Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent living in your VS Code editor
Cline · Code Assistance
Launched Jul 2024 (as Claude Dev); renamed Cline 2024
Quick Answer
Cline is open-source autonomous coding agent living in your vs code editor, made by Cline. It offers a free tier with paid upgrades. Key uses: Autonomous feature development, Multi-file refactoring, Terminal command automation.
Last updated:
Users
40K+ GitHub stars; 2M+ VS Code installs
What is Cline?
Cline (formerly Claude Dev) is an open-source AI coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension. It can read and edit files, execute terminal commands, use the browser, and complete multi-step engineering tasks autonomously with human-in-the-loop approval for every action. It supports any model via API (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, Ollama) and pioneered the 'Plan/Act' agent workflow now widely copied.
What's new in Cline in 2026?
Plan/Act mode for structured autonomy; MCP Marketplace for one-click tool installs; checkpoints to snapshot/restore workspace state; 40K+ GitHub stars; 2M+ installs on VS Code Marketplace; Cline enterprise tier for teams
How much does Cline cost?
Open-Source
$0
- Full extension free
- Bring your own API key
- All models supported
- MCP support
- Apache 2.0 license
Cline (hosted credits)
Usage-based
- Managed model access
- No separate API setup
- Pay-per-token
What can you do with Cline?
- Autonomous feature development
- Multi-file refactoring
- Terminal command automation
- Bug fixing
- Codebase exploration
Pros
- Fully open-source (Apache 2.0)
- Bring your own API key / model
- Approve every file edit and command
- MCP server support
- Works with local models via Ollama
Cons
- API token costs can add up
- Requires VS Code
- Less polished than Cursor UI
- Model quality depends on chosen provider
What are the best alternatives to Cline?
Compare Cline Head-to-Head
Frequently Asked Questions about Cline
How much does Cline cost?
Cline pricing: Open-Source at $0; Cline (hosted credits) at Usage-based.
Is Cline free?
Cline offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans unlock additional features.
What is Cline used for?
Cline is used for: Autonomous feature development, Multi-file refactoring, Terminal command automation, Bug fixing, Codebase exploration.
What are the best alternatives to Cline?
Top alternatives to Cline include Cursor, Aider, Claude Code, Windsurf, Cursor.
What platforms does Cline support?
Cline is available on: VS Code Extension, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code forks.
Details
Vendor
Cline
Category
Code Assistance
Pricing Model
Launched
Jul 2024 (as Claude Dev); renamed Cline 2024
Website
cline.botUnderlying Models
Platforms
Integrations
Ideal For
- Developers wanting open-source agents
- Teams avoiding vendor lock-in
- Privacy-conscious devs using local models
- MCP power users