# Cline vs Jules

> Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines
> Jules: Google's coding agent that fixes bugs and opens pull requests, closing 31 December 2026

- Cline profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/cline
- Jules profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/google-jules
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-google-jules
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Cline and Jules are both Coding AI tools. Cline scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.2 vs 7.6 out of 10), led by feature depth and value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Cline is available on Windows, macOS and Linux. Only Jules 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 Jules if

- You want a tool built for finishing or exporting existing work before the shutdown, previously, delegating well-scoped GitHub tasks such as bug fixes, dependency bumps and test writing.
- Works asynchronously, so several tasks can run in the background (3 concurrent on the base plan, up to 60 on Ultra).
- Plan and diff review steps keep the developer in control before a pull request is opened.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | Cline | Jules |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Asynchronous Cloud Tasks | Not listed | Yes |
| Plan Before Code | Not listed | Yes |
| GitHub Pull Requests | Not listed | Yes |
| GitHub Issue Labels | Not listed | Yes |
| Jules Tools CLI | Not listed | Yes |
| REST API (alpha) | Not listed | Yes |
| CI Fixer | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP Server Support | Not listed | Yes |
| Scheduled and Suggested Tasks | Not listed | Yes |
| AGENTS.md Support | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Cline | Jules |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| 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 | 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.

## Jules strengths

- Works asynchronously, so several tasks can run in the background (3 concurrent on the base plan, up to 60 on Ultra).
- Plan and diff review steps keep the developer in control before a pull request is opened.
- Offered a free base plan with 15 tasks per day.
- Available through web, CLI and a documented REST API.
- Frequent updates, with MCP support, CI Fixer and scheduled tasks added in early 2026.

## Jules limitations

- Google is shutting Jules down: read-only after 11 November 2026 and closed on 31 December 2026.
- Documentation describes GitHub only; no stated support for GitLab or Bitbucket.
- Paid plans worked only with individual @gmail.com accounts.
- The REST API is alpha and may change.

## FAQ

**Is Cline better than Jules?**

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. Jules is built for finishing or exporting existing work before the shutdown, previously, delegating well-scoped GitHub tasks such as bug fixes, dependency bumps and test writing.

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

Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines. Jules: Google's coding agent that fixes bugs and opens pull requests, closing 31 December 2026.

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

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

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

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