GPTutor review
A free, open-source VS Code extension for selected-code help through OpenAI models.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
GPTutor is an open-source Visual Studio Code extension that uses OpenAI GPT models to explain and review selected code, generate comments, and produce refactored code. It suits solo developers and small teams who want assistance with a code block without relying on codebase-wide context or inline suggestions. Instructions go through an editor input box, and the extension includes code generation and rewrite modes. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Its focus is selected-code work rather than a full coding assistant workflow. Developers can configure prompts, choose among multiple GPT models, and set the output language, which gives them control over how responses are shaped. The documented feature set also includes Move support. That makes GPTutor a fit for targeted explanation, review, and rewriting tasks; developers who need inline completion or answers grounded in a broader codebase should look for an alternative.
GPTutor itself is free and open source, but using its OpenAI API integration requires a user-provided API key and may bring separate API charges. That means the extension has no stated purchase price, while ongoing use can depend on the API arrangement. Consider it if you are comfortable configuring an API key and primarily want an editor-based way to ask about selected code. Skip it if you need built-in completion, codebase context, or a workflow that does not rely on an external API key.
GPTutor pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Explains and reviews selected code, and generates comments or refactored code
- Offers code generation and rewrite modes with configurable prompts
- Supports multiple GPT models and output-language configuration
- Where it doesn't
- Requires a user-provided OpenAI API key, with possible separate API charges
- Does not provide codebase context
- Does not offer inline completion
GPTutor fact sheet, pricing and score →
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