Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant that works as an extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It offers chat, autocomplete, and inline editing with full control over which models you use. Highly customizable with support for local models, cloud APIs, and custom context providers.
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Runs on: VS Code · JetBrains IDEs (macOS, Linux, Windows)|Best for: Developers who want full control over their AI coding assistant
Whichever AI agent you choose, Standard Compute gives you unlimited LLM compute at one flat monthly price. No rate limits, no per-token billing.
Yes — Continue is open source and free. You connect your own models: a cloud API key, a local model via Ollama, or a flat-price unlimited plan via Standard Compute. There is no subscription for the extension itself.
Continue is best for developers who want full control: choose the model for each task, add custom context providers (docs, databases, internal APIs), and keep everything open source. It's the most customizable mainstream coding assistant.
Switch to Continue if you want model choice (including local models for privacy), custom context, and zero subscription. Stay on Copilot if you want the best out-of-the-box autocomplete with zero configuration. Continue trades convenience for control.
