Aider
Aider is an open source, terminal-based AI pair programming tool that edits files in an existing codebase, automatically committing changes to git as it goes. It connects to your own choice of LLM provider using your own API key, supporting models such as Claude, GPT and DeepSeek, as well as local models. Aider itself is free; you only pay your chosen LLM provider for API usage.
Facts checked on against the sources listed at the end of this page.
- Pricing
- Open sourceFree plan: Yes, Aider itself is free; you pay your chosen LLM provider directly for API usage
- Open source
- YesApache-2.0
- GitHub stars
- 49,399
- Latest release
- v0.86.01 year ago
A good fit for
- Developers who want a terminal-first AI coding workflow rather than a full IDE
- Teams that want to choose and pay for their own LLM provider rather than a bundled subscription
- Working in an existing codebase with automatic, reviewable git commits for AI-made changes
- Using local models for AI coding assistance without a hosted API
Not a good fit for
- Developers who want a graphical IDE experience rather than a terminal tool
- Teams that want one flat subscription price instead of paying an LLM provider directly for usage
- Users who don't want to manage their own API keys and provider accounts
Aider pricing
Aider itself is free and open source. The only cost is API usage billed by whichever LLM provider you connect, such as Anthropic, OpenAI or DeepSeek.
Prices in USD, checked on 27 September 2026. Current prices on aider.chat.
Main features
- Terminal-based editing
- Describe changes in natural language and Aider edits files directly in your codebase.
- Automatic git commits
- Changes are committed to git automatically, keeping a clear history of AI-made edits.
- Bring your own model
- Connect any supported LLM provider with your own API key, or use a local model.
- Codebase mapping
- Builds a map of the repository to give the model relevant context for larger codebases.
- Linting and testing
- Can run linters and tests automatically as part of making changes.
- Voice and image input
- Supports voice-to-code input and can use images or web pages as context.
About Aider
Aider runs in the terminal and works directly with an existing codebase, letting you describe changes in natural language while it edits files, runs linting and tests, and commits the results to git automatically, giving a clean history of AI-driven changes alongside human ones.
It's model-agnostic: Aider connects to whichever LLM provider you configure with your own API key, including Claude, OpenAI's models, DeepSeek and others, and can also connect to local models for people who want to avoid a hosted API entirely.
Beyond basic edits, Aider can map out a codebase's structure to give the model useful context, take voice input, and pull in images or web pages as additional context for a task, covering a wide range of programming languages.
- Made by
- Aider (open source project)
- Free plan
- Yes, Aider itself is free; you pay your chosen LLM provider directly for API usage
- Available on
- Terminal (macOS, Windows, Linux), Bring your own LLM API key
Usage and activity
Recent releases
Aider alternatives
Aider compared
Questions about Aider
Is Aider free?
Yes, Aider itself is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. You pay only for the LLM API usage through your own chosen provider.
Which AI models work with Aider?
Aider works well with Claude, OpenAI models and DeepSeek, and can connect to almost any LLM provider, including local models, using your own API key.
Does Aider use git?
Yes, it automatically commits the changes it makes to git, so AI-driven edits are tracked alongside your own commits.
Can I use Aider with a local model instead of a hosted API?
Yes, Aider can connect to local models in addition to hosted providers.
Sources and links
Work on Aider? Claim this listing. Something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction. Stats come from the public GitHub and npm APIs and update every day.