Claude Code vs Aider
Both are terminal coding agents that commit as they go. Aider is open source and model-agnostic; Claude Code is a paid product with deeper tooling.
Claude Code
Paid
Pick Claude Code if…
You want the more capable out-of-the-box agent and don't mind the subscription.
Aider
Free
Pick Aider if…
You want it free, open source, and pointed at whichever model you're paying for anyway.
Side by side
| Claude Code | Aider | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Category | Code & Dev | Code & Dev |
| Best known for | Terminal-native coding agent that edits your repo and runs commands. | Pair programming in your terminal that commits as it goes. |
| Tags | coding-agent, cli, terminal | cli, coding-agent, git, open-source |
Related comparisons
Comparisons are editorial and can't be bought. Pricing models change — check both vendors before deciding. Some links earn a commission; see the disclosure.