# Cline vs Conductor

> Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines
> Conductor: Run a team of coding agents in parallel, each in its own isolated workspace

- Cline profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/cline
- Conductor profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/conductor
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-conductor
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Cline and Conductor are both Coding AI tools. Cline scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.2 vs 8.0 out of 10), led by feature depth and value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Cline is available on Windows, Linux and VS Code Extension.

### Choose Cline if

- You want a tool built for developers who want an open-source agent with a choice of model providers, human approval at each step, and extensibility through MCP servers.
- Open source under Apache 2.0, with a large public community of 250+ contributors.
- No subscription needed: pay only for inference, or bring your own API key.

### Choose Conductor if

- You want a tool built for running several agent tasks in parallel on one repository, reviewing agent diffs side by side, moving agent work between local and cloud workspaces.
- The Free plan covers local parallel agents with no Conductor fee.
- Supports four agent CLIs (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode) rather than a single vendor.

## Pricing

| | Cline | Conductor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Cline | Conductor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plan and Act Modes | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-File Editing with Checkpoints | Yes | Not listed |
| Terminal and Browser Use | Yes | Not listed |
| Bring Your Own Model | Yes | Not listed |
| MCP Servers and Marketplace | Yes | Not listed |
| Rules Files | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-Agent Teams and Scheduling | Yes | Not listed |
| Headless and Chat Access | Yes | Not listed |
| SDK | Yes | Not listed |
| Parallel Agents | Not listed | Yes |
| Multi-Agent Support | Not listed | Yes |
| Diff Viewer and Review | Not listed | Yes |
| Git Worktree Isolation | Not listed | Yes |
| Cloud Workspaces | Not listed | Yes |
| Multiplayer Collaboration | Not listed | Yes |
| Conductor API | Not listed | Yes |
| iOS App and Remote Control | Not listed | Yes |
| Checks | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Cline | Conductor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | No |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | No |
| VS Code Extension | Yes | No |
| JetBrains Plugin | Yes | No |
| CLI | Yes | No |

## Cline strengths

- Open source under Apache 2.0, with a large public community of 250+ contributors.
- No subscription needed: pay only for inference, or bring your own API key.
- Works with many model providers, including local models through Ollama and LM Studio.
- Approval at every step, plus checkpoints and undo, keeps changes reviewable.
- Available in VS Code, a desktop app, CLI, SDK and CI, so it fits several workflows.

## Cline limitations

- Costs depend on token usage and are not capped on the free plan, so heavy agentic sessions can be hard to predict.
- JetBrains support is listed as early access and as an Enterprise feature.
- Documentation does not state specific ClinePass token or request allowances.

## Conductor strengths

- The Free plan covers local parallel agents with no Conductor fee.
- Supports four agent CLIs (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode) rather than a single vendor.
- Git worktree isolation per task keeps concurrent agent changes separate.
- SOC 2 Type II attestation and SAML SSO/SCIM on Enterprise suit security reviews.
- Frequent releases: the changelog shows versions 0.89 to 0.91 between late September and mid-October 2026.

## Conductor limitations

- Local use is Mac-only; no Windows or Linux desktop app is listed.
- Pro at $50 per month and Teams at $60 per user per month are priced above many AI coding subscriptions, and agent usage is billed separately.
- The pricing page does not state how many cloud hours are included, and usage-based cloud pricing is planned.
- Pro Multiplayer organizations are capped at 5 Pro users.

## FAQ

**Is Cline better than Conductor?**

It depends on your workflow. Cline is built for developers who want an open-source agent with a choice of model providers, human approval at each step, and extensibility through MCP servers. Conductor is built for running several agent tasks in parallel on one repository, reviewing agent diffs side by side, moving agent work between local and cloud workspaces.

**What are the key feature differences between Cline and Conductor?**

Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines. Conductor: Run a team of coding agents in parallel, each in its own isolated workspace.

**Does Cline or Conductor have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Cline is freemium and Conductor is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Cline or Conductor?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.