Super-Linter vs SwiftLint
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 bundle of many code linters that runs as a GitHub Action or in a container to check your code.
Open source · MIT
A command-line tool that checks Swift code against common style rules.
The short answer
Choose Super-Linter if you need…
- Teams that want automated code checks on GitHub pull requests
- Projects spanning several programming languages that need one linting entry point
- Anyone who prefers running linters in a container instead of installing each tool locally
- Maintainers who want consistent formatting conventions enforced in CI
Choose SwiftLint if you need…
- iOS and macOS developers who want consistent Swift style across a team
- Teams that want style checks to run automatically in builds or Xcode
- Swift package authors who want linting through Swift Package Manager plugins
Side-by-side
| Super-Linter | SwiftLint | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.6k | 19.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Run with Docker | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Shell | Swift |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 20 days ago |
What each one is
Super-Linter
Super-Linter is a ready-to-run collection of linters and code analyzers that checks source code for style and quality problems across many languages. It reports issues in the console and as GitHub Actions status checks, and it can also fix some formatting issues. Teams use it to keep code consistent without wiring up each tool separately.
SwiftLint
SwiftLint is a tool that reads Swift source code and reports places where it breaks widely accepted style and convention rules. It can also automatically fix some of those issues when asked. Teams use it to keep code consistent without relying only on manual code review.
Best for
Super-Linter
- Teams that want automated code checks on GitHub pull requests
- Projects spanning several programming languages that need one linting entry point
- Anyone who prefers running linters in a container instead of installing each tool locally
- Maintainers who want consistent formatting conventions enforced in CI
SwiftLint
- iOS and macOS developers who want consistent Swift style across a team
- Teams that want style checks to run automatically in builds or Xcode
- Swift package authors who want linting through Swift Package Manager plugins
Strengths
Super-Linter
- Bundles many linters and formatters for many languages in one tool
- Runs linters in parallel, per the README
- Released under the MIT license
SwiftLint
- Rules are based on SwiftSyntax and widely accepted Swift community conventions
- Available through several install routes, including Homebrew, Swift Package Manager, CocoaPods, Mint, and Bazel
- Released under the permissive MIT license
Not ideal for
Super-Linter
- Projects not hosted on GitHub or not using a container runtime, since the README describes those as the main ways to run it
- People looking for a single language-specific linter, because it bundles many tools and may be heavier than needed
SwiftLint
- People who only want to run Swift code and have no interest in style rules, since it only checks style and conventions
- Projects with code that does not compile, because the README warns that SwiftLint is designed for valid, compilable source and results can be confusing otherwise
Trade-offs
Super-Linter
- Heavy: it ships many tools, and the README notes an image-size trade-off that it works to limit
- Configuration depends on the individual linters it includes, which you must learn to tune
SwiftLint
- Some rules still depend on Clang and SourceKit, so behavior may depend on the toolchain
- Automatic fixes are risky on code that does not compile, as the README cautions
- Using plugins directly from the main repository has drawbacks; the README recommends a separate plugins repository
Getting started
Super-Linter
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/super-linter/super-linterSwiftLint
Install with Homebrew
brew install swiftlintInstall with Mint
mint install realm/SwiftLintFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Super-Linter and SwiftLint?
Super-Linter: A bundle of many code linters that runs as a GitHub Action or in a container to check your code. SwiftLint: A command-line tool that checks Swift code against common style rules. Super-Linter suits teams that want automated code checks on github pull requests, while SwiftLint suits ios and macos developers who want consistent swift style across a team.
Are Super-Linter and SwiftLint free?
Super-Linter: Free and open source. SwiftLint: Free and open source.
Is Super-Linter or SwiftLint more popular?
SwiftLint has more GitHub stars (19.8k) than Super-Linter (10.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Super-Linter and SwiftLint?
Other options people compare them with include Infer.
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.