Aider
Aider is an open-source tool for pairing with language models to start projects or work on existing codebases.
What Aider is
Aider is an open-source tool for pairing with language models to start projects or work on existing codebases. It builds a repository map to give models context and supports more than 100 programming languages. Users can connect hosted and local models, with documented providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure, Vertex AI, and Amazon Bedrock. Aider can automatically commit edits with descriptive messages, while its Git integration supports reviewing and undoing changes. It can watch files and respond to AI comments in an IDE or text editor; VS Code is listed as supported. Images and web pages can be added to coding chats as context. After edits, Aider can run linters and tests and fix detected problems. Installation is documented for Mac, Linux, and Windows, and aider-install can use a separate Python environment. Aider can work with only one Git repository at a time, and its FAQ says very large repositories are not optimized for quick performance and response time. The software is free under the Apache 2.0 license, though model-provider usage may have separate costs.
Good
- Builds a map to provide codebase context.
- Supports more than 100 programming languages.
- Git integration supports reviewing and undoing changes.
- Can run linters and tests after edits.
- Connects to hosted and local models.
Watch out
- Works with only one Git repository at a time.
- Very large repositories are not optimized for quick response.
- LLM provider usage may have separate costs.
- Analytics can include feature usage, errors, and model names.
Who it suits
Aider may suit developers who want language-model assistance grounded in a codebase and integrated with Git, editors, and terminal workflows. It can also fit people who need to connect a hosted or local model provider.
Verdict
Aider offers codebase-aware model assistance with Git, editor, and testing capabilities at no software cost. Keep its single-repository limit and possible provider charges in mind.
Plans and prices
From Aider's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Aider | Free | Open-source AI pair programming tool; usage of LLM providers may have separate costs |
The facts
Each one read from Aider's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Chat assistance
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Codebase context
- Aider creates a map of the codebase to give LLMs context about the repository.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Codebase indexing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Coding agent
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Git
- Aider can automatically commit edits with descriptive messages, and its git integration supports reviewing and undoing changes.checked 11 Oct 2026
- IDE support
- Aider can watch files and respond to AI comments added in an IDE or text editor.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Images and web pages
- Users can add images and web pages to the coding chat as visual context.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The maker documents installation on Mac, Linux, and Windows, and says aider-install can use a separate Python environment.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Aider supports more than 100 programming languages.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Large repositories
- Aider's FAQ says it works with repositories of any size but is not optimized for quick performance and response time in very large repositories.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Linting and testing
- Aider can automatically run linters and tests after edits and fix detected problems.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Model integrations
- Aider connects to hosted and local LLMs, with documentation for providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure, Vertex AI, and Amazon Bedrock.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy analytics
- The privacy policy says programming-tool analytics may include feature usage, errors, and model names tied to a randomly generated identifier, and users can turn analytics off.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Repository limit
- Aider can work with only one Git repository at a time.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- The privacy policy says Aider uses physical and electronic safeguards but cannot guarantee the security or privacy of information.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker points users to documentation, troubleshooting information, and a Discord community.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Supported IDEs
- VS Codechecked 20 Sep 2026
- Terminal access
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- What it does
- Aider lets you pair program with LLMs to start a new project or build on an existing codebase.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- License and company
- Aider AI LLC is the company behind Aider, which is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.checked 11 Oct 2026
Alternatives to Aider
- 1

OpenCode
Free planOpen sourceiOSWebAPIExtension9.2From $10 a month - 2
GitHub Copilot
Free planAndroidiOSWebExtension9.1From $10 a month - 3

Amazon Q
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI9.1Free plan - 4

Claude Code
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI9.0From $17 a month - 5

Kilo Code
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.8From $15 a month - 6

Devin
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS8.5From $20 a month
