Aider vs Onlook

What is Aider?

Aider is an AI Code tool that facilitates AI pair programming in your terminal. Its main job is to assist developers in starting new projects or building on existing codebases.

Who is Aider for?

Aider is designed for developers and programmers who want to enhance their coding efficiency through AI assistance. It is particularly useful for those working on larger projects or looking to integrate voice commands into their coding workflow.

What can I do with Aider?

With Aider, you can engage in AI pair programming, utilize Git integration for managing code changes, and employ voice-to-code functionality for hands-free coding. Additionally, Aider offers linting and testing to ensure code quality.

How much does Aider cost?

Aider publishes a custom / contact-sales pricing model — get a quote on their site.

How is Aider different from alternatives?

Aider differentiates itself by offering a flexible integration with various LLMs and a strong focus on in-IDE usage, allowing developers to interact with AI directly within their coding environment.

When should I use Onlook?

Use Onlook when you have designers who maintain a design system on a real React codebase and want to iterate on the actual product — not static mockups that get translated later, not a prompt-generated prototype that doesn’t respect your tokens or components. Onlook fits teams where designers, engineers, and AI need a shared surface to work on the same code.

How much does Onlook cost?

See onlook.com/pricing for current plan details and to join the waitlist.

How is Onlook different from other AI design tools?

Most AI design tools start from a prompt and generate a prototype. That’s useful for quick ideas, less useful for designers who maintain a system and care about craft. Onlook starts from the components you already have. The canvas shows your real code; designers edit the actual product instead of accepting what AI generated; engineers pull the work into the codebase when they’re ready.

Does Onlook introduce a new file format?

No. There is no proprietary file format, no second source of truth, no migration cost. Onlook reads the React components in your repo as-is. If you outgrow Onlook or stop using it, your code is already yours — nothing to export, nothing to convert.

How does Onlook fit alongside Figma?

Figma is great for early ideation, brand work, and abstract sketching. Onlook picks up where Figma ends — when the work needs to become a real product. Many teams use both; the two tools serve different stages of the design lifecycle.