Continue

Open SourceApache-2.0Self-hostable

The open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — chat, autocomplete and agent edits with any model you choose. A customizable Copilot and Cursor alternative.

Open source alternative to

Claude Code

GitHub Copilot

Visit Continue View source

About Continue

Continue is an open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains that brings chat, tab autocomplete and agent-style edits into the editor you already use — with whatever model you choose. It's built to be configured and extended rather than used as a fixed black box.

You point it at any provider or a local model, define custom commands and context sources, and keep everything transparent and under your control. That flexibility makes it a favourite open alternative to GitHub Copilot and Cursor.

It's Apache-2.0 licensed with a large community and a growing library of blocks and assistants you can share. For teams that want a customizable, model-agnostic AI assistant across both major IDE families, Continue is a top open pick.

Key features

Chat, autocomplete & edits — Inline autocomplete, a chat sidebar and agent edits, all inside VS Code or JetBrains.
Any model — Connect any provider or run a local model — you decide what powers each feature.
Deeply customizable — Define custom commands, context providers and assistants, and share them as blocks.
Open and private — Self-hostable and transparent, so your code and configuration stay yours.

The honest read

What we like

Works in both VS Code and JetBrains
Chat, autocomplete and agent edits in one tool
Model-agnostic — use any provider or local model
Highly customizable with shareable blocks
Apache-2.0 licensed with a strong community

Worth knowing

Configuration depth can be daunting at first
You supply and pay for your own model usage
Autocomplete quality depends on the model chosen
Less turnkey than a bundled commercial tool

FAQ

Is Continue free to use?

Yes — Continue is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. You only pay for the model provider you connect, or nothing with a local model.

How is Continue different from GitHub Copilot?

Continue is open source and model-agnostic — you choose any provider or local model and customize it deeply — while Copilot is a closed, subscription product tied to its own models.

Does Continue work in JetBrains IDEs?

Yes — Continue has extensions for both VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.

Can I run Continue with a local model?

Yes — you can point Continue at a local model, so no code leaves your machine.

Does Continue do autocomplete like Copilot?

Yes — it offers inline tab autocomplete alongside chat and agent edits.