yamllint
yamllint: A focused, configurable YAML linter for repositories, editors, hooks, and CI. Ranked #28 of 33 in Linters by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for YAML configuration and CI repositories.
At a glance
- Editor score6.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forYAML configuration and CI repositories
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- CI supportYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Checks YAML syntax, style issues, and duplicate keys
- Integrates with pre-commit, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI/CD
- Offers editor output, recursive linting, and Python module access
Where it doesn't
- No autofix capability
- No custom rule support
- No security rules
Our verdict on yamllint
yamllint is an open-source command-line linter and Python module for YAML files. It is designed for teams maintaining YAML configuration and CI repositories, with checks covering syntax, formatting, indentation, comments, quoting, document markers, truthy values, line length, trailing spaces, and duplicate keys. Recursive directory linting helps apply checks across repository structures, while configurable YAML files let teams enable, disable, or tune rules for their workflow.
The published offering is free and open source rather than divided into paid tiers. Its workflow coverage is a central strength: yamllint supports machine-readable and editor-oriented output, pre-commit integration, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, and Arcanist. Editor integrations cover Vim, Neovim, Emacs, Visual Studio Code, and IntelliJ. It can also be used programmatically through its Python module, making it suitable for repository checks that need to run from scripts or CI pipelines. The listed platforms are Linux, macOS, and API access.
yamllint is a strong fit when the main requirement is consistent YAML syntax and style enforcement across local editing and automated checks. Its scope is deliberately focused: the published capabilities do not include autofix, custom rules, or security rules. Teams that want configurable formatting and duplicate-key detection without a paid plan should find the feature set well aligned with repository maintenance. Teams seeking automatic repairs, organization-specific rule extensions, or security-focused analysis should choose a linter that provides those capabilities instead.
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yamllint pricing
yamllint fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Languages supported | 1 |
| Autofix | No |
| Custom rules | Not verified |
| Security rules | No |
| IDE support | Ide |
| CI support | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 9 integrations: pre-commit, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Arcanist, Vim, Neovim … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | yamllint.readthedocs.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
yamllint integrations
yamllint lists 9 integrations on its own site.
- pre-commit
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab CI/CD
- Arcanist
- Vim
- Neovim
- Emacs
- Visual Studio Code
- IntelliJ
Alternatives to yamllint
- ESLintA free, extensible JavaScript linter with autofix, plugins, and broad developer-tool integrations.9.4
- RuffFree Python linting and formatting with more than 900 built-in rules.9.2
- ShellCheckA free, open-source linter for shell syntax, portability, robustness and security checks.9.0
See all yamllint alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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