Continue vs GitHub Copilot
An open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains. Continue brings autocomplete, chat and agentic edits to your editor using any model you choose — including local models via Ollama — a free, private alternative to Copilot.
🧠 Expert verdict
Our expert verdict: GitHub Copilot is the stronger all-round choice, scoring 4.7/5 versus 4.6/5 for Continue, and it stands out for "Deep IDE integration (VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio)". If budget is your priority, Continue (Free / Open Source) is the more affordable option. Choose GitHub Copilot if you want the best code tool overall, especially for code autocomplete; pick Continue if "Free, open-source Copilot alternative" matters more for your workflow.
Continue
An open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains. Continue brings autocomplete, chat and agentic edits to your editor using any model you choose — including local models via Ollama — a free, private alternative to Copilot.
GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer integrated into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs powered by OpenAI Codex.
Continue
✅ Pros
- +Free, open-source Copilot alternative
- +Bring your own model (incl. local)
- +VS Code and JetBrains support
- +Autocomplete, chat and edits
- +Private when used with local models
❌ Cons
- −You configure your own model/keys
- −Local models need decent hardware
- −Less turnkey than Copilot
- −Quality depends on the model chosen
GitHub Copilot
✅ Pros
- +Deep IDE integration (VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio)
- +Backed by Microsoft and OpenAI
- +Copilot Chat for in-editor Q&A
- +Strong enterprise support & policies
❌ Cons
- −Subscription required after trial
- −Can suggest outdated patterns
- −Less context-aware on large codebases than Cursor
🎯 Best for — Continue
🎯 Best for — GitHub Copilot
🏷️ Tags — Continue
🏷️ Tags — GitHub Copilot
Our Verdict
After comparing ratings, pricing and features, GitHub Copilot comes out ahead with a 4.7/5 rating. It is the better choice for most users.
Expert take on each tool
📌 Continue
Continue is the leading open-source AI coding assistant: bring any model — even a local one via Ollama — for free, private autocomplete and chat in VS Code or JetBrains. The top pick for developers who want Copilot power without the subscription or the cloud.
📌 GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is the safest enterprise choice thanks to its deep IDE integrations and Microsoft-backed support, ideal for teams standardizing on familiar editors.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Continue or GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot has the higher user rating (4.7/5 vs 4.6/5), making it the stronger overall pick. That said, Continue can still be the better fit depending on your budget and specific needs — see the full comparison above.
Is Continue or GitHub Copilot cheaper?
Continue (Free / Open Source) is generally more budget-friendly than GitHub Copilot ($10/mo). If cost is your main concern, Continue is worth trying first — but compare the feature sets above to confirm it covers what you need.
Can I switch from Continue to GitHub Copilot?
Yes — switching between Continue and GitHub Copilot is usually straightforward since both are code tools with similar core workflows. Most users can export their data and get started with GitHub Copilot within a day; just check GitHub Copilot's free plan before committing to a paid tier.