Continue

## Key capabilities

- **Editor chat and edits** — chat about code and apply AI edits inside VS Code and JetBrains.
- **Autocomplete** — inline multi-line completions from your chosen model.
- **Custom model routing** — bring your own models (hosted or local) and configure per-task routing.
- **Open source** — fully open-source and self-configurable.

## How Continue compares

Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant; alternatives differ in openness and form factor:

| Tool | Form factor | Open source | Notable for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Continue** | Assistant inside existing editors | Yes | Bring-your-own-model routing (hosted or local) |
| **GitHub Copilot** | Assistant inside existing editors | No | Broad ecosystem and native GitHub integration |
| **Cursor** | AI-native editor (VS Code fork) | No | Agent mode and multi-file edits |
| **Claude Code** | Terminal-based agentic coding tool | No | CLI/agent workflow with MCP, hooks, subagents |

Choose Continue when you want an open-source assistant with full model control; Copilot for the broad ecosystem, Cursor for a full AI-native editor, or Claude Code for a terminal/agent workflow.

## Editorial notes

Continue is useful when teams need self-directed model choices, local configuration, and open-source control over AI coding workflows.

## Disclosure

Editorial listing. No paid placement or affiliate link is used.