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Tracked since2025
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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Very fast compilation

Biggest con

Plugin ecosystem smaller

TL;DR - SWC

  • SWC is an extremely fast JavaScript/TypeScript compiler written in Rust
  • It replaces Babel with 20x faster compilation for modern JavaScript
  • Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

What is SWC?

Editorial review
SWC compiles JavaScript with Rust speed. Fast compiler for modern JavaScript-transformation at remarkable speed. The speed transforms workflows. The Rust base enables performance. The adoption is growing. JavaScript build tools increasingly use SWC for compilation speed.

Available on: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Very fast compilation
  • Rust-based
  • Babel compatible
  • Next.js default
  • Active development

Cons

  • Plugin ecosystem smaller
  • Some Babel features missing
  • Debugging harder
  • Learning curve
  • Config different

Key Features

JS/TS compilerRust-basedSuper fastBabel alternativeMinificationOpen source

Pricing Plans

Free

Free

  • Open source (Apache/MIT)
  • 20x faster than Babel
  • TypeScript/JavaScript compiler
  • Used by Next.js, Deno

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SWC FAQ

Is SWC free?

Yes, SWC is completely free and open source. It's written in Rust and funded by Vercel, who uses it in Next.js.

What is SWC?

SWC is a super-fast JavaScript/TypeScript compiler written in Rust. It can replace Babel and is 20-70x faster. Used by Next.js, Parcel, and Deno.

SWC vs Babel?

SWC is dramatically faster than Babel (20x+). Babel has more plugins and ecosystem maturity. SWC is the clear choice for speed; Babel for specific plugin needs.

Source: swc.rs

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