Cline
The open-source AI agent with native JetBrains support
Model Support
Key Features
Plan/Act Modes
Strategic planning before execution, or autonomous mode for faster iteration
Autonomous File Editing
Create, edit, delete files across project without manual intervention
Terminal Command Execution
Run scripts, build, test directly from the agent
Browser Testing
Launch and interact with rendered apps for visual verification
Checkpoint & Version Control
Git integration with version history for safe experimentation
MCP Server Integration
Connect to external tools and services via Model Context Protocol
Real-Time Cost Tracking
Transparent reporting of LLM API spend
VS Code Native Integration
Deep integration with VS Code APIs for file editing, terminal access, and debugging
Ratings
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- True open-source with no commercial lock-in
- Deep VS Code integration with terminal, browser, and file system access
- Transparent development and community-driven
- Flexible model selection
- Plan/Act modes for strategic development
- Growing rapidly with strong developer community
- MCP integration future-proof
Limitations
- Younger project means less production battle-testing
- Smaller ecosystem compared to established tools
- Community support rather than commercial support
- BYOP requires LLM account setup
Best For
- Teams prioritizing open-source and avoiding vendor lock-in
- VS Code users seeking a powerful AI agent
- Developers wanting complete transparency
- Cost-conscious organizations able to manage LLM APIs
Pricing Overview
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My Take
Cline is what happens when the open-source community decides to build their own AI coding tool—and actually pulls it off.
Cline is what happens when the open-source community decides to build their own AI coding tool—and actually pulls it off.
The BYOK (bring your own key) model is both Cline’s strength and weakness. Strength: I can use Claude, GPT-4, even local models through Ollama. Weakness: you need to manage API keys and monitor costs yourself. The real-time cost tracking helps, but it’s more work than Copilot’s flat $10/month.
Who should use this: Developers who hate vendor lock-in, VS Code users who want powerful agentic capabilities, and anyone who wants to see exactly what their AI tool is doing (it’s open source—read the code).
Overview
Cline is the rising star of open-source AI coding agents. What sets it apart is its powerful agentic capabilities—it can create and edit files, run terminal commands, and even interact with a browser to test your apps.
Agentic Capabilities
Cline goes beyond simple code completion with powerful agentic features:
- Create and edit files directly with your approval
- Execute terminal commands and monitor output
- Launch browsers to test web applications
- Read images to convert mockups to code
- Use MCP servers to extend capabilities
Plan/Act Modes
Cline gives you control over how autonomous the AI should be:
Plan Mode: The agent proposes changes and waits for approval. Best for:
- Critical codebases
- Learning new patterns
- Complex refactoring
Act Mode: The agent executes changes autonomously. Best for:
- Rapid prototyping
- Boilerplate generation
- Trusted, well-tested operations
MCP Integration
Cline supports the Model Context Protocol, allowing you to:
- Connect to external documentation sources
- Integrate with custom tools and APIs
- Extend capabilities without modifying core code
Who Should Use Cline
Cline is ideal for:
- Open-source advocates who want transparency
- VS Code users who want an autonomous coding agent
- Teams wanting to avoid vendor lock-in
- Developers comfortable managing their own LLM APIs
Compare Cline With Others
Side-by-side breakdowns to help you decide.
All comparisons →