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Aider vs Continue (2026)

A detailed comparison of Aider and Continue covering features, pricing, platform support, and more.

Verdict

Both Aider and Continue are strong options. Aider stands out for fully open source and free, while Continue excels at fully open source. Your choice depends on your team's workflow and priorities.

Feature Comparison

FeatureAiderContinue
Terminal-based pair programmingYesNo
Git-aware editingYesNo
Multi-file editingYesNo
Voice codingYesNo
Linting integrationYesNo
Supports 20+ LLM providersYesNo
VS Code and JetBrains extensionNoYes
Code autocompleteNoYes
Chat with codebaseNoYes
Custom model configurationNoYes
Local model supportNoYes
Context providersNoYes

Pricing Comparison

DetailAiderContinue
Free TierYesYes
Free Tier DetailsOpen source, bring your own API keysFully open source, bring your own API keys or use free local models
Starting PriceFreeFree
Plan 1—Teams (coming soon): $20/month

Pros & Cons

Aider

Strengths

  • +Fully open source and free
  • +Works with any LLM provider
  • +Automatic git commits
  • +Active community and development

Limitations

  • -Requires your own API keys (you pay per-token)
  • -Terminal-only interface
  • -Learning curve for optimal usage

Platforms

macwindowslinux
Continue

Strengths

  • +Fully open source
  • +Works with any LLM (local or cloud)
  • +Supports VS Code and JetBrains
  • +Highly customizable

Limitations

  • -Requires configuration for best results
  • -Less polished than Cursor/Copilot
  • -Quality depends on chosen model

Platforms

macwindowslinux

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