An AI agent that works inside your project: it reads, writes and runs the code for you.
Coding & Dev Tools
Cline
A free, open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal that works with any model.
4.0our rating
FreeOpen sourceFrom $9.99/moWorks with Claude Code
Quick take
- A free, open-source coding agent that lives in VS Code, Cursor, the terminal, a desktop app or the cloud, with more than 70,000 GitHub stars.
- It works with almost any model: Claude, GPT, Gemini, open models or a model on your own computer. Cline itself costs nothing. You pay for the model.
- ClinePass at $9.99 a month covers open models like GLM, Kimi, DeepSeek and Qwen, so you can code daily without an API bill.
- Plan mode agrees an approach first, then Act mode makes the changes, with checkpoints so you can undo any step.
- Costs on top models through your own API key can add up fast, so set a spending limit with your provider.
What is Cline?
Cline is a free, open-source AI coding agent. You describe what you want, and it reads your project, writes and edits files, and runs commands in the terminal, asking before each step unless you tell it not to. It started as a VS Code extension and now also runs in Cursor, Windsurf and JetBrains, in the terminal, as a desktop app and in the cloud, where it works on a GitHub repo while your laptop is closed.
The big difference from Claude Code is choice. Cline works with Claude, GPT, Gemini, cheaper open models like DeepSeek and Kimi, or models running on your own computer. You either plug in your own API key, buy credits from Cline at cost, or pay $9.99 a month for ClinePass, which bundles a set of open models with generous limits. Plan mode lets it agree an approach with you before it touches anything.
The catch is that the bill depends on the model. Cline itself costs nothing, but a long session on a top Claude or GPT model through an API key can cost more than a Claude Pro plan. It's also built for people comfortable reading code changes, and its JetBrains extension is only on the Enterprise plan.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Developers
- Technical founders
- Agencies
- Engineering teams
Developers and technical founders who want a capable coding agent inside their editor and want to choose, and pay for, their own AI model.
Key features
Plan and Act modes
Talk through the approach in Plan mode, then switch to Act and it edits files and runs commands, asking for approval unless you turn on auto-approve.
Any model
Use Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, AWS Bedrock or local models through Ollama and LM Studio.
Checkpoints
Every change is saved as a step you can compare and roll back with one click.
MCP Marketplace
Add MCP servers (connectors to other apps) from a built-in marketplace, so the agent can reach your database, browser or project tools.
Cline Cloud
Connect GitHub, describe a task in your browser or on your phone, and get back a branch or pull request. Up to 10 sessions at once.
Rules for your project
Add a .clinerules file to a project to tell it your coding standards and how you like things done.
How we rate it
4.0 / 5
Our rating
From using the tool ourselves. The average of the five scores.
- Ease of use
- 3.5
- Features
- 4.5
- Output quality
- 4.0
- Value for money
- 4.5
- Speed & reliability
- 3.5
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Cline pricing
- Our pick
Open Source
Free
Anyone with their own API key or happy to buy credits.
- VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app and cloud agents
- Bring your own key or pay-as-you-go credits at cost
- MCP Marketplace
- Community support
ClinePass
$9.99/mo
People who want cheap daily coding with open models.
- Open models from Z.ai, Moonshot, DeepSeek, MiniMax, MiMo and Qwen
- Higher limits than standard API rates
- No separate provider accounts or keys
Enterprise
Custom
Companies rolling it out to a team.
- JetBrains extension
- SSO, role-based access and audit logs
- Limit which AI providers staff can use
- Central billing and an SLA
Which plan should you pick?
Install the free version and connect a model you already pay for. If you want to code most days without watching an API bill, add ClinePass at $9.99 a month for the open models, and keep a Claude or GPT key for the hard jobs. Enterprise only matters once a company needs JetBrains or central controls.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 3 November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Cline can slot into your week.
- 1
Build features in your editor
Describe the change, let Cline plan it, approve the plan and watch it edit the files and run the tests in VS Code.
- 2
Code on a budget
Use ClinePass or a cheap model for routine edits and switch to Claude only when a task gets tricky.
- 3
Fix a bug from your phone
Start a Cline Cloud session on a GitHub repo, describe the bug, and review the pull request it sends back later.
- 4
Keep client code private
Run a local model through Ollama so nothing leaves your computer.
How it fits your tech stack
It sits inside VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf or JetBrains rather than replacing them, and works next to Claude Code as a second agent for cheaper models. MCP servers connect it to GitHub, databases and browsers.
Connects to
- VS Code
- Cursor
- JetBrains
- GitHub
- OpenRouter
- Ollama
- AWS Bedrock
- MCP servers
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source, with no seat fees
- Works with almost any model, including local ones
- Plan mode and checkpoints make changes easy to review and undo
- Runs in the editor, the terminal, a desktop app and the cloud
- ClinePass is a cheap way to code daily with open models
Cons
- Top models through your own API key can get expensive in long sessions
- Made for people who read code changes, so less friendly for non-coders
- The JetBrains extension needs the Enterprise plan
- So many options and settings take time to learn
Cline alternatives
The closest alternatives to Cline in the library, best rated first.
Claude Code
4.4
Best for building a whole feature, start to finish
Compare with Cline
Zed
4.3
Best for Running Claude Code inside an editor
Compare with Cline
OpenAI Codex
4.2
Best for background tasks in the cloud
Compare with Cline
Warp
4.1
Best for A nicer home for Claude Code
Compare with Cline
Why it made the list
It's one of the most popular open-source coding agents, with more than 70,000 GitHub stars, and the easiest way to get Claude Code-style help inside VS Code with any model.
Cline FAQ
How much does Cline cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $9.99/mo. Prices checked 3 November 2026 against Cline's pricing page.
Is Cline free?
Yes, Cline has a free option. Install the free version and connect a model you already pay for. If you want to code most days without watching an API bill, add ClinePass at $9.99 a month for the open models, and keep a Claude or GPT key for the hard jobs. Enterprise only matters once a company needs JetBrains or central controls.
What is Cline best for?
Cline is best for AI coding inside VS Code with any model, cheap coding with open models through ClinePass and teams that want to control which AI providers are allowed. Developers and technical founders who want a capable coding agent inside their editor and want to choose, and pay for, their own AI model.
What are the best Cline alternatives?
The closest alternatives are Claude Code, Zed, OpenAI Codex and Warp. Claude Code is best for building a whole feature, start to finish.
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