# Aider

> Aider is a command-line tool you run inside your project folder. You chat with it, it edits files across the repo and commits each change to Git with a descriptive message, so /undo and normal git tools can roll work back. It maps your codebase, can lint and run tests after every change and try to fix what fails, and can be scripted with --message. It connects to most cloud models with your own API key, or to local models through Ollama or LM Studio. Apache-2.0. Its docs cover no MCP support, pull requests or IDE plugin; IDE use works by watching for comments in your code.

- Repository: https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider
- Official docs: https://aider.chat/docs/
- Checked: 2026-10-21

## What it replaces
- Claude Code: Edit code across a repo from the terminal with an AI agent, Run commands and tests, Write commits and pull requests, Run the agent headless in scripts or CI (GitHub Actions) (partial). Strong terminal editing with auto-commits and lint/test fixing; its docs cover no MCP, pull requests, no GitHub Actions guide, and IDE use is comment-driven rather than a plugin.
  - Use it instead of paying for Claude Code? Personal use: Yes. Business: Yes.
- Cursor: Let an agent plan and edit across many files, Run terminal commands and tests from the agent, Ask questions about your whole codebase (partial). Edits across many files from the terminal; it is not an editor, so there is no tab completion or cloud agents, and its docs cover no MCP.
  - Use it instead of paying for Cursor? Personal use: Yes. Business: Yes.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Yes, a command-line tool that runs in your project folder on your computer | https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider#readme | 2026-10-21 |
| Code licence | Confirmed | Apache-2.0 | https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider/blob/main/LICENSE.txt | 2026-10-21 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | No separate model weights | https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider#readme | 2026-10-21 |
| Commercial use | Confirmed | Allowed under Apache-2.0 | https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider/blob/main/LICENSE.txt | 2026-10-21 |
| Paid services needed? | Partial | Not required with local models (Ollama, LM Studio); cloud model APIs (Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek and others) are optional | https://aider.chat/docs/llms/ollama.html | 2026-10-21 |
| Hardware | Unknown | Not documented; the installer only needs Python | none found | - |
| Operating systems | Confirmed | Windows, macOS and Linux, with one-line installers for each | https://aider.chat/docs/install.html | 2026-10-21 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Easy; one-line installer (or pip/uv/pipx), then add an API key or point it at a local model | https://aider.chat/docs/install.html | 2026-10-21 |

GitHub: 49688 stars, 5092 forks, last push 2026-05-22, archived: no.
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Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/aider). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.