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Cline

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Open-source AI coding agent for VS Code

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Tracked since2026
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The Bottom Line

Best for

VS Code users who want agent autonomy without switching editors or paying Cursor's subscription. Strong fit for developers who already have Claude or GPT API keys and want transparent, open-source agentic workflows.

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

AI coding in terminal

Biggest con

API costs

TL;DR - Cline

  • Free open-source autonomous AI coding agent for VS Code (pay only for AI API)
  • Creates/edits files, runs terminal commands, and browses with user permission
  • Plan and Act workflow with snapshot checkpoints for Claude, GPT, or local models
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: VS Code users who want agent autonomy without switching editors or paying Cursor's subscription.

What Users Say About Cline

Cline is the open-source 'Cursor agent in an extension'. Users praise that it runs inside the VS Code they already use, is fully transparent (Apache 2.0), and uses their own API key so model costs go direct to Anthropic/OpenAI. The complaints are about UI polish (agent output lives in a side panel, less integrated than Cursor's inline view) and that heavy daily use burns $20-100/mo in model credits.

Highlights

  • Open-source (Apache 2.0) — fully transparent and free of subscription fees
  • Runs inside existing VS Code install — no editor migration
  • Plan and Act mode: review the agent's plan before it touches code
  • Step-by-step approval gates on every file write and command
  • Works with any model — Claude, GPT, Gemini, local models via OpenRouter

Limitations

  • You pay for model API calls — heavy daily use costs $20-100/mo in Claude/GPT credits
  • UI less polished than Cursor — agent output renders in a panel, not inline diffs
  • No first-party model — depends on pricing/availability of providers
  • Multi-file operations slower than Cursor on large codebases
  • Kilo Code fork now offers multi-agent orchestration that Cline lacks

Best for: VS Code users who want agent autonomy without switching editors or paying Cursor's subscription. Strong fit for developers who already have Claude or GPT API keys and want transparent, open-source agentic workflows.

Editorial synthesis from industry coverage, product docs, and early user reports

Editorial policy

What is Cline?

Editorial review
Cline is an open-source autonomous AI coding agent that runs directly in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. Unlike simple code completion tools, Cline can create and edit files, execute terminal commands, browse the web, and perform complex multi-step development tasks while asking permission at each step to keep developers in control. The tool supports multiple AI providers including Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, and local models through Ollama or LM Studio. This flexibility lets developers choose their preferred AI backend or use local models for cost-effective development. Cline maintains context awareness throughout coding sessions and can understand entire project structures. Cline is free and open-source for individual developers, with users only paying for AI inference costs from their chosen provider. The project has gained significant popularity as an alternative to proprietary coding assistants, offering similar capabilities without vendor lock-in.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourcemarketplace.visualstudio.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • AI coding in terminal
  • Claude integration
  • Good for CLI tasks
  • Open source
  • Active development

Cons

  • API costs
  • Learning curve
  • Terminal only
  • Newer tool
  • Documentation improving

Key Features

AI coding assistantVS Code extensionMulti-step tasksFile editingTerminal commandsContext awareness

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jun 17, 2026

Open Source

Free

  • VS Code and CLI
  • Apache 2.0 license
  • Bring your own API key or use Cline provider
  • MCP marketplace access
  • Community support

Teams

$20 / user/mo

  • First 10 seats free forever
  • VS Code + JetBrains support
  • Team dashboard and analytics
  • RBAC and centralized billing
  • Managed provider options

Enterprise

Custom

  • SSO/SAML
  • SLA guarantees
  • Dedicated support
  • Custom deployment options
Calculate your costView full pricing

How Cline's pricing compares

At $20/mo, Cline is the most affordable of its 4 direct competitors.

Cline
$20
Claude Code
$20
Cursor
$20
CodeRabbit
$24
IntelliJ IDEA
$49.92

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jun 17, 2026.

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Best Cline Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

IntelliJ IDEA logo
IntelliJ IDEAFreemium

The capable & ergonomic Java IDE

4.7
Claude Code logo
Claude CodeFreemium

Agentic coding tool that lives in your terminal

4.7
Cursor logo
CursorFreemium

AI pair programmer for intelligent code completion and generation

4.6
CodeRabbit logo
CodeRabbitFreemium

Automated code review that catches bugs and security issues

4.8
See all AI coding tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Cline vs IntelliJ IDEAHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsCline vs Claude CodeHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsCline vs CursorHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Cline FAQ

How does Cline assist with complex development tasks?

Cline functions as an autonomous AI coding agent that can create and edit files, execute terminal commands, and browse the web. It performs complex multi-step development tasks by asking for permission at each step, ensuring developers maintain control over the process.

Which AI providers can Cline integrate with?

Cline supports multiple AI providers, including Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, and Google Gemini. It also allows the use of local models through Ollama or LM Studio, offering flexibility in AI backend selection.

What kind of user would benefit most from Cline?

Cline is best suited for individual developers who want an open-source AI coding agent that runs directly within their VS Code or JetBrains IDEs. It is ideal for those who prefer to maintain control over AI actions and manage their own AI inference costs.

How is Cline priced?

Cline is free and open-source for individual developers, meaning users only pay for the AI inference costs directly to their chosen AI provider. This model allows for cost-effective development by leveraging local models or selecting preferred AI backends.

How does Cline compare to Cursor for coding assistance?

Unlike Cursor, Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs directly in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, offering similar capabilities without vendor lock-in. Cline also provides flexibility by supporting various AI providers and local models, with users paying only for AI inference costs.

What are the main trade-offs when using Cline?

The main trade-offs when using Cline include potential API costs from chosen AI providers and a learning curve associated with its autonomous agent capabilities. Additionally, it is a newer tool with documentation that is still improving.

Can Cline understand an entire project's structure?

Yes, Cline is designed to maintain context awareness throughout coding sessions and can understand entire project structures. This capability allows it to perform more relevant and effective multi-step development tasks.

Source: marketplace.visualstudio.com

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