Continue vs 
Goose
Continue vs Goose compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Open-source autocomplete and chat in your IDE vs On-machine AI agent for engineering tasks.
Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech
Continue vs Goose at a glance
| Spec | Continue | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Coding assistant | Coding assistant |
| Type | IDE extension | Agentic dev assistant |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Cloud-optional | Yes |
| Primary language | TypeScript | Rust |
| Ease of use | Beginner | Intermediate |
| Best for | developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot | local agentic coding with MCP tools |
| GitHub stars | 35.2k | — |
How Continue and Goose score
| Criterion | Continue | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.0 | n/a |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | n/a |
| Ease of use | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
Continue
Continue is an open-source IDE extension for VS Code and JetBrains that brings autocomplete, chat and edits using any model, including local ones via Ollama.
- Works in VS Code and JetBrains
- Bring any model, including local via Ollama
- Highly customizable context and commands
Goose
Goose, by Block, is an open-source on-machine AI agent that automates engineering tasks end to end — writing code, running commands and using tools via MCP.
- Runs on your machine, model-agnostic
- Extensible via MCP tools
- Automates real engineering tasks
Key differences
Continue is iDE extension, while Goose is agentic dev assistant. Continue leans more beginner-friendly, whereas Goose is more suited to intermediate users. They also differ in how they run (Cloud-optional vs Yes). In short, Continue fits developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot, and Goose fits local agentic coding with MCP tools.
Which should you choose?
Choose Continue for developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot. Choose Goose for local agentic coding with MCP tools.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Continue or Goose easier to use?
Continue is generally the easier of the two to get started with, while Goose rewards more setup with more control.
Are Continue and Goose free?
Continue is free and open source (Apache-2.0), and Goose is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Continue and Goose locally?
Continue: cloud-optional · Goose: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Continue vs Goose — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Continue for developers who want a customizable in-IDE copilot. Choose Goose for local agentic coding with MCP tools.
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