Overview

Biome brings formatting, linting and import organization into a single toolchain for web projects. It is a strong fit for teams working across common web languages who want these maintenance tasks in one workflow; it is less compelling for projects outside that focus.

Its standalone executable runs without Node.js, and installation instructions cover npm, pnpm, bun, deno and yarn. The project is open source under MIT or Apache 2.0 licenses, while commercial support depends on contributor availability.

Key features

Formatting, linting and fixes

The formatter handles JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, TSX, JSON, HTML, CSS and GraphQL. Lint rules cover JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, CSS and GraphQL, with diagnostics and safe fixes. Autofix, custom rules and security rules are also included. Biome reports support for 17 languages, though its stated purpose remains web projects.

Combined checks

The check command can format code, lint it and organize imports together. That consolidation can reduce the number of separate maintenance steps in a project; teams needing coverage beyond these tasks may still need other tools.

Editors and CI

First-party extensions are available for VS Code, IntelliJ and Zed, with community extensions for editors including Vim, Neovim and Sublime Text. CI integrations are linked for GitHub Actions and GitLab CI. This range gives teams several ways to incorporate Biome into their existing editor and automation workflows.

Pricing

Open-source Biome: 0.00 USD per free. The plan is an open-source toolchain for web projects, with no paid tier or commercial support commitment established by that offer. Commercial support may be available from contributors, subject to their availability.

Platforms

Biome is available for Linux, macOS and Windows, as well as through extension and web platforms. IDE support and CI support are included among its stated capabilities. The standalone executable's lack of a Node.js requirement is useful for projects that prefer not to make Node.js a runtime prerequisite.

Who it's for

Biome suits web teams that want formatting, linting and import organization consolidated, particularly those using JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS or GraphQL. Its multiple package-manager installation paths and editor integrations make it adaptable across varied development setups. Organizations seeking assured commercial support should weigh the contributor-availability condition; projects centered on other languages should consider a language-specific analyzer instead.

Pros and cons

Pros: One command can format, lint and organize imports, bringing recurring tasks together.
Pros: Broad web-language formatting coverage, safe lint fixes, custom rules and security rules provide several useful maintenance capabilities in one toolchain.
Pros: A standalone executable and integrations for major editors and CI systems support different development workflows.
Cons: The project is aimed at web projects, so it is not a general-purpose answer for every language ecosystem.
Cons: Commercial support is not assured; contributor availability determines whether it can be offered.

Alternatives

Browse Linters for other code-analysis tools or Code Formatting Tools for formatting-focused choices.

Cppcheck is a freemium static-analysis option with a free core plan and a free trial; consider it when its supported platforms or project-oriented analysis better fit your needs.
Astral offers free, open-source and permissively licensed tools; choose it when its toolset is a better match for your project.
PHPMD is a free PHP source-code analysis tool, a more relevant direction for PHP projects.
PMD is a free downloadable static code analyzer; consider it for a static-analysis alternative.
Ruff is a free tool from Astral for the Python ecosystem, making it the more natural fit for Python work.
ShellCheck is free static analysis for shell scripts, including use in terminals, editors and on the web.
detekt is a free open-source Kotlin static-analysis tool, suited to Kotlin projects.
golangci-lint is a free, open-source project for Go code, built by volunteers.

Verdict

Choose Biome if your web project needs formatting, linting and import organization in one free toolchain, especially when Node.js-independent execution and editor or CI integrations matter. Look elsewhere when your project is centered on another language or when dependable commercial support is a requirement.

	Biome	elm-format
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	extension, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Supported languages	—	Elm
Supported platforms	—	Windows, macOS, Linux
Editor integration	—	Yes
Library API	—	Yes
License model	—	open_source

Biome vs elm-format

Biome

elm-format