GitHub Copilot vs Continue
A side-by-side look at GitHub Copilot (the paid SaaS) and Continue (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| GitHub Copilot | Continue | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | AI pair programmer trained on public code. | Open source alternative to GitHub Copilot — run any model. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing | Individual $10/month; Business $19/user/month. | Free to self-host |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 1/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | No |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Best for
Keep using Copilot-style IDE assistance with any LLM of your choice.
Continue strengths
- Works with VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
- Bring your own model — OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, etc.
- Keeps code local — no required cloud.
Continue weaknesses
- Requires you to manage model access/keys.
- Cold-start setup takes effort compared to Copilot.
- Community plugins still stabilizing.
What's the catch with GitHub Copilot?
- Code sent to Microsoft/OpenAI for completions.
- Subscription-only.
- Licensing questions around training data still unresolved for some teams.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to GitHub Copilot: see GitHub Copilot alternatives, or learn more about Continue on its project page.
Recommended reading
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From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook
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