PDFAITools
What is Continue?
Open-Source AI Code Assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
Continue is an open-source AI code assistant that integrates directly into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, providing AI-powered autocomplete, code generation, and chat assistance. Its defining characteristic is flexibility — it works with any LLM, including local models, giving developers complete control over their AI coding setup.
Open Source, Any Model, Full Control
Unlike GitHub Copilot or Cursor which lock you into specific models and vendors, Continue lets developers connect any LLM — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, local Ollama models, or custom endpoints. This makes it the preferred choice for organizations with data privacy requirements or developers who want to experiment with different models.
- VS Code and JetBrains IDE integration
- Works with any LLM including local and self-hosted models
- Inline autocomplete and multi-line code generation
- Chat interface with full codebase context
- Completely open-source and self-hostable
Key Features
Fully open-source codebase — inspect, modify, and self-host freely.
Connect OpenAI, Anthropic, local Ollama, or any custom model endpoint.
Native extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
Chat with AI using your entire codebase as context.
Fast, context-aware code completion as you type.
Who Uses Continue?
Use local models to keep proprietary code off third-party servers.
Test different LLMs for coding tasks without changing your IDE.
AI-powered autocomplete and explanation for everyday development work.
Deploy AI coding assistance that complies with data security policies.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Open source with no vendor lock-in or data privacy concerns
- Works with local models for fully private AI coding assistance
- Model flexibility lets developers optimize for cost and quality
- Free to use — no subscription required
❌ Cons
- Setup requires more technical configuration than plug-and-play alternatives
- Quality depends heavily on which LLM you connect
- Smaller team than Copilot/Cursor means slower feature development
Continue Pricing
Free
- Open source
- Any LLM
- VS Code & JetBrains
- Self-hostable
Continue earns a 3.5/5 rating from our editorial team. It's completely free to use with no hidden costs, making it one of the most accessible tools in the Development space. Standout strengths include open source with no vendor lock-in or data privacy concerns and works with local models for fully private ai coding assistance.
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