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Best elm-format Alternatives in 2026

Free#26 of 34 in Code Formatting Tools

The top elm-format alternatives are dprint, Prettier and Spotless: 15 code formatting tools our editors would look at instead of elm-format, in our ranking order.

6.7/10Editor score
elm-format6.7 Visit elm-format

elm-format: A free, open-source Elm formatter with editor integrations and validation. Where it falls short: supports elm only, rather than multiple programming languages.

Switching from elm-format? For most code formatting tools buyers the best elm-format alternative is dprint, built for teams formatting many languages.

Why People Look for an elm-format Alternative

  • Supports Elm only, rather than multiple programming languages
  • Provides desktop deployment rather than a hosted service
  • Community and documentation support may not suit buyers needing direct support

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 elm-format Alternatives, Ranked

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

  1. dprint

    Best forTeams formatting many languages

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 9.4 vs 6.7

    A broad, editor-friendly formatter for multilingual repositories and changed-file workflows.

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    Open source Our dprint verdict → Visit dprint
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit dprint
  2. Prettier

    Best forWeb development teams

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 9.2 vs 6.7

    A broad, open-source formatter for web-language teams across editors and workflows.

    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    9.2/10★★★★★
    Visit Prettier
  3. Spotless

    Best forJVM build-driven projects

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 9.0 vs 6.7

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

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    9.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Spotless
  4. Best forC and C++ projects

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.9 vs 6.7

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

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit clang-format
  5. Biome

    Best forWeb teams wanting lint and format

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.8 vs 6.7

    An open-source web toolchain combining formatting, linting, fixes, and editor support.

    Free plan Our Biome verdict → Visit Biome
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Biome
  6. Black

    Best forPython formatting with stable conventions

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.7 vs 6.7

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

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Editor integration
    Free plan Our Black verdict → Visit Black
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Black
  7. Ruff

    Best forPython teams needing lint plus format

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.6 vs 6.7

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

    Free plan Our Ruff verdict → Visit Ruff
    8.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Ruff
  8. Scalafmt

    Best forScala projects using build tools

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.5 vs 6.7

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

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit Scalafmt
  9. CSharpier

    Best forC# teams across major IDEs

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.4 vs 6.7

    Open-source C# and XML formatting with broad editor support and detailed configuration.

    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit CSharpier
  10. Best forPHP standards enforcement

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.3 vs 6.7

    A configurable, open-source PHP formatter for local development and CI.

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit PHP CS Fixer
  11. Best forJava teams following Google style

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 6.7

    A focused open-source formatter for consistent Google-style Java code.

    • Changed-lines formatting
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  12. shfmt

    Best forShell scripting teams

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.1 vs 6.7

    A configurable open-source formatter for shell scripting teams and automated workflows.

    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    Open source Our shfmt verdict → Visit shfmt
    8.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit shfmt
  13. rustfmt

    Best forRust projects using Cargo

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 8.0 vs 6.7

    A focused Rust formatter with Cargo, CI, configuration, and editor support.

    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    Open source Our rustfmt verdict → Visit rustfmt
    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit rustfmt
  14. Best forJavaScript and markup beautification

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 7.9 vs 6.7

    A flexible, free formatter with broad language coverage and editor integrations.

    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit js-beautify
  15. goimports

    Best forGo teams needing import cleanup

    • Better than elm-format:
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 6.7

    A focused Go formatter that cleans imports and supports editor save workflows.

    • Ignore files
    • Library API
    • Editor integration
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit goimports

elm-format Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to elm-format?

dprint: #1 in our Code Formatting Tools ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad, editor-friendly formatter for multilingual repositories and changed-file workflows.

Is there a free alternative to elm-format?

Yes. dprint, Prettier, Spotless, clang-format and Biome have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).

Why do people look for elm-format alternatives?

Supports Elm only, rather than multiple programming languages; Provides desktop deployment rather than a hosted service; Community and documentation support may not suit buyers needing direct support.

How do I switch from elm-format?

Export your data from elm-format (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel elm-format.

How to Switch from elm-format

  1. Export your data from elm-format (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel elm-format.

elm-format vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromSupported languagesSupported platformsEditor integrationIgnore filesScore
26elm-formatYesFreeElmWindows, macOS, LinuxYes6.7
1dprintFreeTypeScript, JavaScript, JSX, TSX, JSON, JSONC, Markdown, TOML, CSS, SCSS, Sass, Less, Dockerfile, C#, VB, Python, Jupyter, Go, Swift, HTML, Vue, Svelte, Astro, Angular, Jinja, Twig, Nunjucks, Vento, GraphQL, YAML, PHP, Quarto, Pandoc, R Markdown, LaTeX, BibTeX, R, JuliaWindows, macOS, Linux, WSL, Node.js, DenoYesYes9.4
2PrettierFreeJavaScript, JSX, Angular, Vue, Flow, TypeScript, CSS, Less, SCSS, HTML, Ember/Handlebars, JSON, GraphQL, Markdown, GFM, MDX v1, YAML, LWC, MJMLBrowser and JavaScript APIYesYes9.2
3SpotlessFreeANTLR, 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, AnythingGradle, Maven, SBT, other build systemsYesYes9.0
4clang-formatYesFreeC, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protocol Buffers, C#, TableGen, TextProto, VerilogWindows, macOS, LinuxYesYes8.9
5BiomeYesFree8.8
6BlackYesFreePythonWindows, macOS, Linux, local HTTP APIYesYes8.7
7RuffYesFree8.6
8ScalafmtYesFreeScala 2, Scala 3, sbt, Scala scriptsCLI, editors, build tools, standalone libraryYesYes8.5
9CSharpierFreeC#, XMLWindows, macOS, LinuxYesYes8.4
10PHP CS FixerYesFreePHPYesYes8.3
11google-java-formatFreeJavaJVM command line; IntelliJ IDEA; Android Studio; Eclipse; Visual Studio CodeYes8.2
12shfmtFreePOSIX Shell, Bash, Zsh, mksh, and BatsLinux, Windows, macOSYesYes8.1
13rustfmtFreeRustWindows, macOS, Linux, APIYesYes8.0
14js-beautifyYesFreeJavaScript, JSON, React.js, HTML, CSS, SCSS, SASSWeb browser, Node.js, PythonYes7.9
15goimportsFreeGoweb, windows, macos, linuxYesYes7.8

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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