Biome vs ESLint
Biome and ESLint side by side: what each one is, verified plan pricing and install commands where we have them, and the full review of each.
Biome
Fast Rust-based formatter and linter for JavaScript and TypeScript. One tool replaces Prettier and ESLint with sub-second runs on large repos.
ESLint
The standard JavaScript and TypeScript linter. Massive plugin ecosystem, framework-specific configs, and integration with every editor.
At a glance
| Field | B Biome | E ESLint |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Infrastructure | Infrastructure |
| Website | biomejs.dev | eslint.org |
| Pricing | Free and open source (MIT or Apache-2.0) | ESLint - free and open source (MIT) |
| Install | npm i -D -E @biomejs/biome or pnpm add -D -E @biomejs/biome or brew install biome | npm init @eslint/config@latest or npm install --save-dev eslint@latest @eslint/js@latest or pnpm create @eslint/config@latest |
| Models | Not an AI tool: a formatter and linter for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, JSON, CSS, GraphQL, and HTML, including Vue, Svelte, and Astro files, extensible with GritQL plugins. Runs from the CLI, editor LSP integrations, or the official Docker image. | Not an AI tool. It runs on Node.js ^20.19.0, ^22.13.0, or >=24 and is configured through an eslint.config.js flat config. You extend it with plugins, shareable configs, custom parsers and language plugins, and the docs include setup for an ESLint MCP server. |
| Last verified | October 17, 2026 | October 17, 2026 |
In Depth
Biome
Biome is a Rust-based toolchain for web frontends. It formats and lints JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, JSON, and CSS, and it does it roughly 25x faster than Prettier plus ESLint. The configuration model is a single biome.json with sane defaults, and migration tools convert existing Prettier and ESLint configs. The trade-off versus the legacy stack is a smaller plugin ecosystem; Biome ships its rules in-tree. For teams hitting lint and format speed walls on big monorepos, Biome is an immediate quality-of-life upgrade.
ESLint
ESLint is the linter the JavaScript world standardized on. The plugin ecosystem is its real moat: every framework, library, and accessibility rule has an ESLint plugin. The flat config (eslint.config.js) shipped in v9 cleaned up years of config debt. ESLint is slower than Biome on large repos and has a heavier mental model, but for most teams the plugin coverage and editor integration are reason enough to stay. Pairs with Prettier for formatting.
FAQ
Answers taken from each tool's verified fact sheet, with the date it was last checked.
How much does Biome cost?
As of October 17, 2026: Free and open source (MIT or Apache-2.0). Source: Install Biome, Biome blog, Biome v2.5 announcement, biomejs/biome releases, biomejs/biome Cargo.toml (license).
How do I install Biome?
Official install commands as of October 17, 2026: npm i -D -E @biomejs/biome or pnpm add -D -E @biomejs/biome or brew install biome.
Which models does Biome use?
As of October 17, 2026: Not an AI tool: a formatter and linter for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, JSON, CSS, GraphQL, and HTML, including Vue, Svelte, and Astro files, extensible with GritQL plugins. Runs from the CLI, editor LSP integrations, or the official Docker image.
How much does ESLint cost?
As of October 17, 2026: ESLint - free and open source (MIT). Source: Getting Started with ESLint, ESLint blog, ESLint v10.13.0 released, ESLint v10.11.0 released, getting-started.md source.
How do I install ESLint?
Official install commands as of October 17, 2026: npm init @eslint/config@latest or npm install --save-dev eslint@latest @eslint/js@latest or pnpm create @eslint/config@latest.
Which models does ESLint use?
As of October 17, 2026: Not an AI tool. It runs on Node.js ^20.19.0, ^22.13.0, or >=24 and is configured through an eslint.config.js flat config. You extend it with plugins, shareable configs, custom parsers and language plugins, and the docs include setup for an ESLint MCP server.
