Aider vs Continue
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Aider
Git-aware AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal
Free
Read full review →Continue
Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything
Free
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Aider | Continue | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Git-aware AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal | Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Categories | coding, cli | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, open-source |
| Made by | Aider | Continue |
| Launched | 2023-05 | 2023-08 |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux, Windows | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Aider highlights
- + Auto-commits every AI edit with a descriptive git message
- + Repo map builds a structured index of your codebase for accurate multi-file context
- + Architect mode splits planning from editing for safer complex changes
- + Voice coding lets you dictate code changes hands-free
- + Supports Claude, GPT-5, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local models through a single interface
Continue highlights
- + Bring your own model from any provider or run locally via Ollama
- + Chat, edit, autocomplete, and agent modes in VS Code and JetBrains
- + JSON and YAML config files for full control over every behavior
- + Continue Hub for sharing and discovering assistant configurations
- + Custom slash commands and context providers for any workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Aider or Continue?
Neither is universally better. Aider (Free) leans into coding, while Continue (Free) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Aider and Continue?
Aider is free. Continue is free. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Aider and Continue together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.