# Foundry vs Hardhat

| Attribute | Foundry | Hardhat |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 59.7 (75% (high)) | 61.7 (59% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 1 | 36,669 |
| adoption.github_stars | 10,662 | 8,514 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"A toolkit for building, testing, and interacting with Ethereum smart contracts. It provides command-line tools for rapid development, testing, and deployment, including automatic documentation generation from Solidity source code. It is indexed under Blockchain Dev Tools.","source":"https://getfoundry.sh","question":"What is Foundry?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Foundry offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://getfoundry.sh","question":"Is Foundry free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Foundry supports macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://getfoundry.sh","question":"What platforms does Foundry support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Foundry is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry","question":"Is Foundry open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | - |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A Rust-based toolkit for building, testing, debugging, and deploying smart contracts on Ethereum networks | A development environment that enables engineers to write, test, deploy, and debug Ethereum smart contracts using Solidity and TypeScript, with support for fuzzing, code analysis, and multi-chain simulation. |
| features.capabilities | `{"open_source":true,"tooling_type":"framework","gas_profiling":true,"trace_debugger":true,"mainnet_forking":true,"local_dev_network":true,"maintenance_status":"active","evm_compatible_only":true,"static_analysis_security_tool":true,"native_fuzzing_invariant_testing":true,"contract_verification_integration":true}` | `{"open_source":true,"tooling_type":"framework","trace_debugger":true,"mainnet_forking":true,"local_dev_network":true,"maintenance_status":"active","evm_compatible_only":true,"native_fuzzing_invariant_testing":true}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | 2 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Slither","category":"security-analysis"},{"name":"Aderyn","category":"security-analysis"},{"name":"Solar","category":"tooling"}]` | `[{"name":"Optimism OP Stack"},{"name":"Base"},{"name":"Mocha"},{"name":"OP Stack","native":true}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"linux":true}` | `{"cli":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://getfoundry.sh","retrievedAt":"2026-09-11T19:15:17.702Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://hardhat.org","retrievedAt":"2026-09-11T19:19:38.016Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 1 | - |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-6ebc163511bc820a62e25b6a48dec6dea7ffb3eb","date":"2026-10-13T07:56:22Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-6ebc163511bc820a62e25b6a48dec6dea7ffb3eb"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-a7d6afa747860a071e702c0b637254d47892da4f","date":"2026-10-12T10:12:30Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-a7d6afa747860a071e702c0b637254d47892da4f"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-32624734aaf99e89a5046a3017a374a911000da8","date":"2026-10-10T07:45:54Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-32624734aaf99e89a5046a3017a374a911000da8"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-e2c787bf14300dbd848c7dbef98004a96c3dd43f","date":"2026-10-09T07:48:45Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-e2c787bf14300dbd848c7dbef98004a96c3dd43f"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-845d99cd2be68732404c358b63aa9ce05324f22c","date":"2026-10-08T08:01:27Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-845d99cd2be68732404c358b63aa9ce05324f22c"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-315801aff34385b4b59fefa96efaa2daddc81337","date":"2026-10-07T07:46:20Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-315801aff34385b4b59fefa96efaa2daddc81337"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-4f54572b158821c695c75396243aa4fccc7c2465","date":"2026-10-06T07:46:04Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-4f54572b158821c695c75396243aa4fccc7c2465"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/v1.8.5","date":"2026-10-05T18:46:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.8.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-e15c2f1caf7d8e792295bbfb898280e9cbb8e101","date":"2026-10-05T07:47:18Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-e15c2f1caf7d8e792295bbfb898280e9cbb8e101"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-8311e2e57095ecc32d057c6a9ca9a3e2a664a869","date":"2026-10-03T07:59:58Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-8311e2e57095ecc32d057c6a9ca9a3e2a664a869"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-60255eee79332caef99f0c885f55589769f8f0c0","date":"2026-10-04T09:33:56Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-60255eee79332caef99f0c885f55589769f8f0c0"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-328811cbb4a9b9b7115d234a097053474601296a","date":"2026-10-02T07:42:50Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-328811cbb4a9b9b7115d234a097053474601296a"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/v1.8.4","date":"2026-10-01T15:41:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.8.