Aider vs Roo Code: How They Actually Differ
Aider fits terminal-first developers who want git-committed code edits from a model-agnostic, Apache-2.0 agent. Roo Code fits solo builders working inside VS Code who want a Cline-derived multi-mode workflow. Both are free and require your own API keys.
Compiled 2026-10-19 from our catalogue entries for Aider and Roo Code.
The short answer
- Pick Aider if
- You live in the terminal on mac, Windows, or Linux, want every accepted edit landed as a git commit, and want to bring your own key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, or a local Ollama model.
- Pick Roo Code if
- You build inside VS Code and want a permissively licensed, Cline-forked extension that switches between modes for different tasks, with your own key for Claude, GPT, or Gemini.
- Cheapest way in
- Both tools list their price as Free. Your actual spend is whatever the LLM provider charges for tokens, since each tool is bring-your-own-key.
- What we could not compare
- Neither tool has verified plans or doc links on file. Roo Code's full BYOK provider list beyond Claude, GPT, and Gemini is not specified on the sheet.
Both Aider and Roo Code sit in the open-source, bring-your-own-key corner of the AI coding-agent category. Neither bundles inference, and both list a starting price of Free, so the real spend is whatever your chosen LLM provider charges per token. Verified paid plans and documentation links are not on file for either product.
The split is interface and workflow. Aider is a command-line pair-programmer that commits accepted changes to git with a generated message and supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local Ollama under Apache 2.0. Roo Code is a VS Code extension forked from Cline that adds multi-mode workflows and supports Claude, GPT, and Gemini through your own key. Choose by where you write code and how you want changes captured.
Side by side
Every cell is a field on our catalogue entry for that tool, copied as recorded. Rows where the two differ come first; blank fields say so rather than being filled in.
| Aider | Roo Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | mac, win, linux, cli | vscode-ext |
| Category | AI Coding Agents | AI Coding Agents |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Public source code | Yes — public repo | Yes — public repo |
| Public docs | Not listed | Not listed |
- Public source code: From the repository link on each catalogue entry, not a licence audit.
Where Aider is the better fit
- Fully open source under Apache 2.0, with no vendor lock-in.
- Runs in the terminal across mac, Windows, and Linux, and brings your own key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, or a local Ollama model.
- Auto-commits every accepted change to git with a generated message, so edits are version-controlled by default.
Where Roo Code is the better fit
- Open-source, permissively licensed VS Code extension forked from Cline.
- Sits directly inside VS Code as an extension, so edits, modes, and chat live next to your files.
- Multi-mode workflows you switch between for different coding tasks, with bring-your-own-key for Claude, GPT, and Gemini.
Which one should you pick?
It runs in the CLI on mac, Windows, or Linux, lists broad provider support including local Ollama, and commits accepted changes with a generated message.
It's a VS Code extension forked from Cline with multi-mode workflows and BYOK for Claude, GPT, and Gemini, so you stay inside the editor.
Local Ollama is listed among Aider's supported BYOK providers; Ollama is not listed among Roo Code's providers.
Frequently asked questions
- Do either of these bundle LLM inference so I don't need my own key?
- No. The fact sheets describe both as bring-your-own-key: Aider across OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local Ollama, and Roo Code across Claude, GPT, and Gemini.
- Does Roo Code work in JetBrains, IntelliJ, or other IDEs?
- The sheet says it is limited to VS Code with no JetBrains or other IDE extension available.
- Does Aider have a GUI or inline-edit overlay?
- No. The fact sheet describes Aider as command-line only with no GUI and no inline-edit overlay.
- Are there paid plans for either tool?
- Not on file. Both list pricing as Free, and verified plans are recorded as none for Aider and not specified for Roo Code.
What we compared
This page states nothing that is not in the two catalogue entries below. The exact text used to write it is reproduced here so you can check our reading, and both tools link through to their own pages and to the vendor.
- /tools/aider — checked 2026-05-25 · official site
- /tools/roo-code — checked 2026-06-14 · official site
Show the source text
## Aider (/tools/aider) Tagline: Open-source CLI coding agent that pair-programs in your terminal and commits to git automatically. Category: AI Coding Agents Pricing model: free Starts at: Free Platforms: mac, win, linux, cli Public repo: https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider Docs: none listed Verified plans: none on file Strengths on file: Fully open source under Apache 2.0; no vendor lock-in.; Bring-your-own-key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local Ollama models.; Every accepted change is committed to git with a generated message. Limits on file: No GUI — command-line only; no inline-edit overlay like Cursor.; Cost depends entirely on the underlying provider's token pricing. Aider is an open-source CLI coding agent that pair-programs in your terminal and commits each change to git automatically. Its edge is openness and git discipline: Apache-2.0 with no lock-in, bring-your-own-key across OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local Ollama models, and every accepted change landing as a git commit with a generated message. It fits developers who live in the terminal and want a model-agnostic agent tied to version control. The trade-offs: there's no GUI or inline-edit overlay like Cursor's — it's command-line only — and cost tracks whatever provider's token pricing you bring. It's the open, BYOK terminal agent next to Anthropic's Claude Code and IDE-native Cursor. ## Roo Code (/tools/roo-code) Tagline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code, forked from Cline with multi-mode workflows. Category: AI Coding Agents Pricing model: free Starts at: Free Platforms: vscode-ext Public repo: https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code Docs: none listed Verified plans: none on file Strengths on file: Open-source AI coding agent released under a permissive license.; Runs as a VS Code extension that integrates directly with the editor.; Forked from Cline while adding multi-mode workflows for different coding tasks.; Supports bring-your-own-key for multiple LLM providers including Claude, GPT, and Gemini. Limits on file: Limited to VS Code with no JetBrains or other IDE extension available.; Requires users to supply their own API keys rather than bundling inference. Roo Code is an open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code, forked from Cline and adding multi-mode workflows for different kinds of coding tasks. Its angle is flexibility and openness: a permissively licensed VS Code extension with bring-your-own-key across providers like Claude, GPT, and Gemini, and modes you switch between for different jobs. It's for VS Code users who want Cline's inspectable, open approach with more workflow structure. Two limits: it's VS Code only — no JetBrains or other IDE extension — and you supply your own API keys rather than getting bundled inference. It's the multi-mode fork of Cline, in the same open, BYOK, in-VS-Code lane.
Change log
- 2026-10-19 — First published, compiled from the catalogue entries for Aider and Roo Code.