continuedev/Continue
⏩ Source-controlled AI checks, enforceable in CI. Powered by the open-source Continue CLI
Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI that brings autocomplete, chat, and agents with any model you choose. Because its rules and config live in your repo, teams can version AI behavior and even enforce it in CI, rather than relying on a vendor's defaults.
Our Review
Continue is one of the most-starred open-source coding assistants on GitHub (33,000 stars, Apache-2.0). Its defining trait is openness: you are not locked to a single vendor's model or a closed product, and the whole assistant, from rules to model choice, is configurable and yours to customize.
What Continue does:
- •AI in your editor autocomplete, inline edits, and chat in VS Code and JetBrains, plus a terminal CLI for agent workflows.
- •Bring your own model connect any model (OpenAI, Anthropic, local via Ollama, and more) instead of being tied to one provider.
- •Configurable rules define how the assistant behaves with rules and context that live in your repo as code.
- •Source-controlled and CI-enforceable version your AI configuration and enforce checks in continuous integration.
- •Agent mode let it plan and apply multi-file changes, not only single completions.
- •Open ecosystem a hub of shared assistants, models, rules, and prompts the community publishes.
Getting started:
Install the Continue extension from the VS Code or JetBrains marketplace, or the CLI from the repo, then connect a model and start coding. Docs at docs.continue.dev.
Limitations:
Continue is more configurable than plug-and-play, so getting the best results means setting up models, rules, and context yourself, unlike a fully managed assistant. You bring (and pay for) your own model API keys or run local models. As a fast-moving project with frequent releases, occasional rough edges and breaking config changes happen. It is a developer tool, not a no-code app builder.
Our Verdict
Continue is the go-to open-source choice in 2026 for developers who want an AI coding assistant they fully control. If you dislike being locked to one vendor's model and want your AI setup versioned in your repo, Continue gives you that across VS Code, JetBrains, and the CLI, with 33,000 stars and an Apache-2.0 license.
For developers, the strengths are control and openness: bring any model, define rules and context as code, run an agent mode for multi-file edits, and enforce AI configuration in CI. Teams that care about consistent, reviewable AI behavior get more here than from a closed assistant.
Skip Continue if you want a polished, opinionated assistant with zero configuration; Cursor or a managed tool is faster to start. If you are a non-coder building apps, a more guided assistant fits better than Continue's bring-your-own-model approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Continue?
Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code, JetBrains, and the command line, developed by Continue. It provides autocomplete, inline edits, chat, and an agent mode, and it lets you connect any model you choose rather than being tied to one vendor. Its rules and configuration live in your repository as code.
Is Continue free and open source?
Yes. Continue is released under the Apache-2.0 license and is free and open source as of 2026. The extensions and CLI cost nothing to use. Your only costs are the model API calls you make through your own provider keys, or the hardware to run local models; Continue also offers paid team and hub features.
Which models and IDEs does Continue support?
Continue works in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs and as a terminal CLI. It is model-agnostic: connect hosted providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and others, or run local models through Ollama and compatible servers. You can mix models for autocomplete, chat, and agent tasks, and switch providers without changing your workflow.
How is Continue different from Cursor?
Cursor is a polished, closed-source AI code editor built around its own experience and models. Continue is open source and embeds into your existing VS Code or JetBrains setup, with bring-your-own-model and config-as-code. Choose Cursor for a turnkey AI editor; choose Continue when you want openness, model choice, and AI rules versioned in your repo.
Can Continue enforce AI rules in CI?
Yes. As of 2026, Continue lets you keep AI rules and configuration in your repository and run source-controlled AI checks that are enforceable in continuous integration through the Continue CLI. That means a team can standardize how its AI assistant behaves and catch deviations automatically, rather than each developer using ad-hoc settings.
How do I install Continue?
Visit the GitHub repository at https://github.com/continuedev/continue for installation instructions.
What license does Continue use?
Continue uses the Apache-2.0 license.
What are alternatives to Continue?
Explore related tools and alternatives on My AI Guide.
Open source & community-verified
Apache-2.0 licensed: free to use in any project, no strings attached. 33,525 developers have starred this, meaning the community has reviewed and trusted it.
Reviewed by My AI Guide for relevance, quality, and active maintenance before listing.
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