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Software · head to head

ESLint vs Poolside

ESLint logo

ESLint

Software

Find and fix problems in JavaScript code

From
Free
Rated
-
Poolside logo

Poolside

Software

Open-weight foundation models built for agentic software engineering

From
$0.06/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only ESLint has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ESLint slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome; Poolside no self-serve public application; access is largely through enterprise sales or third-party model gateways

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESLint and Poolside actually diverge.

Attributes where ESLint and Poolside differ
AttributeESLintPoolside
Starting priceFree$0.06/month
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsBrowser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environmentweb, api, mac, windows, linux
Founded20192023

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ESLint

Nothing recorded that Poolside does not also cover.

Only in Poolside

  • Laguna S 2.1
  • Laguna XS 2.1
  • Desktop and CLI tools
  • Open-weight models
  • Third-party gateway access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ESLint

  • Statically analysing JavaScript and JSX to find problems before runtimenot Poolside
  • Automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewritesnot Poolside
  • Enforcing a consistent code style across a teamnot Poolside
  • Running as a CI step to block non-conforming codenot Poolside
  • Writing custom rules for project-specific conventionsnot Poolside

Poolside

  • Enterprises deploying AI coding assistance across large developer organizationsnot ESLint
  • Government and defense agencies needing on-premise or sovereign coding modelsnot ESLint
  • Teams building custom coding agents on open-weight foundation modelsnot ESLint
  • Organizations wanting on-device lightweight coding modelsnot ESLint

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ESLint

  • Slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome
  • Complexity in configuration from scratch, particularly for TypeScript support
  • Limited built-in TypeScript support, requiring separate parsers and coordination with new TypeScript features

Poolside

  • No self-serve public application; access is largely through enterprise sales or third-party model gateways
  • Pricing for the flagship enterprise and government offering is not public and requires a sales conversation
  • Targets organizations with large (5,000+) developer headcounts, making it a poor fit for individuals or small teams
  • Documentation and product surface area are thin compared to consumer-facing coding assistants

Pricing, plan by plan

ESLint

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ESLint review.

Poolside

$0.06/month
  • Laguna XS 2.1$undefined/month
    • $0.06 per 1M input tokens
    • $0.12 per 1M output tokens
    • Available via OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway
  • Laguna S 2.1$undefined/month
    • $0.10 per 1M input tokens
    • $0.20 per 1M output tokens
    • 1M token context window
  • Enterprise / Government$undefined/month
    • Custom contracts for large engineering organizations
    • Sales-quoted pricing
    • On-premise or dedicated deployment options

Which should you pick?

Choose ESLint if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment.

Choose Poolside if

  • You need laguna s 2.1.
  • You work on web, api, mac, windows, linux.
  • You also want laguna xs 2.1.

Questions people ask

Is ESLint or Poolside better?
Neither clearly leads. ESLint starts at Free and Poolside at $0.06/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESLint or Poolside?
ESLint has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ESLint and $0.06/month for Poolside.
Does ESLint or Poolside run on more platforms?
ESLint runs on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment. Poolside runs on web, api, mac, windows, linux.
Can I use ESLint for free?
Yes. ESLint has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Poolside starts at $0.06/month.
What is ESLint best used for?
ESLint is most often used for statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime, automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites, enforcing a consistent code style across a team, running as a ci step to block non-conforming code. Of those, statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime and automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites are not what Poolside is typically brought in for.
What can ESLint do that Poolside cannot?
Poolside covers Laguna S 2.1, Laguna XS 2.1, Desktop and CLI tools, Open-weight models.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESLint: Does ESLint automatically fix code issues?

Many problems ESLint finds can be automatically fixed via the --fix flag. ESLint fixes are syntax-aware so you won't experience errors introduced by traditional find-and-replace algorithms.

Source
Poolside: How is Poolside's Laguna model usage priced?

Laguna XS 2.1 is priced at $0.06 per 1M input tokens and $0.12 per 1M output tokens; Laguna S 2.1 is $0.10 per 1M input tokens and $0.20 per 1M output tokens.

Source
ESLint: How much does ESLint cost?

ESLint is completely free and open-source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. The project accepts voluntary donations from sponsors.

Source
Poolside: Where can I access Poolside's models?

Laguna models are available through third-party gateways OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway, as well as via Poolside's own desktop and CLI tools.

Source
ESLint: Can I write custom ESLint rules?

Yes. You can develop custom rules that work alongside built-in functionality through ESLint's plugin system, allowing complete customization for your project needs.

Source
Poolside: Does Poolside offer enterprise or government pricing?

Yes, Poolside offers custom, sales-quoted contracts for large enterprises and government/defense customers, including on-premise or dedicated deployment options.

Source
Poolside: How do I get started building with Poolside's models?

Poolside's documentation provides a quickstart guide for installing the `pool` CLI and running an agent task, alongside API documentation for custom integrations.

Source
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