Aider

Key facts: Aider is an open-source AI coding assistant that runs in your terminal and edits code in your local Git repository, chatting with you about the codebase and applying changes file by file. It works with models from many providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, and it commits changes through Git so every edit is reviewable.

Plans: Aider itself is free and open source; you pay only for the model API you connect, with your provider’s own pricing and free tiers. There is no Aider subscription.

Best for: developers who live in the terminal and want AI help without leaving their editor or Git workflow. Watch out: Aider applies real edits to your repo — review diffs before committing, especially on shared branches.

Pros

• Free and open source, with no Aider subscription to pay.
• Runs in the terminal and edits code directly in your local Git repository.
• Works with models from many providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
• Changes go through Git, so every edit is reviewable before it lands.

Watch out for

• Aider applies real edits to your repo, so review diffs before committing, especially on shared branches.
• You still pay for the model API you connect, under your provider's own pricing.
• Terminal-only operation will not suit developers who prefer a graphical IDE assistant.

Best for

Developers who live in the terminal and want AI help without leaving their editor or Git workflow. Who should skip it: developers who want a point-and-click assistant inside a graphical editor.

Pricing

Aider itself is free and open source with no subscription; you pay only for the model API you connect, under your provider's own pricing and free tiers.

FAQs

What does Aider do? It chats about your codebase and applies file-by-file edits in your local Git repo from the terminal.

Which models does it support? Models from many providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.

Is there an Aider subscription? No, Aider itself is free; only the connected model API may cost money.

Are edits safe to accept blindly? No, review diffs before committing, especially on shared branches.