Best VS Code Extensions for AI-Assisted Coding in 2026

AI has transformed how we write code. The right VS Code extensions can make you significantly more productive. Here are the best AI extensions for VS Code in 2026, tested and ranked.

Quick Comparison

1. GitHub Copilot

The industry standard for AI coding assistance

GitHub Copilot remains the most mature and widely-used AI coding assistant. It's powered by OpenAI and trained on billions of lines of code.

Features

• 🔥 Inline code suggestions
• 💬 Copilot Chat for Q&A
• 🔧 Code explanations and fixes
• 📝 Documentation generation
• 🧪 Test generation

Pricing

• Individual: $10/month
• Business: $19/user/month
• Enterprise: $39/user/month

Pros

• Excellent code completions
• Works across many languages
• Great IDE integration
• Active development

Cons

• Monthly cost adds up
• Can suggest incorrect code
• Needs good prompts for best results

Our verdict: If you can afford $10/month, Copilot is the safe choice.

Install GitHub Copilot →

2. Idlen - Earn While You Code

The only extension that pays YOU

Unlike other extensions that cost money, Idlen generates passive income while you code. It displays relevant developer ads in a non-intrusive sidebar.

Features

• 💰 Earn $40-100/month passively
• 🎯 Ads relevant to your tech stack
• 🔒 Privacy-first (no code access)
• ⚡ Zero performance impact
• 💳 Easy cash out at $50

How It Works

1. Install the extension
2. Sign in with GitHub/Google
3. Code normally
4. Earn from relevant ads
5. Cash out via PayPal/crypto

Why It's Essential

Most AI tools cost money. Idlen helps offset those costs—or even generate profit:

Our verdict: No-brainer. Free income with zero effort.

Install Idlen →

3. Codeium

The best free Copilot alternative

Codeium offers impressive AI code completion for free. It's trained on permissively-licensed code, making it safer for commercial use.

Features

• 🆓 Free forever (basic tier)
• 🚀 Fast completions
• 💬 Chat functionality
• 🔍 Code search
• 🔐 SOC 2 compliant

Pricing

• Free: Unlimited completions
• Pro: $12/month (advanced features)

Pros

• Genuinely free
• Good quality completions
• No waitlist
• Fast performance

Cons

• Chat less powerful than Copilot
• Smaller model than GPT-4
• Fewer features than paid options

Our verdict: Best choice if you want AI assistance without paying.

Install Codeium →

4. Tabnine

Privacy-focused AI completions

Tabnine prioritizes privacy with options for local AI models. Great for companies with strict data policies.

Features

• 🔒 Local model option (no cloud)
• 🏢 Team learning
• 🎯 Personalized suggestions
• 📊 Analytics dashboard

Pricing

• Basic: Free
• Pro: $12/month
• Enterprise: Custom

Pros

• Can run entirely locally
• Team-based learning
• Good for enterprises

Cons

• Local models less powerful
• Free tier is limited
• Not as smart as Copilot

Our verdict: Choose Tabnine if privacy is your top concern.

Install Tabnine →

5. Continue

Open-source AI coding assistant

Continue is an open-source extension that lets you use any AI model (local or cloud) for coding assistance.

Features

• 🔓 Open source
• 🤖 Any model (GPT-4, Claude, Llama)
• 💬 Chat interface
• ✏️ Inline editing
• 🔌 Extensible

Pricing

• Free (bring your own API keys)

Pros

• Completely open source
• Use any model you want
• Active community
• No vendor lock-in

Cons

• Requires API keys
• More setup required
• Less polished UX

Our verdict: Best for developers who want full control.

Install Continue →

6. Amazon CodeWhisperer

Best for AWS developers

Amazon's AI coding assistant is optimized for AWS services and offers strong security scanning.

Features

• ☁️ AWS integration
• 🔒 Security scanning
• 📜 Reference tracking
• 🆓 Free tier available

Pricing

• Individual: Free
• Professional: $19/user/month

Pros

• Free tier is generous
• Great AWS support
• Security scanning included

Cons

• Less powerful than Copilot
• AWS-focused
• Fewer languages supported

Our verdict: Solid choice if you work primarily with AWS.

Install CodeWhisperer →

The Ultimate AI Coding Setup

Here's the stack I recommend for maximum productivity:

Essential

1. GitHub Copilot - Core AI completions ($10/mo)
2. Idlen - Earn passive income (Free, earns $40-100/mo)

Optional

3. Continue - For Claude/local models (Free)
4. Error Lens - See errors inline (Free)
5. GitLens - Git superpowers (Free)

Net cost: $10/month - $50 Idlen earnings = -$40/month profit

You literally get paid to use AI coding tools.

Tips for Getting the Most from AI Extensions

1. Write Good Comments

AI tools use comments as context:

// Fetch user data from API, handle errors, and cache response
async function getUser(id) {
  // AI will generate better code with this context
}

2. Accept Suggestions Incrementally

Don't accept entire blocks blindly:

• Accept line by line
• Review each suggestion
• Edit as needed

3. Use Chat for Complex Tasks

Simple completions work for simple code. For complex logic:

• Use Copilot Chat
• Explain what you need
• Iterate on the response

4. Combine Multiple Tools

The best setup uses multiple tools:

• Copilot for completions
• Chat for explanations
• Idlen for income
• Continue for alternative models

Frequently Asked Questions

Do AI extensions slow down VS Code?

Modern AI extensions are well-optimized. You might notice slight delays in completions, but overall IDE performance is rarely affected.

Is my code safe with these extensions?

Most extensions (Copilot, Codeium, Tabnine) have privacy policies. Idlen specifically doesn't access your code—only detects tech stack from config files.

Can I use these in commercial projects?

Yes, but check each tool's terms. Codeium is trained only on permissively-licensed code, making it safest for commercial use.

Which combination do you recommend?

Budget setup: Codeium + Idlen (Free + earns money) Pro setup: Copilot + Idlen (Best quality + earns money)

Want even more AI power? Consider Cursor, a VS Code fork with deeper AI integration. See our VS Code vs Cursor comparison for details.

Related Articles

• Best AI Coding Assistants in 2026
• How to Use Cursor AI: Complete Guide
• Cursor vs GitHub Copilot Comparison
• VS Code vs Cursor Comparison

Conclusion

AI coding extensions are no longer optional—they're essential for staying competitive. Here's what I recommend:

1. Install Copilot (or Codeium if budget-conscious)
2. Install Idlen to earn passive income
3. Learn to prompt effectively
4. Review AI suggestions carefully

The future of coding is AI-assisted. These extensions will make you faster, smarter, and—with Idlen—richer.

Start earning while you code with Idlen →