Continue

Open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal that works with your own API keys or local models via Ollama. No longer maintained.

Open-source alternative toClaude Code Cursor

Install guide (official) ↗ GitHub ↗ Creator kit →

Continue at a glance

Checked 21 Oct 2026

Continue is an Apache-2.0 coding agent shipped as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin and a CLI (cn). It offers chat, inline edits, tab autocomplete and an agent mode that uses tools and runs commands, connects to MCP servers, and has a headless CLI mode for scripts and CI. It works with cloud model keys or local models through Ollama. The README says the repository is no longer actively maintained and is read-only; 2.0.0 is the final release (checked October 2026), so expect no new fixes.

Cite this pageRepoQuarry. “Continue.” Checked 21 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/continue

How much of Claude Code does it replace?

Use it instead of paying for Claude Code?

Personal use: Confirmed: Yes
For a business: Confirmed: Yes

5 of 6 jobs. CLI, IDE plugins, MCP and headless mode are all there, but the project is no longer maintained and has no documented commit or PR workflow.

Edit code across a repo from the terminal with an AI agent Partial replacement

Run commands and tests Partial replacement

Use the agent inside VS Code or JetBrains Partial replacement

Connect tools and data through MCP Partial replacement

Write commits and pull requests Not covered

Run the agent headless in scripts or CI (GitHub Actions) Partial replacement

For write commits and pull requests, see other Claude Code alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

How much of Cursor does it replace?

Use it instead of paying for Cursor?

Personal use: Confirmed: Yes
For a business: Confirmed: Yes

4 of 7 jobs. An extension for VS Code and JetBrains rather than its own editor; no cloud background agents, and no further updates.

Code in an AI-first editor Not covered

Multi-line tab completion and next-edit prediction Partial replacement

Let an agent plan and edit across many files Partial replacement

Run terminal commands and tests from the agent Partial replacement

Ask questions about your whole codebase Not covered

Connect tools and data through MCP Partial replacement

Run agents in the cloud in the background Not covered

For code in an AI-first editor, ask questions about your whole codebase, run agents in the cloud in the background, see other Cursor alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

Facts, with sources

Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.

Report a correction

QuestionAnswerSourceChecked

Runs on my machine? Yes, runs inside your IDE or terminal on your own machine Continue is a coding agent available as a CLI, VS Code extension, and JetBrains plugin. github.com · continue#readme ↗ 1d ago

Code licence Apache-2.0 Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004 github.com · LICENSE ↗ 1d ago

Model weights licence No separate model weights github.com · continue#readme ↗ 1d ago

Paid services needed? Not required with local models via Ollama; cloud model API keys are optional Complete guide to setting up Ollama with Continue for local AI development. docs.continue.dev · ollama-guide ↗ 1d ago

Hardware No stated needs for the extension or CLI; the Ollama guide asks for 8GB RAM minimum (16GB+ recommended) for local models RAM: Minimum 8GB (16GB+ recommended) docs.continue.dev · ollama-guide ↗ 1d ago

Operating systems Windows, macOS and Linux (VS Code and JetBrains); the CLI shell installer is macOS/Linux, npm install elsewhere Operating System: macOS, Linux, or Windows docs.continue.dev · ollama-guide ↗ 1d ago

Setup effort Easy; install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace, then add a model Click `Install` on the Continue extension page in the Visual Studio Marketplace docs.continue.dev · install ↗ 1d ago

No licence changes since we started watching. Licence watch: follow Continue and we email you if its licence terms change.

Growth and activity in detail

Is it popular, and is anyone still working on it? From GitHub.

Compare with OpenCode →

Quiet latelyNo commits in the last 12 weeks.

78+ people committing in the last 12 months · 0 pull requests merged in 30 days · 28 issues opened, 192 closed in 30 days

Stars over time

Building history

Not enough history for a 7-day gain.

The chart appears after a few nightly checks.

Commits per week, last 52 weeks

active 0 of the last 12 weeks

Down 100% on the 12 weeks before.

Busiest week: 195 commits. Focus or tap a bar for its week.

Where these numbers come from

Stars, forks, releases: GitHub's public API, fetched every night (last fetch today).
Star history: counted every night since 22 Oct 2026.
Commits and people committing: GitHub's repository statistics, counted weekly. Names are never stored.
Pull requests and issues: counted from GitHub for the last 30 days.
Stars show popularity, not quality. The facts below are checked separately, by reading the project's own documentation. How we check.

36,290 stars

The star chart appears after a few nightly checks.

Last commit: 1d ago
Repository age: 3 years
Version: v2.0.0-vscode
Licence: Apache-2.0
Self-hosted: Yes
Contributors: 507
Repository: continuedev/continue

From GitHub, today. Stars show popularity, not quality.

What it costs to run

Software$0

Required paid servicesnone

Optional paid servicesCloud model API keys

Your hardwareNo stated needs for the extension or CLI; the Ollama guide asks for 8GB RAM minimum (16GB+ recommended) for local models

Claude Code: Included with Claude Pro ($20/month, or $17/month billed annually), Max (from $100/month), Team and Enterprise; not on the free plan (source, checked 21 Oct 2026). Running it yourself costs your hardware, electricity and setup time.

Using an AI agent?

The same record, as JSON or through MCP.

get_project("continue")
GET /api/v1/projects/continue.json

API and MCP docs →