# Aider: what's new, verdict & setup Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/aider · Released: 2026-02-12 · Last verified: 2026-10-25 · Evidence: Tested (smoke test, 2026-10-25, local 3B model (Qwen2.5-3B)) · Vendor: Aider-AI (open-source project) · Official site: https://aider.chat/ > Open-source AI pair programming in your terminal that maps your codebase and connects to almost any LLM, including local models. ## 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. Test scope: - Kind and date: smoke test, 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). 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. Full test log (commands, versions, raw output): [Aider 0.86.2: our test log](https://theagenticweekly.com/tests/aider) Pricing: Partly verified. No pricing page. The tool is free; model usage costs depend on the provider you connect. (checked 2026-10-25) ## Best for - [Best AI tool for AI coding agents](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/ai-coding-agents) (#-): Open-source terminal pair programmer that works with almost any LLM. ## 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 - [goose](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/goose): Open-source, extensible AI agent that installs, runs, edits and tests code with the LLM of your choice. - [opencode](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/opencode): Open-source terminal coding agent with a TUI, a desktop app and many model providers. - [Cline](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/cline): Open-source coding agent as an IDE extension, a CLI and an SDK. - [Claude Code](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/claude-code): Anthropic's agentic coding tool for your terminal, IDE and GitHub. - [Amazon Q Developer](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/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](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/augment-code): Coding agent and 'Cosmos' platform with a Context Engine, CLI and cloud agents; plans are flat team prices with usage included. - [Devin](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/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. - [Kiro](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/kiro): AWS's agentic coding tool that turns prompts into requirements, designs and tasks (spec mode), with an IDE and a CLI. - [Qodo](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/qodo): AI code review platform with 15+ agentic workflows for IDEs, pull requests and security, priced by team credits. - [Warp](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/warp): Warp's terminal and agent platform; it now pitches 'open infrastructure for cloud software factories' defined as code, with any model. - [Zed](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/zed): High-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, open source with AI optional. - [Codex CLI](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/codex-cli): OpenAI's open-source coding agent that runs in your terminal. ## 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 - [Aider](https://aider.chat/) (fetched 2026-10-25) - [Aider repository (GitHub)](https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider) (fetched 2026-10-25) - [Aider releases](https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider/releases) (fetched 2026-10-25) ## How to cite 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 the verdict.