Continue vs Kite: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Continue and Kite comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
Best for you if:
- • You need ide & code editors features specifically
- • Continue is an open-source AI code assistant that runs in VS Code and JetBrains
- • It provides autocomplete and chat with any LLM, including local models for privacy
Kite
An AI-powered coding assistant designed to help developers write code faster.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need AI coding features specifically
- • AI-powered code completion tool for Python and JavaScript that supported 16+ editors
- • Reached 500,000 monthly active developers but shut down in 2021
| At a Glance |  Continue |  Kite |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $10/month per developerTeams | Custom (discontinued)/moTeam Server |
Best For | IDE & Code Editors | AI Coding |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Continue or Kite?
Choose Continue if
Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
- Open source AI assistant
- IDE integration
- Custom models
- Your work is ide & code editors-shaped, not AI coding-shaped
Choose Kite if
An AI-powered coding assistant designed to help developers write code faster.
- Pioneered AI code completion before GitHub Copilot
- Supported a wide range of editors and IDEs
- Local processing option preserved code privacy
- You want a fully free tool (Continue requires payment)
- Your work is AI coding-shaped, not ide & code editors-shaped
| Feature | Continue | Kite |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.2/5 135 reviews |
| Categories | IDE & Code EditorsAI Coding | AI CodingDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
Strengths
- +Open source AI assistant
- +IDE integration
- +Custom models
- +Privacy focused
- +Active development
Weaknesses
- -Setup required
- -Model costs
- -Less polished
- -Configuration needed
- -Smaller community
Key features
Kite
An AI-powered coding assistant designed to help developers write code faster.
Strengths
- +Pioneered AI code completion before GitHub Copilot
- +Supported a wide range of editors and IDEs
- +Local processing option preserved code privacy
- +Python type inference was genuinely useful
- +Free for individual developers
Weaknesses
- -Shut down in 2021, no longer available or supported
- -Limited language support beyond Python and JavaScript
- -Could not find a sustainable revenue model
- -Completion quality below what GPT-based tools later achieved
- -Team Server enterprise product never gained traction
Key features
Pricing: Continue vs Kite
| Plan | Continue | Kite |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $0 Free (Individual) |
| Tier 2 | $10 month per developer Teams | Custom (discontinued) Team Server |
| Tier 3 | custom Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Continue pricing and Kite pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Kite is free. Continue is freemium.
Go with: Kite
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Continue
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Continue
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Continue is freemium. Kite is free. Go with Kite if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Continue is a ide & code editors tool. Kite is in AI coding. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Continue
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Kite
- Completely free
- Better fit for AI coding
The Bottom Line
Continue is our pick. That said, Kite is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Continue or Kite better?
Continue is rated in our evaluation. Continue is freemium and Kite is free.
What are Continue and Kite used for?
Continue: Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains. Kite: An AI-powered coding assistant designed to help developers write code faster..
What does Continue cost vs Kite?
Continue is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Kite is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.