Babel vs CoffeeScript
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A compiler that converts newer JavaScript into versions older browsers and runtimes can run.
Open source · MIT
A small language that compiles into JavaScript, with a lighter syntax.
The short answer
Choose Babel if you need…
- Web developers who want to use recent JavaScript syntax while still supporting older browsers
- Teams with a build pipeline that can add a compile step
- Library authors who need output that runs in a range of environments
- Developers curious how JavaScript syntax transforms work under the hood
Choose CoffeeScript if you need…
- Developers maintaining an existing CoffeeScript codebase
- Developers who prefer a terse, indentation-based syntax over JavaScript's braces and semicolons
- People experimenting with language design or JavaScript compilers
Side-by-side
| Babel | CoffeeScript | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 44.1k | 16.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | CoffeeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 11 days ago |
What each one is
Babel
Babel is a tool that lets you write modern JavaScript and then converts it into an older form that environments without support for those features can still run. The README gives an example of turning a newer nullish-coalescing operator into an equivalent older expression. Developers use it as a build step in web projects so they can use new language features without waiting for every browser to support them.
CoffeeScript
CoffeeScript is a small programming language that is translated (compiled) into JavaScript, which browsers and Node.js can run. You write code with less punctuation than JavaScript, then the compiler turns it into normal JavaScript. The README describes it as a little language that compiles into JavaScript, and it can also run .coffee files directly with the coffee command.
Best for
Babel
- Web developers who want to use recent JavaScript syntax while still supporting older browsers
- Teams with a build pipeline that can add a compile step
- Library authors who need output that runs in a range of environments
- Developers curious how JavaScript syntax transforms work under the hood
CoffeeScript
- Developers maintaining an existing CoffeeScript codebase
- Developers who prefer a terse, indentation-based syntax over JavaScript's braces and semicolons
- People experimenting with language design or JavaScript compilers
Strengths
Babel
- Widely used, with 44,052 GitHub stars and a large npm download count shown in the README
- Open source under the MIT license
- Actively pushed to, with a recent release listed as v8.0.9
CoffeeScript
- Simple, short syntax that compiles to readable JavaScript
- Installs easily through npm, both per project and globally
- Has an MIT license and a long-running public changelog and documentation site
Not ideal for
Babel
- People who only write code for modern browsers or Node versions that already support every feature they use, since there may be nothing to compile
- Non-developers looking for an app with a graphical interface; the README describes a command-line and build-tool library
- Anyone needing a full guide to setup; the README points to external docs at babeljs.io for detailed usage
CoffeeScript
- New projects that want mainstream JavaScript or TypeScript tooling, since the README does not describe current ecosystem support and the project is less commonly chosen for new work
- Non-programmers, because it requires understanding JavaScript and Node.js to use effectively
Trade-offs
Babel
- The README is short on setup detail and points elsewhere for documentation
- Configuration and plugin choices are not described in this README excerpt, so setup may take learning
- Maintained largely by volunteers, as the README states, which may affect response times
CoffeeScript
- Requires Node.js, and the README does not detail which Node.js versions are supported
- The README is brief, so detailed language features are only available on the external website
- Smaller community and fewer new tools than JavaScript or TypeScript
Getting started
Babel
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/babel/babelCoffeeScript
Install locally for a project
npm install --save-dev coffeescriptInstall globally to execute .coffee files anywhere
npm install --global coffeescriptFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Babel and CoffeeScript?
Babel: A compiler that converts newer JavaScript into versions older browsers and runtimes can run. CoffeeScript: A small language that compiles into JavaScript, with a lighter syntax. Babel suits web developers who want to use recent javascript syntax while still supporting older browsers, while CoffeeScript suits developers maintaining an existing coffeescript codebase.
Are Babel and CoffeeScript free?
Babel: Free and open source. CoffeeScript: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Babel or CoffeeScript?
CoffeeScript is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Babel is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Babel or CoffeeScript more popular?
Babel has more GitHub stars (44.1k) than CoffeeScript (16.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Babel and CoffeeScript?
Other options people compare them with include esbuild, Parcel, Electron React Boilerplate.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.