Continue vs Goose
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything
Free
Read full review →Goose
Block's open-source CLI coding agent, extensible via MCP and free to run on your own keys
Free
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Continue | Goose | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything | Block's open-source CLI coding agent, extensible via MCP and free to run on your own keys |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Categories | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, open-source | coding, cli |
| Made by | Continue | Block, Inc. |
| Launched | 2023-08 | 2024-12 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Status | active | active |
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
Goose highlights
- + Autonomous multi-step task execution in your terminal
- + MCP-native architecture for connecting tools, databases, and APIs
- + Extensible via community and custom MCP toolkits
- + Works with Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, and local model providers
- + Session memory and persistent context across runs
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Continue or Goose?
Neither is universally better. Continue (Free) leans into coding, while Goose (Free) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Continue and Goose?
Continue is free. Goose is free. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Continue and Goose 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.