AI Code Assistants
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant for any LLM
Overview
Open-source AI code assistant that integrates into VS Code and JetBrains. Connects to any LLM (commercial or local) and provides tab completion, chat, and inline editing with full customization.
J.
Ehsan's Growth Verdict
★★★★☆7.5/10
The open-source Copilot alternative — ideal for teams who want control over their AI
Best for: Engineering teams who need open-source, self-hosted AI coding assistance
Key Features
✓Tab autocomplete
✓Chat with codebase
✓Inline editing
✓Any LLM backend
✓Custom slash commands
Pros
- + Fully open-source and customizable
- + Works with any model including local
- + Strong JetBrains support
Cons
- − Requires configuration
- − No hosted model included
- − Less polished than commercial alternatives
Pricing
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| API costs | Bring your own key |
| Self-hosted | Free |
| Continue for Teams | Custom pricing |
Best Use Cases
→Custom AI coding setups
→Air-gapped development
→Teams wanting model flexibility
Ehsan's Growth Take
Continue is what you deploy when the security team vetoes Copilot. Connect it to a self-hosted model and you get AI coding without any code leaving your network. That is a real unlock for enterprise.
J.
Ehsan Jahandarpour
AI Growth Strategist & Fractional CMO · Forbes Top 20 Growth Hacker · TEDx Speaker · 716 Academic Citations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Continue?
Open-source AI code assistant that integrates into VS Code and JetBrains. Connects to any LLM (commercial or local) and provides tab completion, chat, and inline editing with full customization.
How much does Continue cost?
Continue uses a open-source pricing model. Self-hosted: Free. API costs: Bring your own key. Continue for Teams: Custom pricing.
Is Continue worth it in 2026?
Continue scores 7.5/10 in our expert review. The open-source Copilot alternative — ideal for teams who want control over their AI. Engineering teams who need open-source, self-hosted AI coding assistance.
What are the alternatives to Continue?
Alternatives depend on your specific needs. Compare Continue with other tools in the code category using our comparison tool.
What are the pros and cons of Continue?
Key pros: Fully open-source and customizable, Works with any model including local, Strong JetBrains support. Key cons: Requires configuration, No hosted model included, Less polished than commercial alternatives.