Open-Source AI · Coding assistant

Continue vs Sourcegraph Cody

Continue vs Sourcegraph Cody compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Open-source autocomplete and chat in your IDE vs Codebase-aware AI assistant.

Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech

Choose Continue for developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot. Choose Sourcegraph Cody for large codebases where context matters.

Continue vs Sourcegraph Cody at a glance

SpecContinueSourcegraph Cody
CategoryCoding assistantCoding assistant
TypeIDE extensionIDE assistant
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
Runs locallyCloud-optionalNo
Primary languageTypeScriptTypeScript
Ease of useBeginnerBeginner
Best fordevelopers who want a customizable in-IDE copilotlarge codebases where context matters
GitHub stars34.8k—

How Continue and Sourcegraph Cody score

🤝 Too close to call — Continue and Sourcegraph Cody land within a hair (4.5 vs 4.5 / 5). Pick on fit, not on score.
CriterionContinueSourcegraph Cody
Popularity4.0n/a
Maintenance5.0n/a
Ease of use5.05.0
Privacy3.53.5
License freedom5.05.0

Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.

What each one is

Continue

IDE extension · Apache-2.0

Continue is an open-source IDE extension for VS Code and JetBrains that brings autocomplete, chat and edits using any model, including local ones via Ollama.

  • Works in VS Code and JetBrains
  • Bring any model, including local via Ollama
  • Highly customizable context and commands
See the Continue page →

Sourcegraph Cody

IDE assistant · Apache-2.0

Cody answers questions and writes code with full context of your repository, using code search to ground its answers in your actual codebase.

  • Grounds answers in your real codebase
  • Works across many IDEs
  • Strong code search backing
Visit Sourcegraph Cody →

Key differences

Continue is iDE extension, while Sourcegraph Cody is iDE assistant. They also differ in how they run (Cloud-optional vs No). In short, Continue fits developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot, and Sourcegraph Cody fits large codebases where context matters.

Which should you choose?

Choose Continue for developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot. Choose Sourcegraph Cody for large codebases where context matters.

There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.

Frequently asked questions

Is Continue or Sourcegraph Cody easier to use?

Both sit at a similar level (Beginner). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.

Are Continue and Sourcegraph Cody free?

Continue is free and open source (Apache-2.0), and Sourcegraph Cody is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.

Can I run Continue and Sourcegraph Cody locally?

Continue: cloud-optional · Sourcegraph Cody: no. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.

Continue vs Sourcegraph Cody — which should I pick in 2026?

Choose Continue for developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot. Choose Sourcegraph Cody for large codebases where context matters.

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