Continue vs Perplexity 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.
Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search and answer engine that provides cited, real-time answers from the web.
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
- ✓Real-time web search with citations
- ✓Great for research
- ✓Clean interface
- ✓Free tier very capable
Cons
- ✗Not ideal for creative tasks
- ✗Less conversational than ChatGPT
- ✗Pro required for advanced models
Continue vs Perplexity AI: Side by Side
| Factor | Continue | Perplexity AI |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | AI Coding Assistants | AI Chatbots |
| Pricing Model | Free and open source | Free plan available, Pro from $20/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 | Researchers and knowledge workers who need cited, up-to-date answers |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Continue Features
- ✓VS Code and JetBrains integration
- ✓Multiple LLM support
- ✓Local model support
- ✓Custom context
- ✓Open source
Perplexity AI Features
- ✓Real-time web search
- ✓Cited answers
- ✓Follow-up questions
- ✓File upload
- ✓Multiple AI models
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Continue if privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Choose Perplexity AI if researchers and knowledge workers who need cited, up-to-date answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Continue and Perplexity AI?
Continue is best for privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Perplexity AI is best for researchers and knowledge workers who need cited, up-to-date answers.
Which is better, Continue or Perplexity AI?
Choose Continue if privacy-conscious developers who want to use their own llm with ai coding assistance. Choose Perplexity AI if researchers and knowledge workers who need cited, up-to-date answers.
How much does Continue cost?
Visit Continue website for current pricing.
How much does Perplexity AI cost?
Visit Perplexity 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 Perplexity AI?
Researchers and knowledge workers who need cited, up-to-date answers