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Continue.dev

The open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains

Best for:Code Review
No reviews yetFree·Updated Mar 2026

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

1Connect any LLM (cloud or local)
2Tab autocomplete and chat sidebar
3Custom slash commands for team workflows
4Context tagging for files and docs
5VS Code and JetBrains support

Pros

  • + Completely free and open-source
  • + Model-agnostic, works with any LLM provider including local models
  • + Custom commands let teams standardize AI workflows
  • + Configuration is version-controllable JSON

Cons

  • Requires manual setup and model configuration
  • Autocomplete quality depends entirely on the chosen model
  • Less polished UX compared to commercial alternatives

Pricing Details

Free

Continue.dev is completely free — perfect for individuals and teams who want a powerful Coding & Development tool without spending a dime.

You can use Continue.dev for

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Continue.dev free?+
Continue.dev is completely free to use with no paid plans.
What are the best alternatives to Continue.dev?+
Top alternatives to Continue.dev include Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cody. Each offers similar capabilities in the Coding & Development space with different pricing and features.
What is Continue.dev best for?+
Continue.dev excels at Code Review. Its key strengths include completely free and open-source.
Is Continue.dev safe to use?+
Continue.dev is a legitimate Coding & Development tool used by professionals worldwide. As with any online service, review their privacy policy and terms of service before sharing sensitive data.

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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.

Continue.dev

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