Continue vs LangSmith: Which Is Better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of Continue and LangSmith, two dev tools tools — what each does, who it's best for, and how to choose between them.
Quick verdict
Continue and LangSmith are both dev tools tools, so it comes down to fit. Pick Continue if you want Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models… Pick LangSmith if you want An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug…
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full flexibility.
- Category
- Dev Tools
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Best for
- AI coding, open source, VS Code
LangSmith
An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they really do.
- Category
- Dev Tools
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Best for
- observability, llm, agent monitoring
| At a glance | Continue | LangSmith |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full flexibility. | An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they really do. |
| Category | Dev Tools | Dev Tools |
| Type | Software | Software |
| Best for | AI coding, open source, VS Code, JetBrains | observability, llm, agent monitoring, tracing |
What is Continue?
What is LangSmith?
Key differences at a glance
- Purpose: Continue is Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full flexibility. LangSmith, by contrast, is An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they really do.
- Category & type: both sit in Dev Tools, and both are offered as software.
- Best suited for: Continue leans toward AI coding, open source, VS Code, whereas LangSmith leans toward observability, llm, agent monitoring.
- Community rating: Continue is not yet rated vs LangSmith is not yet rated. Ratings are community-submitted and change over time.
Continue vs LangSmith: which should you choose?
Continue and LangSmith both serve the dev tools space, so the best choice depends on your priorities. Choose Continue if you want Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full… Choose LangSmith if you want An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they…The smartest move is to try each one's free tier or trial on a real task — that's the fastest way to feel the difference and pick the tool you'll actually stick with.
Frequently asked questions
Is Continue better than LangSmith?
It depends on what you need. Continue is Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full flexibility. LangSmith is An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they really do. Both are dev tools tools, so the right pick comes down to your specific priorities, budget and workflow.
What's the main difference between Continue and LangSmith?
Continue focuses on Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — customizable, with your choice of models and full flexibility. while LangSmith focuses on An observability and evaluation platform for LLM apps and AI agents — trace, monitor and debug what they really do. Read the full breakdown above and check each tool's site for current features and pricing.
Can I use both Continue and LangSmith?
In many cases, yes — teams often use complementary tools together. Whether it makes sense depends on overlap in functionality and your budget. Try the free tier or trial of each to see how they fit your stack before committing.
Which is cheaper, Continue or LangSmith?
Pricing changes often, so check each tool's pricing page for the latest. Many tools offer a free tier or trial, which is the best way to evaluate value for your specific usage before you pay.