Aider
by Aider AI
Open-source AI pair programming in your terminal, backed by Git
Last reviewed 2026-06-18
Aider is an open-source command-line AI pair programmer. You run it in a terminal inside an existing Git repository, describe a change in natural language, and Aider edits the relevant files across your codebase, runs the change, and commits each edit with a generated message so you can diff, review, and undo with normal Git tooling. It builds a map of the whole repo to work across larger projects and is model-agnostic, connecting to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, local models, and most other LLMs via your own API keys. Aider is aimed at developers who prefer the terminal over an IDE plugin and want a transparent, vendor-neutral tool where every AI change lands as a reviewable Git commit. It is free and Apache-2.0 licensed; you pay only for whatever model provider you point it at. It also maintains the widely cited Aider polyglot benchmark for ranking coding models.
What it can do
Edit code across multiple files from a prompt
SupervisedTakes a natural-language request in the terminal, locates the relevant files using a repository map, and applies coordinated edits across the codebase for review.
sourceAuto-commit changes to Git
SupervisedCommits each set of edits with a generated commit message so changes can be diffed, reviewed, and rolled back with standard Git tooling.
sourceArchitect mode for plan-then-edit
SupervisedSeparates reasoning from editing: one model plans the change and another applies the edits, which Aider's leaderboard reports improves results.
sourceConnect to any LLM via your own keys
CopilotWorks with Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, local models, and most other providers through bring-your-own-key configuration.
source
Strengths
- +Fully open source (Apache-2.0) and free; you only pay your chosen model provider
- +Git-native: every AI change is a reviewable, revertible commit
- +Model-agnostic with a repo map that scales to larger codebases
Limitations
- −Terminal-only with no GUI or IDE-native experience for those who want one
- −Runs locally and edits real files, so a human must review every change
- −Quality and cost depend entirely on the model you bring
Overview
Aider is an open-source AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal, created by Paul Gauthier. It works directly inside an existing Git repository and treats Git as the source of truth: each AI edit becomes a commit you can diff and undo. It is Apache-2.0 licensed and free; you supply your own model API key.
What it does
You describe a change in natural language and Aider edits the relevant files, using a map of the whole codebase to work across larger projects. Its architect mode separates planning from editing (one model plans, another applies edits), which its own leaderboard reports improves results. Because it edits real files locally, a human reviews each change before keeping it.
Integrations & setup
Aider is model-agnostic, connecting to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, local Ollama models, and most other LLMs through your own keys. There is no GUI: you run aider in a terminal. The project also publishes the Aider polyglot benchmark used to rank coding models.
Pricing
Free and open source. The only cost is whatever LLM provider you point it at.
Best for / not for
Best for developers who live in the terminal and want a transparent, vendor-neutral tool where every AI change is a Git commit. Not for people who want an inline IDE autocomplete experience or a managed, zero-config product.
Alternatives
Cline and Continue are in-IDE open-source coding agents; Claude Code is a comparable terminal-based agent; Cursor is a full AI-native IDE.
What people are saying
Loved for
- +local
- +compression
- +context
Common gripes
- −airway
- −drsabcd
- −emergency
Recent mentions
“A Netflix engineer just mass-deleted tokens. And it works. We've been chasing bigger context windows for two years. 128K. 200K. 1M. More tokens. More cost. More latency. This tool flips the script. It compresses everythi”
“92 % less tokens? Same quality. Sounds too good? Then try this... A Netflix engineer just dropped a massive game changer for (local/hybrid) AI and coding agents. If you use tools like Claude Code, Cursor, or Aider, you k”
“Today, around 40 colleagues came together for a refreshing hike at Denai 3 Puteri, Kota Damansara. A great way to start the weekend! It was especially meaningful that we hiked along the Sahabat Trail (“Sahabat” mean”
“Headroom optimizes the way your AI agent processes information by compressing all inputs, including tool outputs, logs, RAG chunks, files, and conversation history, before they reach the LLM. This means you receive the s”
“Headroom AI: The Open-Source Tool Making AI Agents Up to 10x Cheaper If you're using AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Aider, or Copilot CLI, token costs can add up fast. That's where Headroom AI comes in”
FAQ
Is Aider free?+
The tool is free and open source under Apache-2.0. You pay only for the LLM provider you connect it to via your own API key, or you can run a local model for no cost.
Does Aider work without an IDE?+
Yes. Aider runs entirely in your terminal against an existing Git repo; there is no IDE plugin or GUI to install.
Sources
- Aider (official site) · accessed 2026-06-18
- Aider documentation · accessed 2026-06-18
- Aider-AI/aider (GitHub) · accessed 2026-06-18
- Aider LLM leaderboards · accessed 2026-06-18
Last reviewed 2026-06-18