SideCar review
A capable open-source coding agent for small teams that prefer local control.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
SideCar is a free, open-source AI coding assistant delivered as a self-hosted Visual Studio Code extension. It is aimed at solo developers and small teams that want local deployment options and control over how models connect to their development workflow. The published Free plan includes the VS Code extension, local Ollama model support, and no subscription. SideCar runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can operate locally without sending code to a cloud provider when configured with local models.
Its standout capability is an autonomous coding loop that can read code, plan changes, edit files, execute shell commands and tests, diagnose errors, and iterate. Inline completions, inline chat editing, semantic search using embeddings, project documentation indexing, and code-analysis tools extend the workflow beyond basic chat assistance. Review, audit, cautious, autonomous, manual, and plan modes provide different levels of control, while shadow workspaces and buffered file changes help separate proposed changes from the working files. Security scanning checks for secrets and common vulnerabilities.
SideCar also connects with Ollama, Anthropic API, OpenAI, Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, Google Gemini, Groq, Kickstand, LM Studio, vLLM, and llama.cpp, giving teams a broad choice of local, hosted, and OpenAI-compatible model sources. Git, database, web search, diagnostics, and MCP support add scope for repository and development tasks. The tradeoff is focus: the supported IDE is Visual Studio Code, and the published fit is for solo and small teams rather than larger organizations. SideCar suits developers who value open source, self-hosting, and configurable approval controls; teams seeking a broader IDE footprint or a larger-company fit should look elsewhere.
Questions about SideCar
Does SideCar have a free plan? Yes, there is a free plan.
What does SideCar run on? Windows, macOS and Linux. It runs self-hosted and as a desktop app.
What does SideCar integrate with? 11 integrations, including Ollama, Anthropic API, OpenAI, Fireworks AI and OpenRouter.
Who is SideCar built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).
SideCar pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Autonomous loop can read, edit, test, diagnose, and iterate
- Supports local Ollama models plus many hosted model connections
- Security scanning, semantic search, and shadow workspaces are included
- Where it doesn't
- Supported IDE is limited to Visual Studio Code
- Paid third-party model APIs can add usage costs
- Company-size fit is focused on solo users and small teams
SideCar fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update