Aider Overview
Aider is a standalone tool developed by Aider, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It supports advanced language models including GPT-4o, GPT-5, Claude 4.5, and DeepSeek. Aider offers a significant context window of 200k tokens, allowing for extensive input processing. It features agentic editing across multiple files and provides full terminal access, enhancing its utility for developers. Aider is noted for its seamless migration and free pricing tier, making it accessible to a broad range of users. The tool adheres to a Standard Privacy Policy and holds SOC2 Type II certification, ensuring data security and compliance with industry standards. Users can configure Aider using the .aiderrc file.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a wide range of operating systems.
- ✓ Free tier available.
- ✓ Seamless migration process.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
Cons
- ✕ No predictive edits feature.
- ✕ Standard Privacy Mode only.
SWE-agent Overview
SWE-agent, developed by SWE, operates on a cloud architecture and is compatible with Ubuntu 24.04 and Ubuntu 24.10. This tool supports various language models such as Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, and Gemini 1.0, with a robust context window of 200k tokens. Similar to Aider, it offers multi-file agentic editing and full terminal access, catering to complex development needs. Unlike Aider, SWE-agent does not provide a free tier; pricing details require contacting sales. The migration process involves initial setup, which may demand additional resources. SWE-agent also maintains a Standard Privacy Policy and SOC2 Type II certification, ensuring compliance with enterprise-level security standards.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple advanced language models.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Cloud-based architecture.
Cons
- ✕ Limited to specific Ubuntu versions.
- ✕ No free tier available.
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Aider | SWE-agent |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 24.10 |
| Developer | Aider | SWE |
| Supported Llms | GPT-4o, GPT-5, Claude 4.5, DeepSeek | Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, Gemini 1.0 |
| 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 | .sweagentrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Aider and SWE-agent offer robust capabilities for developers seeking advanced language model support and extensive context windows. Aider provides a more accessible entry point with its free tier and seamless migration, making it ideal for users who prefer a standalone setup. In contrast, SWE-agent leverages a cloud-based architecture, supporting a diverse range of language models but requires a setup for migration and offers no free tier. The choice between these tools will largely depend on user preferences for operating systems, budget considerations, and infrastructure requirements.