Continue: review, pricing, data and alternatives

What is Continue?

Continue lets people programming ask questions about project files and edit code from an editor or terminal. It runs commands, uses local or external models, and exports conversations in Markdown.

According to its documentation, Continue lets you:

• ask questions about a project's files
• edit code from the editor or terminal
• run commands during a programming task
• use local models or external providers
• export a conversation in Markdown

We file it under AI coding assistants, the category of tools to write and fix code, and it also overlaps with local LLM tools. The category lists 31 verified tools on this site.

The publisher is Anysphere, Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2023, which gives it some track record.

Who is it for?

It is mostly useful to these profiles: developers. The need it covers is simple to state: write and fix code.

Continue is a good candidate if:

• you want to try before paying
• you must keep your data in Europe or on your own machine
• you want to read the code or host it yourself

Before deciding, run a trial on a real task and measure the time saved: it is the only criterion that really counts.

How much does Continue cost?

Pricing model: open source (public code). Basic use costs nothing.

To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.

Data and privacy

According to its privacy policy, data is processed on your device (local processing).

Local processing is the most favourable case: your files do not leave your machine for the features concerned.

Exporting your content: Markdown pour les conversations. Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.

Three habits apply to every AI tool:

• turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
• use a work account separate from your personal account
• review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it

Platforms, languages and API

Continue runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, and browser extension.

Interface languages: English.

API availability is not documented.

The source code is public: continuedevcontinuedev/continue.

How we scored it

Our 68/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.

The full calculation is explained on our method page.

Comparison with alternatives

Continue against other tools in the aI coding assistants category: