Aider vs Continue
Self-host pick — both replace GitHub Copilot (AI code completion / chat in the IDE).
Both Aider and Continue self-host as a replacement for GitHub Copilot (AI code completion / chat in the IDE). Pick Aider if you want terminal-first developers who want a pair-programmer that operates on whole files and commits diffs to git; pick Continue if you want developers who already run a local model and want the Copilot UX (ghost-text + chat + edit) without the hosted bill. Both are Apache-family licensed and similar to set up.
| Aideropen-source | Continueopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 5min `pip install aider-chat` | 10min — VS Code or JetBrains plugin + a local model |
| Monthly cost | Free CLI; model cost is the line item — pair with Ollama / vLLM for $0 marginal cost. | Free for the plugin; model server is the cost line — $0 on a workstation 16GB+ GPU, ~$200/mo on cloud GPU. |
| GitHub | Aider-AI/aider | continuedev/continue |
| Replaces | GitHub Copilot | GitHub Copilot |
Good fit for
Aider
Terminal-first developers who want a pair-programmer that operates on whole files and commits diffs to git.
Weak at:Inline tab-complete during typing — Aider is a chat/edit loop, not a ghost-text engine; pair with Continue if you want both.
Continue
Developers who already run a local model and want the Copilot UX (ghost-text + chat + edit) without the hosted bill.
Weak at:Mobile / web IDEs (Codespaces, GitHub.dev) — Continue is desktop-IDE only.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli github-copilot prints GitHub Copilot's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Aider or Continue?
Aider: 5min `pip install aider-chat`. Continue: 10min — VS Code or JetBrains plugin + a local model.
What does each cost to run?
Aider: Free CLI; model cost is the line item — pair with Ollama / vLLM for $0 marginal cost.. Continue: Free for the plugin; model server is the cost line — $0 on a workstation 16GB+ GPU, ~$200/mo on cloud GPU.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Aider and Continue replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to GitHub Copilot.