Executive Summary
Is Continue worth using in 2026?
An open-source, highly configurable AI coding assistant that integrates directly into your IDE, allowing you to bring your own LLMs and maintain full control over your development environment.
Continue is evaluated by Lorezi across feature depth, performance, ease of use, value and practical suitability. This review focuses on what the product is actually useful for, where it performs well and where buyers should be cautious.
Who Is Continue Best For?
Continue is particularly well suited for:
- Software developers
- Open source contributors
- Enterprise engineering teams
- AI researchers
- Full-stack developers
Key Features
The platform's most useful capabilities include:
- IDE integration
- Custom LLM configuration
- Context-aware code completion
- Natural language refactoring
- Multi-file codebase indexing
- Chat with codebase
- Slash command support
- Local model hosting
- API key management
- Custom prompt templates
Pricing
Pricing unavailable
Performance and Usability
Lorezi rates Continue at 4.22/5 overall, with an ease-of-use score of 3.50/5 and a performance score of 4.00/5. These scores reflect the product's practical experience rather than a single benchmark.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open source and transparent
- Supports local LLM integration
- Highly customizable configuration
- Works with VS Code and JetBrains
Cons
- Requires manual setup for local models
- Steeper learning curve than proprietary tools
Alternatives
When considering Continue, developers should look at other AI coding assistants that offer varying levels of control. If you prefer a more "out-of-the-box" experience, proprietary tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor are the primary alternatives to compare. These tools offer a more streamlined, albeit less customizable, experience. For those who want to stay within the open-source ecosystem, exploring tools like Tabby or various local-first LLM runners can provide a good baseline for comparison regarding performance and ease of setup.
Final Verdict
Continue is a top-tier choice for developers who prioritize customization and data privacy over the simplicity of proprietary tools. It is best suited for power users and enterprise teams who want to integrate their own LLMs directly into their IDE. The main tradeoff is the steeper learning curve and the requirement for manual configuration compared to closed-source alternatives. If you are willing to invest the time to set it up, Continue offers unmatched control and long-term value for your development workflow.
Lorezi overall rating: 4.22/5.