Aider
The original open source terminal coding helper.
FreeOpenRuns on your PC
- Best for
- Terminal users with their own keys
- On your PC
- Technical
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- License
- Apache-2.0
What’s good
- Works with almost any model, including local ones
- Commits each change to git so you can undo
Downsides
- No new release since August 2025, falling behind
- Command line only, not for beginners
At a glance.
- Best for
- Terminal users with their own keys
- Price
- Free, open source
- Version
- v0.86.0Released 2025-08-09
- Works on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Open source
- Yes, Apache-2.0
- Made by
- Aider (community)
- Website
- aider.chat
Should you use it?
It is #11 of 12. Good for terminal users with their own keys; for most people, Claude Code is the better start.
Can I run it myself?
Yes. Technical: command line or python.
Use Aider with Ollama or LM Studio.
- You need
- 24 GB graphics card or 32 GB Mac for a good local model
- Setup
- TechnicalCommand line or Python
- Laptop, 8 GBToo small
- PC, 16 GB+Too small
- Mac, 16 GBToo small
- Mac, 32 GBRuns
- Mac, 64 GB+Runs
- PC, 8 GB GPUToo small
- PC, 12 GB GPUToo small
- PC, 16 GB GPUToo small
- PC, 24 GB GPURuns
- WorkstationRuns