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Continue

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Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains

IDE & Code EditorsAI CodingAI Assistants
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Tracked since2025
0 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Open source AI assistant

Biggest con

Setup required

TL;DR - Continue

  • 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
  • Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams

What is Continue?

Editorial review
Continue brings AI assistance directly into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. Ask questions, generate code, understand unfamiliar codebases-an open-source alternative to Copilot that connects to various AI backends. The interface integrates naturally into editor workflows. Multiple model providers are supported. Being open source means transparency and customization. Developers wanting open-source AI coding assistance choose Continue for IDE integration without proprietary lock-in.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourcecontinue.dev ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Open source AI assistant
  • IDE integration
  • Custom models
  • Privacy focused
  • Active development

Cons

  • Setup required
  • Model costs
  • Less polished
  • Configuration needed
  • Smaller community

Key Features

AI code assistantOpen sourceVS CodeJetBrainsLocal modelsCustomizable

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Free

Free

Solo developers

  • Open source
  • IDE extensions
  • Any model support
  • Local deployment
Most Popular

Teams

$10/month per developer

Team collaboration

  • Centralized management
  • Shared assistants
  • Team analytics

Enterprise

null

Large orgs

  • SSO/SAML
  • On-premise
  • Custom policies
  • Enterprise support
Calculate your costView full pricing

How Continue's pricing compares

At $10/mo, Continue is the most affordable of its 4 direct competitors.

Continue
$10
GitHub Copilot
$10
Amazon CodeWhisperer
$19
Cursor
$20
CodeRabbit
$24

Entry paid plan, monthly.

Reviews

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Best Continue Alternatives

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AI code completion for any IDE

4.3
CodeRabbit logo
CodeRabbitFreemium

Automated code review that catches bugs and security issues

4.8
Amazon CodeWhisperer logo
Amazon CodeWhispererFreemium

AI coding companion from AWS for faster development

4.2
GitHub Copilot logo
GitHub CopilotPaid

AI pair programmer that suggests code

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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

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Continue FAQ

How does Continue assist with understanding codebases?

Continue integrates directly into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, allowing users to ask questions and generate code. This functionality helps developers understand unfamiliar codebases more efficiently within their development environment.

Which teams benefit most from using Continue?

Teams that prioritize open-source solutions, require deep IDE integration for AI coding assistance, and value privacy will find Continue particularly suitable. It is designed for developers who prefer customization and transparency in their tools.

How does Continue compare to GitHub Copilot?

Continue serves as an open-source alternative to proprietary tools like GitHub Copilot, offering AI assistance directly within VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It provides similar code generation capabilities but with the added benefits of transparency and customization inherent in an open-source model.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when adopting Continue?

Users should anticipate some initial setup and configuration requirements, as Continue is less polished out-of-the-box compared to some alternatives. Additionally, while the core tool is open source, users will incur model costs for the AI backends they choose to connect.

How is Continue priced?

Continue is available on a free tier, providing basic access to its AI coding assistance features. For users requiring more extensive usage or advanced functionalities, paid plans are offered.

Can Continue be customized with different AI models?

Yes, Continue supports multiple model providers and allows for the use of custom models. Its open-source nature means developers have the flexibility to connect to various AI backends and tailor the assistant to their specific needs.

Does Continue integrate directly into common development environments?

Yes, Continue is specifically designed for deep integration into popular IDEs, including VS Code and JetBrains. This allows its AI assistance to become a natural part of existing editor workflows for developers.

Source: continue.dev

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