Can I use JetBrains AI Assistant and Aider together?

Yes, many teams use both tools together for different purposes. Use the Stack Builder section above to combine JetBrains AI Assistant and Aider with other tools and save your AI toolkit.

Does JetBrains AI Assistant or Aider have a free plan?

JetBrains AI Assistant is available for free with a free trial. Aider is a paid tool. Always verify current pricing directly with the vendor.

JetBrains AI Assistant vs Aider

Comprehensive side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, performance, and more.

Updated May 2026

JetBrains AI Assistant

JetBrains s.r.o.

Intelligent coding assistance built into your workflow

0.0(0)

FREEMIUM

94% data quality

Aider

Aider AI LLC

AI pair programming in your terminal for faster, smarter coding.

0.0(0)

OPEN_SOURCE

91% data quality

Trust & Reliability

JetBrains AI Assistant

Customers (per vendor):Volkswagen, Citibank, BMW +7

GDPR

SOC 2

Aider

Overall Winner: JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0/10 vs Aider at 7.5/10

Leads in:

Customizability

Support

Ease of Use

AI Comparison Summary

JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0

avg score

Aider

7.5

avg score

JetBrains AI Assistant leads overall — particularly in Ease of Use and Customizability and 1 more.

Aider has an edge in Value for Money.

Based on 6 dimensions

How scores are calculated

Overall Winner

JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0 / 10

JetBrains AI Assistant

Best For

Accelerating software development in JetBrains IDEs

Improving code quality and maintainability

Automating repetitive coding tasks

Enhancing developer productivity for professional teams

Not Ideal For

Developers not using JetBrains IDEs

Users seeking a standalone AI coding tool

Individuals looking for a free AI coding assistant

Aider

Best For

Starting new coding projects with AI assistance

Building on existing codebases with LLM support

Automating code changes and bug fixes

Refactoring code with AI guidance

Not Ideal For

Non-technical users without coding experience

Teams requiring a fully managed, GUI-based IDE with AI built-in

Organizations needing strict enterprise-level compliance certifications out-of-the-box

* Verdict is based on our algorithmic scoring of publicly available data. Learn about our methodology

JetBrains AI Assistant is best for

✍️Writing & Content9.0💬Chat & Conversation9.0🤖Automation & Agents9.0

Aider is best for

🤖Automation & Agents10.0🎧Customer Support10.0✍️Writing & Content9.0

Filter by your use case:

Pros & Cons

JetBrains AI Assistant

Pros

Deep integration with a wide range of JetBrains IDEs
Supports various AI models including user's own OpenAI API key
Offers flexible deployment options (local/cloud) for data control
Enhances productivity with context-aware coding assistance
Backed by JetBrains' enterprise-grade security and compliance

Cons

Requires a JetBrains IDE subscription to function
Not a standalone AI tool, dependent on IDE ecosystem
Pricing is an add-on or part of bundles, not a separate free tier
May have territory limitations for AI services

Aider

Pros

Open-source and free to use, offering flexibility and community support
Integrates deeply with Git for version control and easy change management
Supports a wide array of LLMs, including local models, for diverse use cases
Works with over 100 programming languages, making it versatile for many projects
Provides codebase mapping for better context in large projects
Offers unique features like voice-to-code and image/URL context

Cons

Requires API keys for most powerful LLMs, incurring external costs
Primarily a command-line interface tool, which may have a learning curve for some users
No built-in graphical user interface (GUI) for visual interaction
Relies on external LLMs, so performance and availability depend on third-party services
Does not offer enterprise-grade compliance certifications like SOC 2 or HIPAA

Weighted Score — Adjust What Matters to You

Pick a profile or drag sliders — scores and radar update instantly on the right.

Quick profiles:

Ease of Use5

Output Quality5

Value for Money5

Customizability5

Support & Ecosystem5

Integration Power5

Dimension Comparison

JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0

/ 10

Your pick

Aider

7.5

/ 10

Dimension Breakdown

Ease of Use

How easy it is to get started and use daily

JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0▲ +2.0

Aider

6.0

Output Quality

Quality and accuracy of generated results

JetBrains AI Assistant

8.0▲ +1.0

Aider

7.0

Value for Money

Cost vs. features and output quality

JetBrains AI Assistant

7.0

Aider

10.0▲ +3.0

Customizability

Calculated

Ability to tailor to specific needs

JetBrains AI Assistant

9.0▲ +2.0

Aider

7.0

Support & Ecosystem

Documentation, community, and support quality

JetBrains AI Assistant

9.0▲ +2.0

Aider

7.0

Integration Power

Calculated

Ability to connect with other tools and workflows

JetBrains AI Assistant

7.0

Aider

8.0▲ +1.0

Calculated = derived from verified integration count and API/open-source signals. AI = LLM-assessed from public website content. Methodology

Task Performance

JetBrains AI Assistant

Task

Aider

9.0

Code Completion

7.0

Bug Detection

7.0

8.0

Code Explanation

8.0

Refactoring

8.0

7.0

Test Generation

7.0

9.0

Multi Language Support

10.0

9.0

Context Understanding

9.0

7.0

Documentation Generation

7.0

Performance Optimization

7.0

6.0

Security Scanning

6.0

* Task scores (1–10) are algorithmically generated from publicly available data.

Data is sourced from public information and vendor websites. It may not always be up-to-date — verify pricing and features directly with the vendor before purchasing.Report inaccuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, JetBrains AI Assistant or Aider?

Both are strong options. JetBrains AI Assistant has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews), while Aider has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews). The best choice depends on your specific use case, budget, and workflow requirements.

Is JetBrains AI Assistant cheaper than Aider?

JetBrains AI Assistant starts at $10/month (freemium model) with a free trial. Aider starts at free (open_source model). Use the Cost Calculator above for a detailed estimate.

What are the main differences between JetBrains AI Assistant and Aider?

JetBrains AI Assistant — "Intelligent coding assistance built into your workflow". Aider — "AI pair programming in your terminal for faster, smarter coding.". Key differences include their pricing models, platform support, integrations, and technical capabilities. See the Feature Comparison table above for a complete side-by-side breakdown.

Explore Alternatives

JetBrains AI Assistant Alternatives

Tools similar to JetBrains AI Assistant

Aider Alternatives

Tools similar to Aider

Compare More AI Tools

Use our comparison tool to compare up to 5 AI tools side-by-side with AI-powered recommendations.