Continue vs Tabnine

Continue is an open source AI coding assistant that plugs into VS Code and JetBrains. It adds chat, inline autocomplete, targeted edits, and agent mode inside the editor you already use, so you can ask questions, refactor code, and run multi-step tasks without switching apps.

You bring your own model provider. Continue supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, Azure, Amazon Bedrock, Ollama, and many others, and lets you assign different models to different roles like chat, edit, autocomplete, and embeddings. Configuration lives in a YAML file you can version with your repo.

Continue also ships a terminal CLI called cn for AI-assisted workflows outside the IDE. In 2026, Continue announced it was acquired by Cursor. The open source codebase and documentation remain available, and the VS Code and JetBrains extensions still install from their marketplaces.

Tabnine is a sophisticated AI coding assistant designed to enhance the efficiency and security of your coding process. It intelligently accelerates the delivery of code by providing real-time, relevant, and context-aware code completions. With Tabnine, you can expect an increase in your productivity, as it automates more than 30% of coding tasks, adapts to your specific coding style, and ensures your code remains private, secure, and compliant with industry standards.

The tool integrates seamlessly with your existing coding environment, enabling a smooth coding experience without the need for extensive configuration. Whether you're working on complex software projects or simple scripts, Tabnine's advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities provide high-quality suggestions that evolve with your codebase. By streamlining your workflow and safeguarding your code, Tabnine is an indispensable assistant for developers of all skill levels.