Continue is an open-source IDE plugin that brings AI chat, edit, and autocomplete to VS Code and JetBrains. Aider is a CLI-first AI pair programmer that works directly in your terminal with git integration. Continue wins on IDE integration. Aider wins on autonomy and git-native workflows.
Pick the use case that matches your needs to find the right tool.
Open-source Copilot replacement
Drop-in IDE plugin with model choice and full source code.
Terminal-native git workflows
Auto-commits each change for clean history and easy rollback.
Self-hosted setups with local models
Strong local model support and customizable in-IDE config.
Open Source
Completely free and open-source. You provide your own API keys or run local models. Enterprise support available.
Free and open source. download and use without restrictions
Open Source
Free and open-source. You pay only for the LLM API usage to your chosen provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.).
Free and open source. download and use without restrictions
Developers who want an open-source AI coding assistant they can customize and self-host
Developers who prefer terminal-based AI pair programming directly in their Git workflow
Interface
License
Models
Git Integration
Pricing
Best For
Multi-file Edits
Local Models
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Pick Continue if you want an open-source alternative to Copilot inside your IDE. Pick Aider if you prefer a terminal-first workflow and want git commits handled automatically.