Aider

What it does

Aider is a terminal-based AI pair programming tool. You run it inside a local git repository, add the files you want to work on, and describe changes in chat. It sends relevant code to a large language model and edits your source files in response. Inputs include source code in popular languages, images, web pages, and voice requests; outputs are file edits and git commits.

Developers use it to start new projects or extend existing codebases. Aider maps the whole repository so the model has context across larger projects, commits each change with a descriptive message so you can review or undo it with ordinary git tools, and can run linters and tests after each change to fix detected problems. It can also be used from inside an IDE by adding comments to code, or through a web chat with copy and paste.

Aider suits developers comfortable with the command line and git who have access to an LLM provider or a local model. Setup involves installing with pip and supplying an API key for the chosen model, such as Anthropic, OpenAI, or DeepSeek. Output quality depends on the model you connect, and cloud models carry provider charges.

What it can do

• Edits code in a local git repository through natural-language chat requests
• Maps the whole codebase to provide context in larger projects
• Automatically commits AI changes with descriptive messages
• Runs linters and tests after changes and fixes detected problems
• Accepts images, web pages, and voice requests as context
• Works with cloud and local LLMs

Works with

• Git
• OpenAI
• Anthropic
• DeepSeek
• Ollama
• OpenRouter
• GitHub Copilot

Example workflows

Add a feature to an existing project

Input: a local git repo and a request such as 'add pagination to the user list'. Steps: cd into the project, run aider with a chosen model, add relevant files with /add, describe the change in chat. Output: edited files and an automatic git commit that can be reviewed with git diff.

Fix failing tests with lint and test feedback

Input: a repo with a failing test suite and linting configured. Steps: enable lint and test commands, ask aider to fix the failing tests. Output: code changes made by aider, with linter and test results used to iterate on fixes.

Before you choose

• Output quality depends on the LLM you connect; cloud models require an API key and incur provider charges, while local models require your own hardware.
• Aider edits files directly and commits changes, so run it in a git repository and review diffs before relying on the results.

Listed under

• Coding
• Coding agents
• AI coding
• Code editing
• Developers
• Developer tools
• Git

Get started

Install with python -m pip install aider-install, then run aider with a model and API key.

1. Install Aider by running: python -m pip install aider-install, then aider-install.
2. Change into your project directory and launch aider with a model, for example: aider --model sonnet --api-key anthropic=<key>.
3. Add the files you want to edit with /add and describe the change in the chat; review commits with git tools.

Model provider costs for API keys and any hardware costs for local models are billed separately. Check the official site for current terms.

We couldn’t find published prices for Aider. See their pricing page ↗

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 29 Oct 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• Aider - AI Pair Programming in Your Terminal ↗aider.chat
• Aider Documentation | aider ↗aider.chat

Company website

aider.chat: product, pricing and policy pages

GitHub

Public code and releases

YC directory mirror

Batch and company name

Human review

Checked by a person

knowledge_base

Last checked 29 Oct 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.