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-df92604bdfb0c99d847ad63523ad841713a7a10c","date":"2026-10-01T07:58:51Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-df92604bdfb0c99d847ad63523ad841713a7a10c"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-e342985382163368156b4ea29987e87679a8e2b2","date":"2026-09-30T07:53:04Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-e342985382163368156b4ea29987e87679a8e2b2"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-009896955c0e5a49fbf76a1976ce522795f41183","date":"2026-09-29T07:46:24Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-009896955c0e5a49fbf76a1976ce522795f41183"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-dd3721265167da6f8ea4d6bb16383f083310f68b","date":"2026-09-28T07:49:30Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-dd3721265167da6f8ea4d6bb16383f083310f68b"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-07915e328e3295103c3c0d5c0883696f4ec53d6f","date":"2026-09-27T07:46:47Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-07915e328e3295103c3c0d5c0883696f4ec53d6f"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-5a99f1a851488fe26863505088e80183ad73cf07","date":"2026-09-25T07:38:05Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-5a99f1a851488fe26863505088e80183ad73cf07"},{"url":"https://github.com/foundry-rs/foundry/releases/tag/nightly-5800ccaacbeaba467c3449ef8c3af386ad5b1454","date":"2026-09-24T07:39:12Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly-5800ccaacbeaba467c3449ef8c3af386ad5b1454"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/hardhat%403.19.0","date":"2026-10-08T16:49:44Z","type":"stable","version":"hardhat@3.19.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-zod-utils%403.0.7","date":"2026-10-08T16:17:34Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-zod-utils@3.0.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-ethers-chai-matchers%403.0.12","date":"2026-10-08T16:17:37Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ethers-chai-matchers@3.0.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors%403.1.2","date":"2026-10-08T16:17:32Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors@3.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/hardhat%403.18.1","date":"2026-10-01T14:51:27Z","type":"stable","version":"hardhat@3.18.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/ignition-core%403.1.10","date":"2026-10-01T14:43:19Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/ignition-core@3.1.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify%403.1.2","date":"2026-10-01T14:43:17Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify@3.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-utils%404.4.0","date":"2026-10-01T14:43:11Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-utils@4.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-keystore%403.1.1","date":"2026-10-01T14:43:15Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-keystore@3.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors%403.1.1","date":"2026-10-01T14:43:13Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors@3.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/hardhat%403.18.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:38:20Z","type":"stable","version":"hardhat@3.18.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify%403.1.1","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:57Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify@3.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-utils%404.3.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:48Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-utils@4.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox-mocha-ethers%404.0.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:58Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox-mocha-ethers@4.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-slang-solx%403.0.4","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:56Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-slang-solx@3.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-mocha%404.0.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:54Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-mocha@4.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-ethers%404.2.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:52Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ethers@4.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors%403.1.0","date":"2026-09-24T17:17:49Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-errors@3.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/hardhat%403.17.0","date":"2026-09-17T15:22:02Z","type":"stable","version":"hardhat@3.17.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/%40nomicfoundation/ignition-ui%403.2.0","date":"2026-09-17T14:36:50Z","type":"stable","version":"@nomicfoundation/ignition-ui@3.2.0"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=cargo&package_name=forge-fmt&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=hardhat&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Blockchain Dev Tools)

| Capability | Foundry | Hardhat |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Tooling type | Framework | Framework |
| Evm compatible only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local dev network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native fuzzing invariant testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mainnet forking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contract verification integration | ✓ | - |
| Trace debugger | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gas profiling | ✓ | - |
| Archive node access | - | - |
| Graphql indexing | - | - |
| Static analysis security tool | ✓ | - |
| Open source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance status | Active | Active |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:16:06.038Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*