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Cline

Cline · Open-Source AI Coding Agent for IDE & Terminal

Open Cline

Cline is a free, open-source autonomous coding agent that runs inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and the terminal. It edits code across your project, runs commands, and uses tools through a Plan/Act workflow with your own LLM API key. Best for developers who want an agentic, model-agnostic assistant they fully control.

PricingFreemium
Setupeasy
Runs onDesktop
APIYes
Open sourceYes
DocsYes
CategoryCoding
Open SourceCodingVS CodeJetBrainsAgentic CodingCLIMCP

Best for

Developers and teams who want an open-source, model-agnostic AI coding agent they fully control, in their existing IDE or terminal

Not ideal for

Non-technical users, or anyone who wants a zero-setup cloud assistant with a bundled model and no API-key management

Who it's for

Developers who want an open-source agentic coding assistant in their IDE or terminal, using their own model keys

Capabilities

  • Plan mode and Act mode — explore an approach, then execute it with optional per-step approval or full autonomy
  • Edits code across multiple files while monitoring for errors
  • Runs terminal commands with real-time output, plus browser automation
  • Model-agnostic, bring-your-own-key: Claude, GPT, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Vertex, Cerebras/Groq, Ollama, LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible API
  • MCP server support and project-specific rules via .clinerules files
  • Runs in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, a CLI for CI/CD, and an SDK for custom integrations

Limitations

  • Bring-your-own-model — you supply and pay for the LLM API; there is no bundled model
  • Agent edits and command execution need review; autonomous runs can make unintended changes
  • Capability and cost depend heavily on the model you connect
  • Requires comfort with developer tooling (an IDE or terminal and API keys) — not for non-technical users

Use cases

  • Implementing a feature or refactor across multiple files from a single instruction
  • Running and fixing failing tests or build errors inside the editor
  • Automating repository tasks headlessly in CI/CD via the CLI
  • Extending the agent with MCP servers for internal tools, docs, or APIs
  • Using local models via Ollama or LM Studio for private, no-API-cost coding

Cline pricing

Open Source (BYOK)

Free

  • Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license
  • Bring your own LLM API key — pay only usage-based inference, no subscription
  • Full features in VS Code, JetBrains, and the CLI

Hosted credits

Pay-as-you-go

  • Optional inference credits billed through Cline (no separate provider key required)
  • Same open-source agent, billed per usage

Enterprise

Custom

  • Team collaboration and centralized billing
  • RBAC, SSO, and audit logs
  • VPC deployment and SLA
  • JetBrains extension

Free tier limits: The open-source extension is free for individuals; with bring-your-own-key you pay only your model provider's usage (or $0 with local models).

Note: Cline is free and open source (Apache 2.0) for individuals. Optional paths: pay-as-you-go hosted inference credits billed through Cline, and a custom-priced Enterprise tier (SSO, RBAC, audit logs, VPC, SLA, JetBrains). TODO_VERIFY exact credit rates and Enterprise pricing on cline.bot.

Integrations & fit

VS CodeJetBrains IDEsAnthropicOpenAIGoogle GeminiOpenRouterAWS BedrockOllamaLM StudioMCP serversGit
Good fit forSolo / individual, Startup / small team, Enterprise
Pricing modelFreemium· Free tier available
See pricing on Cline →

Alternatives to consider

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Anysphere

VS Code developers who want multi-file AI editing, autonomous background agents, and model flexibility — not a plugin layered on top of an existing editor

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GitHub Copilot

GitHub (Microsoft)

Developers on GitHub who want AI autocomplete and PR summaries embedded in their existing IDE

Paid

About Cline

Cline (Apache 2.0) installs as a VS Code or JetBrains extension and also runs as a CLI for headless and CI use. It splits work into a Plan mode for deciding an approach and an Act mode for executing it, and you can require approval on each step or let it run autonomously. Cline edits files across the project while watching for errors, executes terminal commands with live output, automates a browser, and extends itself through MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers and project-specific .clinerules. Because it is bring-your-own-model, you connect Claude, GPT, Gemini, OpenRouter, AWS Bedrock, Vertex, local models via Ollama or LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, so capability and cost depend on the model you choose. The open-source extension is free for individuals (bring your own key, pay only usage-based inference), with an optional pay-as-you-go hosted-credits path billed through Cline and a custom-priced Enterprise tier that adds team collaboration, centralized billing, SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and VPC deployment. It suits developers and teams who want an open, controllable agent rather than a closed cloud assistant.

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