Code formatting shouldn't be a debate. But in 2026, there's a real choice: Prettier (the industry standard) or Biome (the faster, all-in-one challenger). Here's how they compare — and whether Biome is ready to replace Prettier.
Quick Comparison
| Prettier | Biome | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | JavaScript | Rust |
| Speed | Fast (but slower on large repos) | 10-25x faster |
| Formatting | Opinionated, minimal options | ~97% compatible with Prettier |
| Linting | No (use ESLint separately) | Yes (built-in, replaces ESLint for most rules) |
| Languages supported | JS, TS, JSX, JSON, CSS, HTML, MD, YAML, GraphQL, etc. | JS, TS, JSX, JSON, CSS (growing) |
| Editor integration | Every editor | VS Code, IntelliJ, Zed (fewer) |
| Configuration | .prettierrc | biome.json |
Prettier — The Safe, Universal Default
Prettier ended the "tabs vs spaces" debate by being aggressively opinionated. It works with every editor, every CI pipeline, and every language you throw at it. The ecosystem is so dominant that "prettier" is synonymous with "auto-formatting."
Best for: Any project where compatibility matters more than speed. Teams that format many different file types (HTML, YAML, Markdown). Projects that need Prettier plugins.
Weak spot: Slower on large monorepos. Only formats (doesn't lint). Node.js-based (slower than Rust).
Biome — The Rust-Powered All-in-One
Biome (formerly Rome) is built in Rust and is 10-25x faster than Prettier. The bigger value proposition: it handles both formatting AND linting in one binary, replacing Prettier + ESLint for standard rules. For new projects, this means one dependency instead of two, one config file, and dramatically faster CI.
Best for: New projects (fewer dependencies), large monorepos where Prettier is slow, teams that want formatting + linting in one tool, Rust-curious developers.
Weak spot: Not 100% Prettier-compatible (~97%). Fewer editor integrations. Supports fewer languages (no HTML, YAML, or Markdown yet). Smaller ecosystem — if your CI/tooling assumes Prettier, you'll need to adapt.
Migration: Prettier → Biome
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Check compatibility | Run biome migrate prettier to convert your .prettierrc |
| 2. Compare output | Run Biome and Prettier side by side. Check for diffs. |
| 3. Add linting | Enable Biome lint rules. Disable matching ESLint rules. |
| 4. Update CI | Replace prettier --check with biome check |
| 5. Update editor | Install Biome extension, disable Prettier for the project |
Decision Matrix
| Scenario | Best Formatter |
|---|---|
| New project, all JavaScript/TypeScript | Biome |
| Large monorepo (slow Prettier) | Biome |
| Need HTML, YAML, MD formatting | Prettier |
| Maximum editor/CI compatibility | Prettier |
| Want formatting + linting in one tool | Biome |
Bottom line: Biome is ready for new JavaScript/TypeScript projects — the speed difference is real, and replacing two tools with one is a win. Prettier remains the safe universal default, especially for mixed-language projects. The 97% compatibility means migration costs are low. See also: Package Manager Comparison and CI/CD Tools.