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Comparison guide

Eslint vs Prettier

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Quick Verdict

Smallest Bundle

Prettier

25.8 KB gzipped

Most Popular

Eslint

158.7M weekly downloads

Best Maintained

Eslint

100/100 maintenance score

Highest Quality

Eslint

50/100 quality score

Overall Pick

Prettier

Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality

  1. eslint

    An AST-based pattern checker for JavaScript.

    158.7M weekly downloads · 366.8 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0
  2. prettier

    Prettier is an opinionated code formatter

    139.1M weekly downloads · 25.8 KB gzip · Health 85/100

    0

Choosing between Eslint and Prettier? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Eslint leads with 158.7M weekly downloads — roughly 1.1x more. Prettier has 139.1M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Prettier has the smallest gzipped bundle at 25.8 KB. Eslint comes in at 366.8 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Eslint has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Prettier has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Eslint if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Prettier if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Eslint and Prettier are solid choices for JavaScript development. Eslint has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eslint better than prettier?
It depends on your needs. Eslint has a health score of 85/100 while Prettier scores 85/100. Eslint has more recorded weekly downloads (158.7M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, eslint or prettier?
Prettier has the smaller gzipped bundle at 25.8 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use eslint vs prettier?
Eslint has more recorded weekly downloads (158.7M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, eslint or prettier?
Eslint has a maintenance score of 100/100. Eslint scores 100/100 and Prettier scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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