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BetterOpenSource

Continue vs Zed

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.A blazing-fast, AI-native code editor in Rust.
GitHub stars24.5K58K
LicenseApache 2.0Source Available
LanguageTypeScriptRust
PricingFree & Open SourceFree & Open Source
Self-hostable
ReplacesGitHub Copilot, Claude CodeClaude Code, Cursor
Rating4.6 / 54.7 / 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

Zed features

  • GPU-accelerated, extremely fast editor
  • Built-in AI assistant and inline edits
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration
  • Tree-sitter and LSP powered
  • Native macOS, Linux, and Windows apps

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

Zedpros & cons

Pros

  • Outstanding performance and responsiveness
  • AI features built into a real editor
  • Open source and rapidly improving

Cons

  • Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
  • License is GPL/AGPL-flavored, not permissive

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