Continue.dev
The open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
What is Continue.dev?
Continue.dev is an open-source AI code assistant that plugs into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, giving you Copilot-like functionality with complete control over which AI models power it. You can connect Continue to Claude, GPT-4, local Ollama models, Azure OpenAI, or any OpenAI-compatible API, mixing and matching models for different tasks.
This flexibility makes it the preferred choice for developers who want AI assistance but need to use specific models due to privacy requirements, cost constraints, or performance preferences. Continue provides tab autocomplete, a chat sidebar for asking questions about your code, and inline editing where you highlight code and describe the change you want.
Its context system lets you tag files, folders, documentation URLs, and terminal output as context for the AI, ensuring responses are grounded in your actual project. The tool supports custom slash commands so teams can define reusable prompts for common workflows like code review checklists, documentation generation, or test scaffolding.
For enterprises running self-hosted LLMs, Continue is the most straightforward way to add AI to developer workflows without sending code to external services. The entire configuration lives in a JSON file, making it easy to version control and share team-wide settings.
Key Features
Pricing Details
Continue.dev is completely free — perfect for individuals and teams who want a powerful Coding & Development tool without spending a dime.
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Our Verdict
Continue is an excellent choice for developers who require strict data privacy or want to integrate specific, local, or self-hosted LLMs into their IDE workflow. However, it requires significantly more configuration effort than plug-and-play competitors and lacks the unified ecosystem of proprietary assistants. It is best suited for power users who want full control over their AI toolchain rather than a turnkey solution.