Key takeaways
- Three interfaces — IDE extensions (VS Code, JetBrains), CLI agents, and cloud-based PR automation
- Continuous AI — Run agents on every pull request for automated code review and quality enforcement
- 31K+ GitHub stars and backed by YC — serious open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot
FAQ
What is Continue?
Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant that offers IDE extensions, CLI agents, and cloud-based agents that run on every pull request.
How much does Continue cost?
The open-source tools are free. Cloud team features are $20/seat/month (includes $10 credits). Enterprise pricing is custom.
What is Continuous AI?
Continuous AI is Continue's approach to running AI agents on every PR, schedule, or event — like CI/CD for AI code review and standards enforcement.
How is Continue different from Cursor?
Cursor is a full IDE; Continue is an extension for your existing editor plus CLI and cloud agents for automated workflows.
Executive Summary
Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant that has evolved from a simple IDE extension into a comprehensive platform for "Continuous AI" — running agents across your IDE, terminal, and CI/CD pipelines.[1] With 31,000+ GitHub stars, VS Code and JetBrains extensions, and YC backing, Continue offers a credible open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot with a unique focus on PR automation and code quality enforcement.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Continue Dev, Inc. |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Funding | YC-backed |
| GitHub Stars | 31,000+ |
| License | Apache 2.0 |
Product Overview
Continue lets you create AI agents that work across multiple surfaces: IDE chat and autocomplete, terminal-based development, and automated PR review.[2] The company's vision is "Continuous AI" — integrating AI agents into every part of the development workflow, running automatically on PRs, schedules, or event triggers.
Unlike single-surface tools, Continue offers a unified platform where agents can run interactively (IDE, CLI) or asynchronously (cloud agents on PR open).
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Agent Mode | Agentic coding assistant in IDE and CLI |
| Chat | Ask questions and clarify code sections |
| Edit | Inline code modifications without leaving files |
| Autocomplete | Inline suggestions as you type |
| PR Agents | Automated review on every pull request |
Product Surfaces
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code Extension | Chat, edit, autocomplete, agent | GA |
| JetBrains Extension | Same features for IntelliJ ecosystem | GA |
| CLI (TUI Mode) | Interactive terminal agent (cn command) | GA |
| CLI (Headless Mode) | Automated scripts and CI/CD integration | GA |
| Cloud Agents | PR automation via Mission Control | GA |
Technical Architecture
Continue runs locally as IDE extensions or CLI, connecting directly to your chosen LLM provider.[3] The cloud agents run in Continue's infrastructure, triggered by GitHub webhooks or scheduled events.
Installation:
# macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/continuedev/continue/main/extensions/cli/scripts/install.sh | bash
# Then run
cn # TUI mode for interactive development
cn -p "Generate commit message" # Headless mode for automation
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Local (IDE/CLI) + Cloud (PR agents) |
| Model(s) | BYOK for any provider, or buy credits for frontier models |
| Integrations | VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub, Slack, Sentry, Snyk |
| Open Source | Yes (Apache 2.0) |
TUI Mode: For complex development tasks requiring human oversight — refactors, feature implementation, debugging.[4]
Headless Mode: For proven workflows you've tested — CI/CD, git hooks, scheduled tasks that run unattended.
Strengths
- Multi-surface platform — IDE, CLI, and cloud agents in one ecosystem
- PR automation — Agents review every pull request like a GitHub check
- Model-agnostic — Use any provider or buy credits through Continue
- Dual IDE support — Both VS Code and JetBrains with same features
- CLI-first automation — Refine in TUI, deploy in Headless mode
- YC backing — Credible company with runway and support
- Active development — Fast iteration with community feedback
Cautions
- Complexity — Multiple surfaces may be confusing for users wanting a simple tool
- Cloud pricing — $20/seat/month for teams adds up; includes only $10 credits
- Newer entrant — Less mature than Cursor or GitHub Copilot
- BYOK friction — Managing API keys across surfaces can be cumbersome
- Fragmented docs — IDE, CLI, and cloud features documented separately
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | Free | IDE + CLI + Cloud agents, BYOK or buy credits |
| Team | $20/seat/mo | + Private agents, team management, $10 credits |
| Company | Custom | + SSO (SAML/OIDC), BYOK, custom SLA |
Licensing model: Open source tools with cloud subscription for team features.
Hidden costs: Credits burn quickly on cloud agents running on every PR. Budget accordingly.
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Copilot is Microsoft-integrated; Continue is open source and model-agnostic |
| Cursor | Cursor is a full IDE; Continue adds to your existing editor |
| Cline | Both VS Code extensions; Continue adds CLI and cloud PR agents |
| Sweep | Sweep focuses on JetBrains; Continue covers both VS Code and JetBrains |
When to Choose Continue Over Alternatives
- Choose Continue when: You want unified AI across IDE, CLI, and automated PR workflows
- Choose Cursor when: You want a dedicated AI-native IDE experience
- Choose GitHub Copilot when: You need deep Microsoft/GitHub integration
- Choose Cline when: You want VS Code-only with richer MCP extensibility
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Teams wanting automated code review on every PR
- Developers who work across IDE and terminal
- Organizations needing both VS Code and JetBrains support
- Teams building CI/CD pipelines with AI quality gates
- Users who value open source with commercial backing
Poor fit:
- Individual developers wanting the simplest possible autocomplete
- Teams satisfied with GitHub Copilot's existing integration
- Users who don't need PR automation features
- Budget-constrained teams (per-seat pricing adds up)
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Moderate — YC-backed, growing team focus |
| Market Position | Challenger — Strong OSS base, competing against well-funded players |
| Innovation Pace | Rapid — Fast feature development across surfaces |
| Community/Ecosystem | Growing — 31K stars, active Discord |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive — "Continuous AI" vision differentiates from pure coding assistants |
Continue's pivot from "IDE extension" to "Continuous AI platform" is a strategic bet that automated PR workflows will become standard. If that thesis proves correct, Continue is well-positioned.
Bottom Line
Continue is the most comprehensive open-source AI coding assistant, spanning IDE extensions, terminal agents, and automated PR review. The "Continuous AI" vision — running agents on every PR automatically — differentiates it from tools focused solely on interactive coding.
Recommended for: Teams wanting unified AI across IDE, CLI, and automated PR workflows with open-source foundations and multi-IDE support.
Not recommended for: Developers seeking the simplest possible autocomplete experience, or those who don't need PR automation features.
Outlook: Continue's bet on "Continuous AI" as the next evolution of dev tooling positions it well if automated code review becomes standard. The challenge is executing across many surfaces while competing with well-funded incumbents.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology