Aider Overview
Aider is a standalone tool developed by Aider that offers compatibility across major operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports a variety of large language models such as GPT-4o, GPT-5, Claude 4.5, and DeepSeek. With a substantial context window of 200k tokens, Aider provides users with extensive capabilities for managing complex tasks. Although local inference is not supported, it offers full terminal access and multi-file agentic editing, making it a versatile choice for developers. Aider is free to use, which adds to its appeal, especially for smaller teams or individual developers seeking cost-effective solutions. It allows seamless migration with the use of a configuration file named .aiderrc, ensuring an easy start for new users.
Pros
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ Seamless migration
- ✓ Supports multiple LLMs
- ✓ Full terminal access
Cons
- ✕ No local inference
- ✕ Predictive edits not supported
OpenHands Overview
OpenHands is a cloud-based tool developed by OpenHands, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports a diverse set of large language models including GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, and Gemini 3.0. With a hefty context window of 200k tokens, OpenHands is designed for extensive and complex tasks. One of its distinguishing features is the support for local inference and predictive edits, which can be a significant advantage for real-time processing and development. However, OpenHands does not offer a free tier, and potential users are required to contact sales for pricing. Migration to OpenHands requires setup and the use of a file named .openhandsrc, which might be a consideration for teams planning to transition to this tool.
Pros
- ✓ Supports local inference
- ✓ Predictive edits available
- ✓ Wide range of supported LLMs
Cons
- ✕ No free tier
- ✕ Requires setup for migration
Comparison Table
| Feature | Aider | OpenHands |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | Aider | OpenHands |
| Supported Llms | GPT-4o, GPT-5, Claude 4.5, DeepSeek | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, Gemini 3.0 |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free | Contact Sales |
| Config File | .aiderrc | .openhandsrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Aider and OpenHands offer robust solutions with their unique strengths. Aider is ideal for teams seeking a cost-effective, standalone solution with seamless migration, while OpenHands provides advanced features like local inference and predictive edits, albeit at a cost and with more setup requirements.