Continue.dev

NewVerified

AI code completion and chat for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs

8.2 (61.48 score)

open-sourceAPI Available

Overview

Continue is an open-source IDE extension that brings AI-assisted coding into your existing development environment. It supports multiple AI models and providers, letting developers choose their preferred LLM while coding. The tool combines code completion, chat interfaces, and editing capabilities without replacing your IDE.

Pros

Works with any LLM provider: OpenAI, Claude, local models, self-hosted
Generates multi-line code completions with context awareness
Open-source codebase allows customization and self-hosting
Lightweight extension integrates directly into VS Code and JetBrains
Chat interface for code questions without leaving editor

✕ Cons

Requires manual setup and API key configuration for most models
Limited documentation for advanced customization scenarios
Performance depends heavily on chosen LLM provider quality

Key Features

Code completion and generation

In-editor AI chat

Multi-provider LLM support

Code editing and refactoring

Local model support

Open-source extensibility

Use Cases

Individual developers accelerating coding workflows with AI assistanceTeams using open-source LLMs for on-premise AI codingEngineers testing multiple AI models without switching toolsOrganizations avoiding vendor lock-in with self-hosted Continue setup

Best For

Software EngineersOpen-Source ContributorsPrivacy-Focused DevelopersCustom AI Integration Teams

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Continue.dev cost?▾

Continue.dev is open-source and free to use. You can self-host it or connect it to free and paid LLM providers depending on your chosen model backend.

How easy is it to set up Continue.dev?▾

Setup is straightforward for VS Code and JetBrains users—install the extension and configure your preferred LLM provider. Customization requires some technical knowledge but the community provides documentation and examples.

What LLM providers and models does Continue.dev support?▾

Continue.dev supports multiple providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, local models via Ollama, and other custom endpoints. You can switch between providers and use open-source models offline.

What are the main limitations of Continue.dev?▾

Performance depends heavily on your chosen model and hardware—local models may be slower than cloud providers. Advanced refactoring features work best with capable models, and context window limitations apply based on your LLM.

What is the ideal use case for Continue.dev?▾

It's best for developers who want AI code completion with full customization and privacy control, especially those preferring open-source solutions or needing to run models entirely offline.