Continue vs Tabby
Self-host pick — both replace GitHub Copilot (AI code completion / chat in the IDE).
Both Continue and Tabby self-host as a replacement for GitHub Copilot (AI code completion / chat in the IDE). Pick Continue if you want the lighter footprint — 10min — VS Code or JetBrains plugin + a local model, free for the plugin; model server is the cost line — $0 on a workstation 16gb+ gpu, ~$200/mo on cloud gpu. Pick Tabby if you need teams that want one centrally-hosted code-AI server with admin controls and per-developer usage tracking — 20min docker run with --gpus + plugin install and $200+/mo cloud gpu for the inference server; $0 on a workstation.
| Continueopen-source | Tabbyopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 10min — VS Code or JetBrains plugin + a local model | 20min docker run with --gpus + plugin install |
| Monthly cost | Free for the plugin; model server is the cost line — $0 on a workstation 16GB+ GPU, ~$200/mo on cloud GPU. | $200+/mo cloud GPU for the inference server; $0 on a workstation. Plugin overhead is negligible. |
| GitHub | continuedev/continue | TabbyML/tabby |
| Replaces | GitHub Copilot | GitHub Copilot |
Good fit for
Continue
Developers who already run a local model and want the Copilot UX (ghost-text + chat + edit) without the hosted bill.
Weak at:Mobile / web IDEs (Codespaces, GitHub.dev) — Continue is desktop-IDE only.
Tabby
Teams that want one centrally-hosted code-AI server with admin controls and per-developer usage tracking.
Weak at:Chat / agentic edits — Tabby's strength is completion; for chat-heavy workflows pair with Continue or Aider.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli github-copilot prints GitHub Copilot's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Continue or Tabby?
Continue: 10min — VS Code or JetBrains plugin + a local model. Tabby: 20min docker run with --gpus + plugin install.
What does each cost to run?
Continue: Free for the plugin; model server is the cost line — $0 on a workstation 16GB+ GPU, ~$200/mo on cloud GPU.. Tabby: $200+/mo cloud GPU for the inference server; $0 on a workstation. Plugin overhead is negligible.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Continue and Tabby replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to GitHub Copilot.