# Cline vs Factory

> Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines
> Factory: Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end

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

## Verdict

Cline and Factory are both Coding AI tools. Only Cline has a free plan or trial. Only Cline is available on VS Code Extension and JetBrains Plugin. Only Factory is available on Web.

### 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 Factory if

- You want a tool built for delegating backlog tickets, automated pull request review, test generation, incident investigation and long-running refactors or migrations.
- Covers the full delivery loop: implementation, review, testing, incident response and documentation.
- Model independence, with a router and bring-your-own-key support for custom models.

## Pricing

| | Cline | Factory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $0 | $20 |

## Features

| Feature | Cline | Factory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Droids | Not listed | Yes |
| Droid CLI | Not listed | Yes |
| Missions | Not listed | Yes |
| Automations | Not listed | Yes |
| Droid Computers | Not listed | Yes |
| Model Independence | Not listed | Yes |
| Human Approval Checkpoints | Not listed | Yes |
| Analytics | Not listed | Yes |
| Public API | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

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

## 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.

## Factory strengths

- Covers the full delivery loop: implementation, review, testing, incident response and documentation.
- Model independence, with a router and bring-your-own-key support for custom models.
- Available in desktop, CLI, web and several IDEs, so work is not tied to one editor.
- Enterprise controls including SSO, audit logging, zero data retention and on-premise options.
- Public API and OpenAPI specification for building on top of the platform.

## Factory limitations

- No free tier or trial is listed; the entry plan is $20 per month.
- Usage limits are given only as multiples of Pro, so actual capacity is hard to estimate.
- Business and Enterprise pricing is contact-sales only.
- Droid Computers are limited to Plus and higher plans.

## FAQ

**Is Cline better than Factory?**

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. Factory is built for delegating backlog tickets, automated pull request review, test generation, incident investigation and long-running refactors or migrations.

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

Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines. Factory: Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end.

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

Cline has a free plan or trial; Factory is paid only.

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

Cline starts at $0 and Factory starts at $20. See the pricing table above for what each tier includes.