Head to head

Continue vs Claude

Continue and Claude both work in AI Coding. Here is how they stack up on pricing, access, context and our editorial scores, and which one to pick.

Side by side

Tool
Continueby Continue4.4Setuproll editorial score
Tool
Claudeby Anthropic4.3Setuproll editorial score
PricingOpen SourceFree, bring your own API key
PricingPaidFree tier + Pro $20/mo
AccessPlugin
AccessWeb app
ContextModel-dependent
Context200k context
Open sourceYes
Open sourceNo
Best forCustomisable open assistant
Best forLong-document reasoning and writing
Setuproll score4.4
Setuproll score4.3

The verdict

Continue edges ahead overall, with a 4.4 Setuproll editorial score and a strong fit for customisable open assistant. Claude is the better pick when you want long-document reasoning and writing, and it stays in the running on price and access. Most teams choose Continue as the default and reach for Claude when their workflow leans that way.

Frequently asked questions

Is Continue or Claude better?

Continue holds a 4.4 Setuproll editorial score and is best for customisable open assistant, while Claude holds a 4.3 and is best for long-document reasoning and writing. Pick Continue for customisable open assistant and Claude for long-document reasoning and writing.

What is the difference between Continue and Claude?

Continue is reached as Plugin (open source) with Model-dependent, while Claude is reached as Web app (paid) with 200k context. They overlap on AI Coding but lead in different parts of the workflow.

Is Continue cheaper than Claude?

Continue is free, bring your own api key, and Claude is free tier + pro $20/mo. Continue is open source, so it can be the cheaper option if you self-host.

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