XDA’s piece this week about splitting coding work across Claude, Qwen3-Coder, and Gemma is the right shape of question for 2026. A single LLM subscription used to be the default. Now there is a meaningful gap between the model that explains an architecture, the one that grinds through a refactor, and the one that runs locally on hardware that is already paid for. The hard part is no longer picking the best model. It is routing each task to the right one without paying for five subscriptions.
We tested 7 desktop apps that route AI coding work across multiple LLMs. Some are unified gateways that abstract the providers behind a single API. Others are IDE agents that talk to whichever model the editor is pointed at. The right combination usually pairs one gateway with one agent.
What to look for in a multi-LLM coding app
- Provider coverage. A real list with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Mistral, plus local OpenAI-compatible endpoints like Ollama and LM Studio.
- Model routing rules, so cheap models handle small tasks and the expensive ones handle the hard ones.
- A clear cost ledger. Per-prompt token counts, per-session totals, monthly caps.
- A keyboard-first interface that lives where the code does. VS Code, JetBrains, or a terminal.
- Streaming responses, because waiting for a 2k token completion to land in full is a productivity killer.
- A clean local fallback. If the network goes down or the rate-limit hits, the next prompt should land on a local Qwen or Gemma without ceremony.
- Open-source code or a credible audit trail, because the prompts being routed include your codebase.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free path | Cost model | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenRouter | Unified API across providers | Bring-your-own credits | Per-token across all providers | One key, every model |
| Continue.dev | VS Code and JetBrains agent | Free open-source | Self-host or per-token | Provider-agnostic IDE agent |
| LiteLLM | Self-hosted gateway and proxy | Free open-source | None on the gateway | OpenAI-compatible proxy across 100+ providers |
| Aider | Terminal-first pair programming | Free open-source | Per-token to chosen provider | Git-aware multi-file edits |
| Cline | VS Code autonomous coder | Free open-source | Per-token to chosen provider | Plan and act phases for agentic edits |
| Cursor | All-in-one IDE | Free with limits | Around 20 USD per month | Tight model swap inside the editor |
| Roo Code | Cline-style fork with extras | Free open-source | Per-token to chosen provider | More tools, more model menus |
1. OpenRouter, best unified gateway
OpenRouter is the single API that fronts every major LLM provider. You bring credits, pick a model per request, and pay the underlying provider’s rate plus a small premium. The dashboard shows token spend by model, which makes the “Claude for thinking, Gemma for grinding” pattern trivial to operate.
Where it falls short: OpenRouter does not run the IDE. It is the plumbing, not the editor. Pair it with one of the agents below.
Pricing:
- Pass-through pricing on every supported model.
- A small per-request fee on top, in single-digit percentages.
Platforms: Web dashboard plus an OpenAI-compatible API on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: OpenRouter
Bottom line: the right pick for anyone tired of juggling four API keys. One credit balance, every model.
2. Continue.dev, best IDE agent
Continue.dev is the open-source agent for VS Code and JetBrains. The config file lists every model the editor can talk to, including local Ollama or LM Studio endpoints, OpenRouter, and direct provider keys. Switching from Claude Sonnet to a local Qwen3-Coder is one keystroke.
Where it falls short: the autocomplete loop is not yet at Cursor parity. The agent’s tool-use chain shortens on lower-tier models, sometimes too aggressively.
Pricing:
- Free open-source extension.
- Pay the underlying provider’s token rate.
Platforms: VS Code, JetBrains, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Continue.dev
Bottom line: the cleanest path to a provider-agnostic agent inside VS Code, with no vendor lock.
3. LiteLLM, best self-hosted gateway
LiteLLM is the BYO version of OpenRouter. Run it on a NAS, point every editor at the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint, and route by model name to whichever provider you want behind the curtain. Budget rules per user, fallback chains, and observability are first-class.
Where it falls short: it is server software. You install it, you run it, you keep it patched. The web UI is functional, not pretty.
Pricing: free, with a paid SaaS variant for teams.
Platforms: Self-hosted on Windows, macOS, Linux, and inside Docker on a NAS.
Download: LiteLLM
Bottom line: the right pick for a home lab or a small team that wants one gateway with auditable spend.
