Aide vs Continue
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Aide
Open-source AI-native IDE built on VS Code with agent-first workflows and local memory
Free tier
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
| Aide | Continue | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source AI-native IDE built on VS Code with agent-first workflows and local memory | Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything |
| Pricing | Free tier | Free |
| Categories | coding, ide, open-source | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, open-source |
| Made by | Codestory | Continue |
| Launched | 2024-03 | 2023-08 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Aide highlights
- + Full VS Code fork with AI agent capabilities built into the IDE layer
- + Local memory that persists project context across sessions
- + Agent-first workflows where AI can take multi-step actions within the editor
- + Proactive code suggestions based on recent edits and open files
- + Inline chat with deep editor context awareness
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, Aide or Continue?
Neither is universally better. Aide (Free tier) 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 Aide and Continue?
Aide is free tier. Continue is free. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Aide 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.