Continue
An open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains that lets you choose your own models and build custom assistants.
What is Continue?
Continue is an open-source AI code assistant that runs inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It offers chat, autocomplete, inline edits and an agent mode, and lets developers connect the AI models they prefer, including local models.
Many coding assistants lock you into one provider. Continue takes a different approach: it's an open-source extension where you configure which models to use for chat, autocomplete and edits, whether that's a hosted model through an API key or a model running on your own machine.
Inside the editor you can ask questions about your code, highlight code to edit it with a prompt, accept autocomplete suggestions and let an agent mode carry out multi-step changes using tools. Context providers let you bring in files, docs and other sources.
For teams, Continue supports shared configurations so everyone uses the same models, rules and prompts. This makes it attractive for organizations that need control over where code is sent.
Key features of Continue
- Chat in your IDE: Ask questions about your codebase and get explanations or code.
- Autocomplete: Inline suggestions as you type, with a model of your choice.
- Edit and agent modes: Rewrite selected code or let an agent make multi-step changes.
- Bring your own models: Use hosted APIs or local models for privacy and cost control.
- Custom assistants: Share rules, prompts and configurations across a team.
What you can use Continue for
- Teams that need to choose where code is processed
- Developers running local models
- Customizing an assistant with team-specific rules
- Everyday code explanation and refactoring
Pros and considerations
Strengths
- Open source and model-agnostic
- Works in both VS Code and JetBrains
- Good fit for privacy-conscious teams
Things to check
- Quality depends on the models you connect
- Setup and configuration take more effort than all-in-one tools
- You pay model providers separately when using hosted APIs
Continue pricing
Open source. The extension is open source and free to use with your own model keys or local models; Continue also offers paid options for teams. Check the official site for current plans.
Who Continue is best for
Developers and teams who want a flexible, open-source coding assistant with full control over models and data.
Independent listing by AI Agent Help, last reviewed October 2026. Features and pricing change; check the official website for the latest details. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Frequently asked questions
Is Continue free?
The extension is open source and free; you may pay for the AI models you connect.
Can Continue use local models?
Yes. It supports running models locally as well as hosted APIs.
Which IDEs does it support?
VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.