4. Aider, best terminal-first pair programmer
Aider is the smallest workflow on the list. A terminal session, a Git repo, and a model. The agent reads files, proposes diffs, applies them, and commits with a message. Pointing it at a local Qwen3-Coder for repetitive refactors and at Claude for architecture conversations is the workflow XDA’s piece is describing.
Where it falls short: no GUI. Multi-file edits beyond a handful of files can wander on smaller models.
Pricing:
- Free open-source.
- Pay the underlying provider’s token rate.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aider
Bottom line: the most efficient terminal coding pair. Combine with LiteLLM for a fully local workflow.
5. Cline, best autonomous VS Code coder
Cline is the agent that turns VS Code into a working autonomous coder. The plan-then-act loop reads your repo, plans the change, asks for approval, then executes across files. It supports any OpenAI-compatible provider, which lines up with LiteLLM and OpenRouter cleanly.
Where it falls short: unsupervised agent runs can rack up tokens fast. The approval gate matters and turning it off is risky.
Pricing:
- Free open-source extension.
- Pay the underlying provider’s token rate.
Platforms: VS Code on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Cline
Bottom line: the best fit when the agent should drive multi-file edits with you reviewing each step.
6. Cursor, best all-in-one IDE
Cursor packages an editor, a model menu, and per-prompt routing into a single subscription. The integration with Anthropic, OpenAI, and a growing list of open-source models is tighter than any plugin can match. The trade-off is that you are inside Cursor, not VS Code, and the underlying spend is bundled into one fee.
Where it falls short: less hackable than the BYO stack above. Local models still feel like a second-class citizen.
Pricing:
- Free tier with limited fast requests.
- Pro tier around 20 USD per month.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Cursor
Bottom line: the right pick for anyone who wants one subscription, one IDE, and a clear path to ship faster without operating the plumbing.
7. Roo Code, best Cline-style fork
Roo Code is the most active Cline-style fork in the open-source AI agent space. It adds extra tools, broader provider menus, and a more permissive task-running flow. For teams that have outgrown Cline’s defaults but want to stay in VS Code, Roo Code is the obvious next step.
Where it falls short: the fast pace of changes occasionally introduces regressions. Worth pinning a known-good version for production work.
Pricing:
- Free open-source extension.
- Pay the underlying provider’s token rate.
Platforms: VS Code on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Roo Code
Bottom line: Cline with more knobs. The pick when the standard tool list is no longer enough.
How to pick the right one
- For one API across every provider with one credit balance: OpenRouter.
- For a provider-agnostic agent in your existing VS Code or JetBrains setup: Continue.dev.
- For a self-hosted gateway with budget rules: LiteLLM.
- For terminal pair programming with Git baked in: Aider.
- For autonomous multi-file edits with an approval gate: Cline.
- For an all-in-one IDE with one subscription: Cursor.
- For Cline with more tools and a faster release cycle: Roo Code.
The XDA-style “Claude for thinking, Qwen3-Coder for grinding, Gemma for grunt work” stack lands cleanly on LiteLLM as the gateway, Continue.dev or Aider as the front-end, and Ollama as the local provider. Total fixed cost for a year is closer to a single Cursor subscription than to four.
FAQ
Can I really save money by splitting coding work across multiple LLMs? Yes. Smaller, faster, or local models handle a surprising share of day-to-day coding for a fraction of the cost. Reserve the expensive frontier model for the hard cases.
What is the easiest setup for someone new to multi-model coding? OpenRouter for the API plus Continue.dev for the IDE. One key, every model, one config file.
Can I run a local model alongside paid providers in the same workflow? Yes. LiteLLM and Continue.dev both accept Ollama or LM Studio as an OpenAI-compatible endpoint and treat it like any other provider.
Is OpenRouter cheaper than the underlying providers? It is close. OpenRouter passes through provider pricing with a small markup. The savings come from being able to pick a cheaper model per prompt, not from arbitrage.
Which IDE plugin works on JetBrains? Continue.dev has a full JetBrains plugin in addition to its VS Code extension. Cline and Roo Code are VS Code only today.
