Cline

by Cline (Open Source)

Free

Open-source AI coding agent for VS Code. Uses Claude, GPT, or other LLMs to autonomously write code, create files, run terminal commands, and complete complex multi-step coding tasks. BYO API key model.

4.5
out of 5.0 · 0+ reviews
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Category Coding
Platform macOSWindowsLinux
Last Updated March 22, 2026
Website cline.bot

Overview

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code that can autonomously write code, create and edit files, run terminal commands, and complete complex multi-step programming tasks. Unlike simple code completion tools, Cline acts as an agentic assistant that can plan and execute entire features. It supports multiple LLM providers (Claude, GPT, Gemini, etc.) with a bring-your-own-API-key model.

The tool is fully open-source under an active community, making it one of the most capable free agentic coding experiences available. Cline can interact with web browsers for testing and debugging, manage git operations, install packages, and run tests — handling the full development workflow autonomously with human oversight.

Pricing

Extension
Free (Open Source)
  • Fully open-source with no subscription required
AI Costs
Pay-as-you-go
  • Use your own API keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or OpenRouter
  • Typical costs range from $5–$200/month depending on usage intensity
Teams
$20 /user/mo
  • Team collaboration features
  • First 10 seats free
Enterprise
Custom pricing
  • Advanced security, compliance, and collaboration features

Pros & Cons

Pros

Completely free and open source with no vendor lock-in or subscription fees
Full control over which AI models you use and their associated costs
Most capable agentic coding experience available with autonomous multi-step execution
Active community with rapid development pace and frequent updates
Your code stays local with privacy-friendly architecture and no telemetry

Cons

API costs can be high with heavy usage, especially with Claude or GPT-4 models
Requires setting up API keys — less turnkey than GitHub Copilot or Cursor
Quality of output depends heavily on which LLM you choose and configure
Can be unpredictable with complex tasks — requires human oversight and review
VS Code only — no support for other IDEs like JetBrains or Vim

Reviews

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4.7 out of 5.0
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