ESLint vs Biome
ESLint is the standard linter with an unmatched plugin ecosystem, while Biome is a fast, Rust-based all-in-one linter and formatter with minimal config. Choose ESLint for rule breadth and customization, Biome for speed and simplicity.
Overview
ESLint and Biome are tools for keeping JavaScript and TypeScript code consistent and correct. ESLint is the long-standing, ubiquitous linter with an enormous plugin ecosystem, typically paired with Prettier for formatting. Biome is a newer, Rust-based toolchain that combines linting and formatting in a single, very fast binary with minimal configuration.
Key Differences
Performance is Biome's standout trait. Written in Rust, it lints and formats large codebases far faster than ESLint, which runs on Node.js and can be slow at scale. For big monorepos or CI pipelines where speed matters, this difference is significant.
Scope differs too. ESLint focuses on linting and delegates formatting to Prettier, so a typical setup involves two tools and their configs. Biome bundles a linter and a formatter together, simplifying tooling into one dependency and one configuration—an appealing reduction in moving parts.
Where ESLint dominates is the ecosystem. Years of community development have produced a vast library of rules and plugins, including framework-specific and highly specialized ones. If you need a particular rule or deep coverage for a framework, ESLint almost certainly has it. Biome covers the common, important rules well and is growing quickly, but it does not match ESLint's breadth or support arbitrary custom plugins to the same degree. ESLint is also the entrenched industry standard with universal adoption, while Biome is newer.
When to Choose ESLint
Choose ESLint when you need a specific or large set of custom rules, rely on framework-specific plugins, or want the broadest rule coverage and the maturity of the de facto standard. It is the safe choice for projects with specialized linting requirements.
When to Choose Biome
Choose Biome when you want fast linting and formatting in a single, low-config tool, for new projects that value simple setup and speed, or for large codebases where linter performance is a bottleneck. Its unified approach reduces toolchain complexity.
Verdict
ESLint remains the standard thanks to its unmatched ecosystem and rule coverage, making it the default when breadth and customization matter. Biome offers compelling speed and a simpler, all-in-one experience that is attractive for new projects and performance-sensitive workflows. The choice weighs ESLint's ecosystem depth against Biome's speed and simplicity; some teams even adopt Biome for formatting and speed while keeping ESLint for specialized rules.