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Aider-AI (open-source project)Tested (smoke test)

Aider: what’s new and our verdict

Open-source AI pair programming in your terminal that maps your codebase and connects to almost any LLM, including local models.

Official site

Release Ruler for Aider: marked at its Tested release date on the timeline of every AI model we track.

At a glance

Evidence
Tested (smoke test)
Released
Feb 12, 2026
Last verified
Oct 25, 2026
Pricing
Partly verified
Best for
AI coding agents

Evidence and ranking

Evidence behind this verdict

  1. Sources read3 cited sources, latest fetched Oct 25, 2026. (done)
  2. Facts re-checkedLast verified Oct 25, 2026. (done)
  3. Run by usSmoke test on Oct 25, 2026 (scope below). (done)

Passed Test log result: Passed. Read the log

Where we rank it (editorial)

Listed here but not yet ranked. Ranks are editorial picks, not benchmark scores.

Pricing: No pricing page. The tool is free; model usage costs depend on the provider you connect. (checked 2026-10-25)

Our verdict

Open-source AI pair programming in your terminal that maps your codebase and connects to almost any LLM, including local models.

Good for

  • Developers who live in the terminal and want git-friendly AI edits
  • People who want to pick their own model or run local models

Skip if

  • You want a GUI editor with an integrated agent
  • You want a vendor-supported product with an SLA

Tested. Tested 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). Aider 0.86.2 implemented a missing function with a local 3B model in 3 of 3 trials (27 to 32 s each); it did not install on Python 3.13 without a C++ compiler, and it left a stray placeholder comment in the file. Test environment: Linux x86_64 virtual machine (Debian 13), 8 vCPU, 15 GiB RAM, no GPU; no vendor account, login or API key. Agent tools were pointed at a local open-weight model (Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct (Q4_K_M) through Ollama 0.40.11), so we tested the tool, not any vendor's hosted models. Not tested: Any hosted model (aider is mostly used with them); Repo-map, git auto-commit, multi-file edits, voice and the browser UI; A single toy task; three trials is a smoke test, not a benchmark. These are smoke tests, not a benchmark. Full log: /tests/aider.

Full test log with exact commands, versions and raw output: Aider 0.86.2: our test log.

Evidence
Tested (smoke test, 2026-10-25, local 3B model (Qwen2.5-3B)). A smoke test is not a benchmark.
What we ran
Aider 0.86.2 implemented a missing function with a local 3B model in 3 of 3 trials (27 to 32 s each); it did not install on Python 3.13 without a C++ compiler, and it left a stray placeholder comment in the file.
Model used
Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct (Q4_K_M) through Ollama 0.40.11
Environment
Linux x86_64 virtual machine (Debian 13), 8 vCPU, 15 GiB RAM, no GPU; no vendor account, login or API key
Not tested
Any hosted model (aider is mostly used with them); Repo-map, git auto-commit, multi-file edits, voice and the browser UI; A single toy task; three trials is a smoke test, not a benchmark.
Date
(America/Chicago)

Best for

Key facts

Aider's site says it lets you pair program with LLMs from the terminal, builds a map of your entire codebase to help on larger projects, and can connect to almost any LLM including local models. The GitHub repository lists the Apache-2.0 license. The newest release tag we saw is v0.86.3.dev (Feb 12, 2026).

  • License: Apache-2.0 (per GitHub)
  • Platforms: Terminal (command-line tool); supports most popular programming languages per the site
  • Pricing model: Free and open source
  • Free tier: Free software; you pay your LLM provider
  • Paid plans: No paid plan listed on the pages we read
  • GitHub: Aider-AI/aider: 49,752 stars on 2026-10-25, last push 2026-05-22
  • Latest release we saw: 2026-02-12
  • How to start: Follow the install instructions on aider.chat and connect an API key for your chosen model.
  • Latest release we saw (2026-02-12): the newest release listed on the official page or repository when we read it on 2026-10-25.

How to set it up: Get started with Aider

These steps come from the vendor's own pages as read on 2026-10-25. We ran Aider on 2026-10-25; the test log lists what was and was not covered.

  1. Get access

    Follow the install instructions on aider.chat and connect an API key for your chosen model.

  2. Check the limits and costs first

    Free software; you pay your LLM provider. Paid: No paid plan listed on the pages we read. No pricing page. The tool is free; model usage costs depend on the provider you connect.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Apache-2.0 open source
  • Model-agnostic
  • Free to use

Cons

  • Latest release tag we saw is from Feb 2026, so check for newer activity
  • You pay the model provider separately
  • The site's recommended-model list names older models
  • Our test was one small task on a local 3B model; it does not show behaviour with hosted models or larger jobs

Alternatives and comparisons

  • goose: Open-source, extensible AI agent that installs, runs, edits and tests code with the LLM of your choice.
  • opencode: Open-source terminal coding agent with a TUI, a desktop app and many model providers.
  • Cline: Open-source coding agent as an IDE extension, a CLI and an SDK.
  • Claude Code: Anthropic's agentic coding tool for your terminal, IDE and GitHub.

See all alternatives to Aider

FAQ

What is Aider?

Aider's site says it lets you pair program with LLMs from the terminal, builds a map of your entire codebase to help on larger projects, and can connect to almost any LLM including local models. The GitHub repository lists the Apache-2.0 license. The newest release tag we saw is v0.86.3.dev (Feb 12, 2026).

Is Aider free?

Free software; you pay your LLM provider. Paid: No paid plan listed on the pages we read. No pricing page. The tool is free; model usage costs depend on the provider you connect. Checked 2026-10-25; prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page.

What license is Aider under?

Its license: Apache-2.0 (per GitHub). Read from the project's own pages on 2026-10-25.

What we have not verified

  • Current maintenance pace

Sources

Last verified · Agentic Weekly

  • Amazon Q Developer: AWS's AI coding assistant for IDEs and the CLI, with a free tier and a $19 Pro tier; IDE plugin support ends April 30, 2027.
  • Augment Code: Coding agent and 'Cosmos' platform with a Context Engine, CLI and cloud agents; plans are flat team prices with usage included.
  • Devin: Cognition's autonomous software engineer: a cloud coding agent that tests in its own browser and aims to hand back a mergeable pull request.

How to cite this page

Agentic Weekly, "Aider: what's new, verdict & setup", last updated 2026-10-25, https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/aider

Keep the Reported or Tested label when you quote a verdict. Plain-text version: https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/aider.md. More for AI assistants: /ai, /tools.json, /llms.txt.