Aider

Overview

Aider is an open-source AI pair programmer that runs in the terminal and edits the code in your local git repository. You describe a change in chat and it applies edits across the relevant files and commits them to git with a sensible message, working alongside whatever editor you already use. It maps the whole repository for context, supports more than 100 languages, and can hook into your linters and test runners. Aider is model-agnostic: it works with Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Gemini and almost any other LLM, including local models, and because you connect your own API key, requests go straight to the provider you choose and offline models never leave your machine.

Best for developers who want a free, model-agnostic AI pair programmer in the terminal that edits their code and commits to git.

Aider suits developers who want a free, model-agnostic pair programmer that lives in the terminal and treats git as the source of truth. Every change lands as a commit you can review or roll back, it works next to any editor, and bringing your own API key means you pick the model and pay only for what you use, down to fully offline local models. The cost of that openness is setting up and running your own keys, and there is no inline autocomplete or graphical IDE of its own.

Key Facts

Features

Where it runs

Your terminal, works with your local git repository and alongside any editor

Inline completions

No inline completions; edits are driven by chat instructions

Agent mode

Yes, applies multi-file edits from natural-language instructions and auto-commits to git

Model choice

Yes, Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Gemini and almost any LLM, including local models; you bring your own API key

Data control

You bring your own API keys, so requests go directly to your chosen provider; local models can run fully offline

Ecosystem fit

Editor-agnostic; maps the whole repo and integrates with git, linters and test runners across 100+ languages

API

N/A

Integrations

Integrations coming soon.

Deployment and Support

Support

• Community forum

Onboarding

• Documentation and knowledge base

Company size

• Freelancers
• Small and mid-sized

Suitability

The table combines the industries the vendor addresses with the company sizes the tool is aimed at. An empty cell means the combination is not stated, not that it is ruled out.

Pros and Cons

Pricing

• Open source

  $0

  Free and open source under Apache 2.0. You pay only for the usage of whichever LLM API you connect.

Best For

• Technology

Alternatives and Comparisons

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