Skip to content
BetterOpenSource

Continue vs OpenHands

A side-by-side comparison of two open-source tools to help you choose the right one.

Feature
SummaryOpen-source autocomplete and chat for your IDE.Autonomous AI agents that build software.
GitHub stars24.5K43K
LicenseApache 2.0MIT
LanguageTypeScriptPython
PricingFree & Open SourceFree & Open Source
Self-hostable
ReplacesGitHub Copilot, Claude CodeClaude Code
Rating4.6 / 54.6 / 5

Continue features

  • Tab autocomplete with any model
  • Inline edits and chat in your editor
  • Custom context providers (docs, repos, issues)
  • VS Code and JetBrains support
  • Local models via Ollama for full privacy

OpenHands features

  • Agents that write code, run commands, and browse the web
  • Model-agnostic — use any LLM provider
  • Sandboxed execution for safety
  • Automates testing, docs, and refactoring
  • Self-hosted, scalable deployments

Continuepros & cons

Pros

  • Highly customizable to your codebase
  • Works with local models for privacy
  • Cross-IDE support

Cons

  • Configuration depth has a learning curve
  • Best autocomplete needs a capable model

OpenHandspros & cons

Pros

  • Powerful end-to-end autonomous workflows
  • Permissive MIT license
  • Active research-grade community

Cons

  • Autonomous agents need guardrails and review
  • Heavier to run than an editor plugin

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...