Best ESLint Alternatives in 2026
The top ESLint alternatives are Ruff, ShellCheck and Stylelint: 15 linters our editors would look at instead of ESLint, in our ranking order.
ESLint: A free, extensible JavaScript linter with autofix, plugins, and broad developer-tool integrations. Where it falls short: primary language scope is JavaScript and JSX.
Switching from ESLint? For most linters buyers the best ESLint alternative is Ruff, built for python teams wanting linting and formatting together. SQLFluff offers the most languages supported (28).
Why People Look for an ESLint Alternative
- Primary language scope is JavaScript and JSX
- Additional languages depend on plugins
- Autofix applies only to supported issues
- Languages supported: 1 — up to 28 with SQLFluff
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallRuff9.2
Python teams wanting linting and formatting together
Visit Ruff - Best free optionRuff9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Ruff - Most languages supportedSQLFluff7.6
28
Visit SQLFluff
All 15 ESLint 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.
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Best forPython teams wanting linting and formatting together
Free Python linting and formatting with more than 900 built-in rules.
- Security rules
- Autofix
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Ruff -
Best forShell-script quality and portability checks
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 4 vs 1
A free, open-source linter for shell syntax, portability, robustness and security checks.
- Autofix
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit ShellCheck -
Best forCSS and CSS-like language teams
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 8 vs 1
A capable, extensible CSS linter for teams that want configurable rules and CI support.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Stylelint -
Best forC++ teams needing bug and style analysis
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 3 vs 1
A deep C++ linter for style, bugs, custom checks, CUDA, and IDE workflows.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit LLVM Project -
Best forRust developers seeking extensive lint coverage
A deeply configurable Rust linter with more than 800 checks and CI support.
- Security rules
- Autofix
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Clippy -
Best forElixir teams checking style and complexity
A focused, free Elixir linter for style, complexity, refactoring, and custom checks.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Credo -
Best forTeams linting and formatting web code
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 17 vs 1
An open-source web toolchain combining linting, formatting, fixes, and editor support.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Biome -
Best forMultilanguage static-analysis programs
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 16 vs 1
A broad, open-source linter for teams managing static analysis across 16 languages.
- Security rules
- Custom rules
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PMD -
Best forPython teams seeking linting, fixes, and formatting
An open-source Python linter and formatter with fixes, editor support, and CI integration.
- Security rules
- Autofix
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Astral -
Best forMarkdown documentation teams
A focused, configurable Markdown linter for documentation workflows.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit markdownlint -
Best forSwift teams using Xcode
A focused, free Swift linter with configurable rules, autofix, and CI integrations.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit SwiftLint -
Best forJava teams enforcing configurable standards
A focused, open-source Java linter with deep checks and flexible custom rules.
- Custom rules
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Checkstyle -
Best forGo teams prioritizing correctness checks
A focused, free Go linter with broad checks, editor fixes, and CI support.
- Autofix
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Staticcheck -
Best forGo teams wanting many linters in one tool
A focused open-source tool for running and managing many Go linters.
- Security rules
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit golangci-lint -
Best forSQL and dbt teams
- Better than ESLint:
- Languages supported: 28 vs 1
A configurable open-source SQL linter for SQL and dbt teams.
- Autofix
- Custom rules
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit SQLFluff
ESLint Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ESLint?
Ruff: #2 in our Linters ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. Free Python linting and formatting with more than 900 built-in rules.
Is there a free alternative to ESLint?
Yes. Ruff, ShellCheck, Stylelint, clang-tidy and Clippy have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for ESLint alternatives?
Primary language scope is JavaScript and JSX; Additional languages depend on plugins; Autofix applies only to supported issues.
Which ESLint alternative has the most languages supported?
SQLFluff, with 28.
How do I switch from ESLint?
Export your data from ESLint (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 ESLint.
How to Switch from ESLint
- Export your data from ESLint (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 ESLint.
ESLint vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Languages supported | Autofix | Custom rules | Security rules | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ESLint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 1 | Ruff | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 9.2 |
| 2 | ShellCheck | Yes | Free | 4 | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | Stylelint | Yes | Free | 8 | Yes | Yes | No | 8.8 |
| 4 | clang-tidy | Free | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 5 | Clippy | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 6 | Credo | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Biome | Yes | Free | 17 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | PMD | Yes | Free | 16 | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | Astral | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | 8.2 |
| 10 | markdownlint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 11 | SwiftLint | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | No | 8.0 | |
| 12 | Checkstyle | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 13 | Staticcheck | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | 7.8 | ||
| 14 | golangci-lint | Yes | Free | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 15 | SQLFluff | Yes | Free | 28 | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- ESLint vs Ruff
- ESLint vs ShellCheck
- ESLint vs Stylelint
- ESLint vs clang-tidy
- ESLint vs Clippy
- ESLint vs Credo
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update