Aider
Aider is AI pair programming in your terminal.
49.8k GitHub stars · Apache-2.0 · last code push May 22, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Open-source alternatives to GitHub Copilot
AI coding assistants you control. Most of these let you use local models or your own API keys, so check what each sends to whom.
Category: Developer tools · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aider Active Apache-2.0 | Aider is AI pair programming in your terminal. | Apache-2.0 | 49.8k | Feb 12, 2026 | Command-line tool | Not confirmed |
| Continue Active Apache-2.0 | An open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains that works with many AI models. | Apache-2.0 | 36.4k | Jun 19, 2026 | Editor extension | Not confirmed |
| Tabby Active Mixed or custom | Self-hosted AI coding assistant. | Mixed or custom | 33.9k | Mar 2, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Not confirmed |
Are they still maintained?
3 of 3 GitHub Copilot alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- Aider: active, last activity May 22, 2026 (160 days ago)
- Continue: active, last activity Oct 29, 2026 (0 days ago)
- Tabby: active, last activity Jun 30, 2026 (121 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from GitHub Copilot costs
GitHub Copilot: current plans and prices are on GitHub Copilot's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aider | Command-line tool | $0 (Apache-2.0) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
| Continue | Editor extension | $0 (Apache-2.0) | Nothing to host. Install it on your own device. |
| Tabby | Your server | $0 (Mixed or custom, check terms) | A server you rent or own, plus your time for updates and backups. |
Self-hosting basics: Tabby needs a server, which can be a small cloud server or a spare machine at home. For a sense of scale, DigitalOcean's price list shows a 1 GiB server at $6/month and 2 GiB at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size, and budget time for updates and backups.
Nothing to host: Aider and Continue run on your own computer.
License check: Tabby does not use a single standard open-source license that GitHub can detect. Read the license before using it in a business.
The options in more detail
Continue
An open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains that works with many AI models.
36.4k GitHub stars · Apache-2.0 · last code push Oct 29, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Tabby
Self-hosted AI coding assistant.
33.9k GitHub stars · Mixed or custom · last code push Jun 30, 2026 · GitHub · Website
GitHub Copilot alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot?
It depends on how you use GitHub Copilot. Of the 3 options here, Aider is the most followed on GitHub (49.8k stars) and is actively maintained, with its latest release on Feb 12, 2026. If you want an app on your own computer, look at Aider and Continue. If you need something your whole team can log into, look at Tabby.
Is there a self-hosted GitHub Copilot alternative?
Yes. Tabby runs on a server you control, so your data stays with you. We have not confirmed an official hosted plan for these, so plan on running them yourself or using a third-party host.
Is there a free alternative to GitHub Copilot?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. Aider and Continue install on your own device, so they cost nothing to run. Server apps are free software, but you pay for the server they run on. Check the license of Tabby before using it in a business.
Are these GitHub Copilot alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 3 of 3 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from GitHub Copilot?
The software itself is free. Desktop and device apps (Aider and Continue) cost nothing to run. For server apps, the main cost is hosting: as a reference point, DigitalOcean lists a 1 GiB server at $6/month and a 2 GiB server at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
Are all of these really open source?
Not all under a standard license. Tabby: GitHub could not identify a single standard license for this repository (often a mix of open-source and commercial parts). Read the LICENSE file before using it. The others use OSI-approved open-source licenses.
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