# Cline vs Trae

> Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines
> Trae: ByteDance's AI IDE and agent workspace that plans, codes and ships software tasks

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

## Verdict

Cline and Trae 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 VS Code Extension, JetBrains Plugin and CLI and offers an API. Only Trae is available on Web, iOS and Android.

### 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 Trae if

- You want a tool built for delegating end-to-end coding tasks to an agent, building MVPs, and moving work between desktop, web and mobile.
- Permanent free tier with 5,000 autocompletions per month.
- Covers macOS, Windows and Linux desktops plus web, iOS and Android.

## Pricing

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

## Features

| Feature | Cline | Trae |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| IDE Mode | Not listed | Yes |
| SOLO / TRAE Work Agent | Not listed | Yes |
| Cloud Tasks | Not listed | Yes |
| Mobile Companion | Not listed | Yes |
| Large Context Windows | Not listed | Yes |
| Multi-Model Access | Not listed | Yes |
| Token-Based Usage | Not listed | Yes |
| Web Version | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Cline | Trae |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| 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.

## Trae strengths

- Permanent free tier with 5,000 autocompletions per month.
- Covers macOS, Windows and Linux desktops plus web, iOS and Android.
- Up to 1M-token context in Max mode and up to 20 concurrent cloud tasks on Ultra.
- Agent workflow extends beyond coding to documents and analysis.
- SOC 2 certification is shown on the vendor's site footer.

## Trae limitations

- Free tier is limited to Auto mode and does not allow choosing models.
- Token-based usage makes monthly cost harder to predict than a flat request count.
- Pricing has changed several times in 2026 and older guides quote outdated figures.
- Changelog page shows "No update record yet", and the product is operated by ByteDance, which some organisations may restrict.

## FAQ

**Is Cline better than Trae?**

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. Trae is built for delegating end-to-end coding tasks to an agent, building MVPs, and moving work between desktop, web and mobile.

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

Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines. Trae: ByteDance's AI IDE and agent workspace that plans, codes and ships software tasks.

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

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

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

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