Open-source AI coding agent
Cline
Cline is an open-source coding agent that runs as an extension in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and VS Code forks such as Cursor, and as a CLI. It works in a two-phase Plan/Act loop: it proposes a plan, waits for approval, then makes the change. It is bring-your-own-key, so the tool is free and the cost is the model API you point it at. Every file write, terminal command, and browser action needs your approval before it runs, which suits teams that want a human check on each step.
Best for
- Developers who want approval-gated, human-in-the-loop edits
- Teams that need to choose or self-host the model
- Former Roo Code users: Roo recommended Cline when it shut down
- Developers who switch between VS Code and JetBrains
Not best for
- Developers who want fully autonomous, hands-off runs
- Users who prefer a hosted subscription to managing API keys
- Teams that want a single vendor for model and support
Quick facts
- Vendor
- Cline
- Category
- Open-source AI coding agent
- Platforms
- VS Code, JetBrains, Cursor, Terminal, Zed, Neovim
- Integrations
- Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, AWS Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, OpenRouter, MCP, Ollama
- Pricing
- Free and open source for individual developers. You pay the model provider directly for inference, so cost depends entirely on the model and how much you use it. Enterprise adds SSO, an SLA, and dedicated support at custom pricing.
In Depth: Cline
Key features
- Plan/Act two-phase workflow with per-step approval
- VS Code and JetBrains extensions, a CLI, and ACP mode for Zed and Neovim
- Model-agnostic with your own API keys, including local models
- MCP servers and custom tools
- Browser automation and terminal command execution
- Kanban board for running several agents in parallel
Pricing and access
Free and open source for individual developers. You pay the model provider directly for inference, so cost depends entirely on the model and how much you use it. Enterprise adds SSO, an SLA, and dedicated support at custom pricing.
Plans and limits change often. Confirm current pricing on cline.bot before you commit.
