# Cline vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

> Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines
> Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place

- Cline profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/cline
- Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/windsurf
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-windsurf
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Cline and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) are both Coding AI tools. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Cline is available on VS Code Extension and CLI and offers an API.

### 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 Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) if

- You want a tool built for managing multiple coding agents.
- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits.
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions.

## Pricing

| | Cline | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Cline | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| Agent Command Center | Not listed | Yes |
| Spaces | Not listed | Yes |
| Full IDE | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Local | Not listed | Yes |
| Agent Client Protocol support | Not listed | Yes |
| Tab and Supercomplete | Not listed | Yes |
| Fast Context | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Cloud handoff | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP and extensions | Not listed | Yes |
| SWE-2 model | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Cline | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| VS Code Extension | Yes | No |
| JetBrains Plugin | Yes | Yes |
| 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.

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) strengths

- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions
- One view for managing local, cloud and third-party agents
- Supports ACP agents such as Codex, Claude Agent and OpenCode
- Available on macOS, Windows and Linux

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) limitations

- Paid plans have daily and weekly usage quotas, and extra usage is billed at API pricing
- Pro rose to $20 per month, and Max costs $200 per month
- The rename and the move to devin.ai changed menus, docs and branding, and some names such as the JetBrains plugin still say Windsurf
- Cascade was retired in favour of Devin Local, so Cascade workflows had to migrate

## FAQ

**Is Cline better than Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

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. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is built for managing multiple coding agents.

**What are the key feature differences between Cline and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

Cline: Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place.

**Does Cline or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Cline is freemium and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Cline or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

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