Continue
n8n
| Feature | Continue | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | Free / from $24/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, open-source-advocates, privacy-focused-devs, self-hosters | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders |
| Founded | 2023 | 2019 |
| Autocomplete | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inline Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Model Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Context Providers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Commands | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Code Nodes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Agents | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Docker | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Continue Pros
- Fully open-source (Apache 2.0)
- Works with any LLM provider
- VS Code and JetBrains support
- Local model support
✗ Continue Cons
- Requires self-configuration of LLM
- Less polished than Copilot
- Setup can be complex for beginners
✓ n8n Pros
- Free self-hosting (forever)
- Full JavaScript/Python in every node
- AI agent workflow builder
- No per-task pricing when self-hosted
✗ n8n Cons
- Requires technical setup for self-hosting
- 400+ integrations vs Zapier's 7,000+
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make
The Verdict
Continue is built for developers and open source advocates, with a focus on autocomplete and chat. n8n targets developers and technical teams and leads with workflows and self-hosting.
Continue uses custom enterprise pricing, while n8n starts at $24/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, n8n offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Continue takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for developers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: n8n has a slight overall edge — but if fully open-source (apache 2.0) matters most to you, Continue may still be the right call.
