Cline review

Cline is the open source option on this list. The extension is free for individual developers, and you pay only for model inference, either with your own API keys or through the Cline provider. It installs in VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf, and Cline also ships a CLI, a native desktop app and an SDK. The agent works in two modes: Plan, where it proposes a strategy for you to approve, and Act, where it edits files, runs terminal commands and reacts to output, with checkpoints and one-click undo on each step. It supports Claude, GPT, Gemini, local models through Ollama or LM Studio and any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, and teams can ship .clinerules files to encode their standards. The trade-offs are cost predictability, since spend tracks token usage, the lack of inline tab completion, and team features such as SSO and the JetBrains extension sitting in the Enterprise tier.

Who it is for

Developers who want an open source agent in their current editor and prefer to pay model providers directly.

Price

Free open source extension; pay only for AI inference, Enterprise custom.

Cline is free for individual developers. Pay only for AI inference on a usage basis - no subscriptions, no vendor lock-in.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• Extensions for VS Code, JetBrains, Cursor and Windsurf, plus a CLI and desktop app
• Plan mode to agree a strategy, then Act mode to execute with step approval
• Any model: Claude, GPT, Gemini, local Ollama or LM Studio, or OpenAI-compatible endpoints
• Multi-file edits with diffs, checkpoints and one-click undo
• Repository rules through .clinerules and an MCP marketplace

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No subscription or seat fee for individuals
• Strength: Works with local models for private or offline work
• Strength: Open source, so no lock-in to one provider
• Weakness: Costs depend entirely on model usage, which is harder to predict
• Weakness: No built-in inline tab completion
• Weakness: The pricing page lists the JetBrains extension, SSO and team dashboards under Enterprise

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, open source extension free for individuals
• Paid plans: Usage-based inference; Enterprise custom
• Developers: 11M+ cited by Cline

Where it ranks

Cline is No. 9 in our Best AI Coding Assistants verdict.