Codegpt vs Continue: Which is Better?
Both CodeGPT and Continue are AI-powered coding assistants, but they serve different purposes. If you’re deciding between them, this comparison will help you choose the right tool for your workflow.
1. Overview of CodeGPT and Continue
What is CodeGPT?
CodeGPT is an AI-powered coding assistant that integrates into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, providing code suggestions, debugging help, and AI explanations.
✅ Built on OpenAI’s ChatGPT models
✅ Helps with code writing, explanation, and debugging
✅ Works inside VS Code and JetBrains
✅ Requires an OpenAI API key
🎯 Best for: Developers who need AI-powered chat and code explanation inside their IDE.
What is Continue?
Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant that provides real-time autocompletion, inline code suggestions, and chat features.
✅ Works with multiple AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, etc.)
✅ Context-aware code completion & inline suggestions
✅ Supports VS Code, JetBrains, and Neovim
✅ Free and customizable (no API key required by default)
🎯 Best for: Developers looking for a free, open-source AI assistant with inline code suggestions.
2. Key Differences Between CodeGPT and Continue
| Feature | CodeGPT | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI chat assistant for coding | AI-powered code completion & chat |
| Integration | VS Code, JetBrains | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim |
| Code Completion | Basic suggestions | Advanced inline autocompletion |
| Code Explanation | Yes | Yes |
| Context Awareness | Moderate | High |
| AI Model Support | OpenAI (ChatGPT) | OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, etc. |
| Customization | No | Yes (open-source, supports multiple models) |
| Pricing | Requires OpenAI API key | Free (self-host or use API keys) |
3. Feature Comparison
A. Code Completion & Suggestions
- CodeGPT provides basic code suggestions in a chat format.
- Continue offers real-time, inline code suggestions similar to GitHub Copilot.
💡 Winner: Continue for better real-time code completion.
B. AI Model Support & Customization
- CodeGPT works only with OpenAI’s ChatGPT models.
- Continue supports multiple AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Mistral, and local models like Llama).
💡 Winner: Continue for flexibility and model support.
C. Code Explanation & Debugging
- CodeGPT provides detailed explanations and debugging suggestions.
- Continue also explains code but focuses more on autocompletion.
💡 Winner: CodeGPT for better explanations and debugging help.
D. Integration & Ease of Use
| Feature | CodeGPT | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| JetBrains (PyCharm, IntelliJ, etc.) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Neovim | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Self-hosting | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
💡 Winner: Continue for wider IDE support and self-hosting.
E. Pricing
| Feature | CodeGPT | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Free Version | ❌ No (OpenAI API required) | ✅ Yes |
| Paid Plan | Based on OpenAI API usage | Free (self-hosted) |
💡 Winner: Continue is completely free unless you use external APIs.
4. Which One Should You Choose?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| AI-powered chat for coding | CodeGPT |
| Inline code autocompletion | Continue |
| Multi-model AI support | Continue |
| Debugging & explanations | CodeGPT |
| Free, open-source AI assistant | Continue |
| Beginner-friendly | CodeGPT |
Final Verdict:
✅ Choose CodeGPT if you need AI-powered chat, debugging help, and code explanations inside VS Code or JetBrains.
✅ Choose Continue if you want real-time, inline AI code completion with multiple model support.
🚀 For advanced users, Continue is the better choice due to its flexibility, free access, and real-time coding assistance.