FreeAISwapContinue vs GitHub Copilot
Home › Guides · Last checked 2026-10-16 · Facts verified from each project's docs unless marked tested
Continue is a free, Apache-2.0 extension for VS Code and JetBrains where you choose the model. GitHub Copilot is GitHub's hosted service. Continue costs nothing with a local model, but output quality usually drops with smaller models.
| Continue | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (model costs may apply) | See plans |
| Models | Bring your own | GitHub-hosted |
| Offline | Yes, with a local model | No |
| Editors | VS Code, JetBrains | VS Code, JetBrains and more |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Commercial service |
Verdict by user type
- Want zero cost and privacy: Continue with a local model.
- Want best output with no setup: Copilot.
- Want to choose your own paid model: Continue with an API key.
See all free GitHub Copilot alternatives or the coding assistants list.
FAQ
Is Continue better than Copilot?
It depends on the model you connect. With a strong paid API model it can be close; with a small local model it's usually weaker. We haven't benchmarked them.
Does Continue work offline?
Yes, if you use a local model through Ollama.
Which editors does Continue support?
VS Code and JetBrains IDEs.
Where does my code go?
With a local model, it stays on your machine. With an API model, it goes to that provider. With Copilot, it goes to GitHub's service.