PlanToCode vsAider
Plan-first terminal vs agent-first CLI
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PlanToCode | Aider |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Approach | Generate & review plans before execution | Direct agent execution |
| File Discovery | AI-powered dependency mapping | Git-based file tracking |
| Session Persistence | SQLite with hot reload | Chat history only |
| Multi-Model Support | Claude, GPT-4, multiple providers | OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, DeepSeek, OpenRouter (many providers), and local models (Ollama/OpenAI‑compatible) |
| Execution Safety | Plan review before changes | Direct file modifications |
Key Pain Points Solved
Problem: Aider makes changes directly without review
Solution: Generate plans first, review before execution
Problem: No architectural context for file selection
Solution: AI-powered dependency mapping finds related files
Problem: Lost context between sessions
Solution: Persistent sessions with full context restoration
Comparison Workflow
- 1. Compare planning vs direct execution
- 2. Show file discovery advantages
- 3. Demonstrate session persistence
- 4. Highlight safety features
Why Choose PlanToCode?
PlanToCode takes a planning-first approach to AI-assisted development. Instead of generating code immediately, we help you create detailed implementation plans that you can review, edit, and approve before execution.
The Planning-First Workflow
- 1. Describe your goal - Use natural language or voice input
- 2. AI generates implementation plan - File-by-file breakdown with exact paths
- 3. Review and refine - Edit the plan, catch issues early
- 4. Execute with confidence - Hand off to your preferred tool (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.)
When to Use Each Tool
Use PlanToCode When:
- • Working in large/complex codebases
- • Need to review changes before execution
- • Want to prevent duplicate files and wrong paths
- • Require approval workflows for teams
- • Working across multiple AI models
Use Aider When:
- • Need immediate code generation
- • Working on smaller projects
- • Comfortable with direct execution
- • Prefer integrated development environment
Try Plan-First Development
Experience the planning-first approach to AI-assisted development
Last updated: November 2025. This comparison is based on publicly available information and hands-on testing. Both tools serve different purposes and can complement each other in a comprehensive development workflow.