Continue vs Microsoft Copilot (2026)
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
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.
Get Pricing →Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant powered by GPT-4, integrated into Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365.
Get Pricing →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
- ✓Free access to GPT-4
- ✓Deep Microsoft 365 integration
- ✓Built into Windows and Edge
- ✓Image generation with DALL-E
Cons
- ✗Less capable outside Microsoft ecosystem
- ✗Privacy concerns for some users
- ✗Features vary by platform
Our Take
Choose Continue if privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Choose Microsoft Copilot if microsoft 365 users who want ai built into their existing tools.