# Continue — AI Coding Tool Review & Pricing

> Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant designed as an IDE extension for VS Code and JetBrains. It allows developers to integrate various LLMs, including local models via Ollama, to provide chat, autocomplete, and agentic coding capabilities directly within their development environment.

Source: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/continue · Updated Nov 1, 2026 · Category: IDE Extensions & Plugins · Published by dosa.dev

## At a glance

- **Tool**: Continue
- **Company**: Continue (acquired by Cursor)
- **Category**: [IDE Extensions & Plugins](https://ai.dosa.dev/category/ide-plugins)
- **Pricing model**: Free
- **Official website**: https://continue.dev/allgreen?ref=naveenkumar
- **Status**: discontinued
- **Successor**: [Cursor](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cursor)

## Key features

- Agent mode for autonomous file editing and tool use
- Multi-model support for cloud and local LLMs
- Inline autocomplete and code editing
- Context providers for codebase and terminal integration
- Customizable rules and configuration via YAML

## Pricing

**Model**: Free

The open-source IDE extension is free to use indefinitely. Users are responsible for their own LLM API costs or can use local models at no additional expense; the company's previously offered hosted platform and tiered subscription plans are no longer available.

## Who it is for

- **Best for**: Developers prioritizing privacy, model flexibility, and avoiding vendor lock-in by using their own API keys or local models.
- **Not ideal for**: Users seeking an actively developed tool with ongoing official support, as the project was acquired by Cursor and is now read-only.

## Verdict

Continue remains a powerful, free, and highly customizable open-source option for AI-assisted coding, though its status as a retired project means users should be prepared for community-driven maintenance rather than active support.

## Recent updates

The project released its final version, v2.0.0-vscode, on June 19, 2026, and the repository was subsequently made read-only following the acquisition by Cursor.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Continue free?

Yes - Continue is Free. The open-source IDE extension is free to use indefinitely. Users are responsible for their own LLM API costs or can use local models at no additional expense; the company's previously offered hosted platform and tiered subscription plans are no longer available.

### Is Continue open source?

Yes - Continue is open source. The open-source IDE extension is free to use indefinitely. Users are responsible for their own LLM API costs or can use local models at no additional expense; the company's previously offered hosted platform and tiered subscription plans are no longer available.

### Who is Continue best for?

Developers prioritizing privacy, model flexibility, and avoiding vendor lock-in by using their own API keys or local models.

### Who is Continue not ideal for?

Users seeking an actively developed tool with ongoing official support, as the project was acquired by Cursor and is now read-only.

### What are the best Continue alternatives?

The closest Continue alternatives on ai.dosa.dev are GitHub Copilot, Junie by JetBrains, Gemini Code Assist - all listed under IDE Extensions & Plugins.

### Who makes Continue?

Continue is developed by Continue (acquired by Cursor). It is listed in the IDE Extensions & Plugins category on ai.dosa.dev.

## Top alternatives

- [GitHub Copilot](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/github-copilot) (Freemium) — Developers looking to streamline the software development lifecycle, automate recurring tasks, navigate complex legacy codebases, and maintain context across IDEs, GitHub issues, and pull requests.
- [Junie by JetBrains](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/junie) (Freemium) — Developers already integrated into the JetBrains ecosystem who need an autonomous agent for complex refactoring, writing test scaffolds, updating dependencies, and handling routine mechanical coding tasks.
- [Gemini Code Assist](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/gemini-code-assist) (Paid) — Existing enterprise users requiring AI-powered development assistance with private codebase customization and integration into the Google Cloud ecosystem.
- [Amazon Q Developer](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/amazon-q-developer) (Freemium) — Developers working in AWS environments needing help with cloud architecture, code refactoring, and language upgrades.
- [Tabnine](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/tabnine) (Paid) — Regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or defense that require AI coding assistance while keeping all intellectual property and code entirely on private infrastructure.
- [Cline](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cline) (Open Source) — Developers who need an agentic assistant for complex, multi-step coding tasks, refactoring, or codebase maintenance while maintaining full control over model choice and costs.
- Full alternatives guide: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/continue/alternatives