Continue vs Leonardo AI (2026)
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: May 13, 2026
Continue
Continue is an open-source AI code assistant that integrates into VS Code and JetBrains, letting you use any LLM as your coding assistant.
Leonardo AI
Leonardo AI is a web-based AI image generation platform offering fine-tuned models, canvas editing and a generous free tier.
Pros
- ✓Open source and free
- ✓Use any LLM including local models
- ✓Good IDE integration
- ✓Privacy-friendly local model option
Cons
- ✗Requires LLM API keys
- ✗Less polished than Copilot
- ✗Setup required
Pros
- ✓Generous free tier
- ✓Fine-tuned models for specific styles
- ✓Canvas editing tools
- ✓Active community
Cons
- ✗Quality inconsistent across models
- ✗Interface can be overwhelming
- ✗Less polished than Midjourney
Continue vs Leonardo AI: Side by Side
| Factor | Continue | Leonardo AI |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | AI Coding Assistants | AI Image Generators |
| Pricing Model | Free and open source | Free plan available, Apprentice from $12/month |
| Starting Price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own LLM with AI coding assistance | Game developers and digital artists needing consistent style images |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Continue Features
- ✓VS Code and JetBrains integration
- ✓Multiple LLM support
- ✓Local model support
- ✓Custom context
- ✓Open source
Leonardo AI Features
- ✓Text-to-image
- ✓Fine-tuned models
- ✓Canvas editor
- ✓Image-to-image
- ✓Motion generation
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Continue if privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Choose Leonardo AI if game developers and digital artists needing consistent style images.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Continue and Leonardo AI?
Continue is best for privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Leonardo AI is best for game developers and digital artists needing consistent style images.
Which is better, Continue or Leonardo AI?
Choose Continue if privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Choose Leonardo AI if game developers and digital artists needing consistent style images.
How much does Continue cost?
Visit Continue website for current pricing.
How much does Leonardo AI cost?
Visit Leonardo AI website for current pricing.
Who should use Continue?
Privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own LLM with AI coding assistance
Who should use Leonardo AI?
Game developers and digital artists needing consistent style images