugins may not suit teams seeking a hosted SaaS product
    • Its workflow centers on build automation rather than a standalone editor
    • Broad configuration options may require more setup than a narrow formatter

  • 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
  • Spotless7.7/10 · Open source

    A build-focused formatter for JVM projects that need broad language coverage and automation.

    Visit SpotlessFull 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