GitHub Copilot is a closed-source, cloud-based AI coding assistant from Microsoft with GPT-4 integration, while Continue is an open-source, locally-runnable IDE plugin that supports multiple LLM backends including Claude, Llama, and Mistral. Continue offers more flexibility and privacy, while Copilot offers tighter GitHub integration and more mature features.
Continue vs GitHub Copilot — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Continue if you prioritize cost savings, data privacy, and flexibility across multiple LLMs — ideal for privacy-conscious developers, enterprises with security requirements, or those using non-OpenAI models. Choose GitHub Copilot if you want the most accurate completions, seamless GitHub integration, native IDE support, and mature enterprise features — best for GitHub-centric teams and those prioritizing accuracy over cost.
Open-source AI code assistant supporting multiple LLM backends with local-first privacy
Industry-leading cloud-based AI coding assistant from GitHub/Microsoft with GPT-4 integration
Continue vs GitHub Copilot — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Continue vs GitHub Copilot with 194 attributes.
Privacy Level (0=cloud-only, 100=fully local)
Average Response Time for Code Suggestion
Continue vs GitHub Copilot — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Continue vs GitHub Copilot.
Yes, Continue can run entirely locally by using open-source models like Llama 2 or Mistral on your machine. No internet connection or data transmission is required. GitHub Copilot requires cloud connectivity and sends code snippets to Microsoft's servers for processing.
Continue supports multiple models including Claude 3 Opus/Sonnet, Llama 2/3, Mistral, Grok, and local models you can self-host. GitHub Copilot exclusively uses OpenAI's GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 Turbo models integrated with Microsoft infrastructure.
How much does each tool cost for a team of 10 developers?
Continue costs $0 for unlimited developers (open-source). GitHub Copilot costs $1,000-1,200 per year for 10 developers at $10/month per person ($100/year), or $500/year with annual billing for all 10.
Which has better code completion accuracy?
GitHub Copilot has an 87-92% code completion acceptance rate, significantly higher than Continue's 75-82%. Copilot's advantage comes from GPT-4's larger training dataset and Microsoft's optimization for coding. Continue's accuracy varies based on which LLM backend you choose.
Is Continue a replacement for GitHub Copilot?
Continue is an alternative, not a direct replacement. It excels in privacy, cost, and model flexibility, but has lower accuracy and fewer enterprise features. It's ideal for privacy-conscious teams; Copilot remains better for accuracy-focused development and GitHub-integrated workflows.