Biome vs oxlint
Two Rust-based linters gunning for ESLint's throne. Both are blazingly fast, but Biome brings formatting too.
Biome
Biome combines linting AND formatting in one tool, replacing both ESLint and Prettier. oxlint is faster for pure linting, but Biome's integrated approach means one config, one tool, one dependency. For most projects, that simplicity wins.
The Post-ESLint Era
ESLint is slow. Everyone knows it. On large codebases, eslint . can take 30+ seconds. Both Biome and oxlint are Rust-based alternatives that run in milliseconds.
The ESLint team is working on a rewrite, but in 2026, the Rust alternatives are already here and already fast. The question is which one to adopt.
Biome: The All-in-One
Biome (formerly Rome) is a linter, formatter, and more. One tool replaces ESLint + Prettier. One configuration file. Zero plugin dependencies.
Formatting is Prettier-compatible (97%+ compatibility). Linting covers 200+ rules with clear documentation and auto-fixes. Import sorting is built-in. CSS and JSON support are available.
The single-dependency approach is the real selling point. No more eslint-config-prettier, no more eslint-plugin-import, no more config file conflicts between linter and formatter.
oxlint: Pure Speed
oxlint is part of the oxc (Oxidation Compiler) project. It's a linter and nothing more. No formatter, no bundler ambitions — just the fastest JavaScript/TypeScript linter available.
oxlint is measurably faster than Biome for pure linting. On very large codebases, that speed difference can matter in CI pipelines and editor integration.
The rule coverage focuses on the most impactful ESLint rules. It's designed to run alongside ESLint as a fast first pass, not necessarily as a complete replacement.
Adoption and Maturity
Biome has more momentum. The Rome project's IP was acquired, the team is active, and the tool is positioning itself as the ESLint + Prettier replacement. Companies are migrating.
oxlint is part of a broader compiler toolchain (oxc) that includes a parser, resolver, and transformer. The linter is production-ready, but the project's ambitions are larger.
Both are actively maintained with frequent releases.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Biome | oxlint |
|---|---|---|
| Linting Speed | Very fast | Fastest |
| Formatting | Built-in (Prettier-compat) | No |
| Rule Count | 200+ | 400+ |
| Config Simplicity | One file for all | Linting only |
| ESLint Compatibility | Own rule set | ESLint rule parity focus |
| CSS Support | Yes | No |
| Import Sorting | Built-in | No |
| Dependencies | One package | One package |
The Verdict
Use Biome if: You want to replace both ESLint and Prettier with a single tool. Simplicity and integrated formatting matter more than raw linting speed.
Use oxlint if: You want the absolute fastest linter, plan to keep Prettier for formatting, or need broader ESLint rule compatibility.
Consider: You can run oxlint as a fast first pass and Biome for formatting. They're not mutually exclusive.
Biome combines linting AND formatting in one tool, replacing both ESLint and Prettier. oxlint is faster for pure linting, but Biome's integrated approach means one config, one tool, one dependency. For most projects, that simplicity wins.
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