# Cline

> Open-source autonomous coding agent for your editor, terminal, and CI pipelines

- Category: [Coding AI](https://finderatlas.com/categories/coding-ai)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Website: https://cline.bot
- Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, VS Code Extension, JetBrains Plugin, CLI, API
- API: available
- Made by: Cline Bot Inc., founded 2024
- Last updated: 2026-10-19
- FinderAtlas page: https://finderatlas.com/tools/cline

## Overview

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside the developer's editor, in the terminal, or embedded in other products through an SDK. It reads a codebase, proposes multi-file edits as diffs, runs terminal commands, uses a browser, and asks for approval before each action. The project is released under the Apache 2.0 license and is developed by Cline Bot Inc.

## Key features

- Plan and Act Modes
- Multi-File Editing with Checkpoints
- Terminal and Browser Use
- Bring Your Own Model
- MCP Servers and Marketplace
- Rules Files
- Multi-Agent Teams and Scheduling
- Headless and Chat Access
- SDK

## Pricing

- **Open Source** ($0): Free for individual developers; pay only for model inference
- **ClinePass** ($9.99/month): Optional flat subscription for open coding models via the Cline provider
- **Enterprise** (Custom): Organizations needing security and administration controls

## Best for

- Developers who want an open-source agent with a choice of model providers, human approval at each step, and extensibility through MCP servers

## Who uses it

- Software Engineers
- Full-Stack Developers
- Engineering Teams
- Enterprise Development Organizations

## 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.

## 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.

## Not recommended for

- Non-programmers looking for a no-code app builder, or users who want a fixed monthly price covering all model usage

## Integrations

- VS Code
- JetBrains
- Cursor
- Windsurf
- Slack
- Discord
- Telegram
- Linear
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab
- Ollama
- LM Studio
- OpenRouter
- AWS Bedrock
- Anthropic
- OpenAI
- Google Gemini

## FinderAtlas editorial scores (out of 10)

- Ease of Use: 7.8/10
- Feature Depth: 8.8/10
- Value for Money: 8.6/10
- Performance & Speed: 8/10
- Documentation & Support: 8/10

## Alternatives

- [Jules](https://finderatlas.com/tools/google-jules): Google's coding agent that fixes bugs and opens pull requests, closing 31 December 2026 ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-google-jules))
- [Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)](https://finderatlas.com/tools/windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-windsurf))
- [OpenAI Codex](https://finderatlas.com/tools/openai-codex): OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex))
- [Devin](https://finderatlas.com/tools/devin): Autonomous cloud software engineer that takes tickets through to tested pull requests ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-devin))
- [Factory](https://finderatlas.com/tools/factory): Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-factory))
- [Cursor](https://finderatlas.com/tools/cursor): AI coding agent and VS Code-based editor for multi-file edits and cloud agents ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-cursor))
- [Amp](https://finderatlas.com/tools/amp): Coding agent that runs in cloud orbs and keeps working after you close your laptop ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/amp-vs-cline))
- [Google Antigravity](https://finderatlas.com/tools/google-antigravity): Google's agent-first platform for building software with parallel AI coding agents ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/cline-vs-google-antigravity))

## Recent updates

- 2026-10-01 (v0.0.48): Fixes GPT-6 models on OpenAI and Azure endpoints and restores Claude Sonnet 5.5 as the Cline provider default
- 2026-10-01 (v4.1.25): Adds gradual rollout of Cline Cloud sessions that run tasks in hosted sandboxes on a chosen GitHub repo and branch

## FAQ

**Is Cline free?**

The software is open source under Apache 2.0 and has no subscription or seat fees. You pay for AI inference, either at usage rates through the Cline provider or directly to a model vendor with your own API key.

**Which models can Cline use?**

Cline lists Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, AWS Bedrock, Azure, GCP Vertex, Ollama, DeepSeek, xAI, Mistral, Cerebras and OpenRouter, plus local models through Ollama and LM Studio and any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

**Does Cline act without my approval?**

By default, every action requires explicit approval, according to the docs. Users can enable auto-approve in Act mode.

**Which editors does Cline support?**

A VS Code extension, a desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, and a CLI are available. Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity and Zed are also listed, and the JetBrains plugin is described as early access on the homepage and as an Enterprise feature on the pricing page.

**What is ClinePass?**

ClinePass is an optional $9.99 per month subscription that gives access to a curated set of open coding models with roughly 2-5x the usage of standard API rates, subject to 5-hour, weekly and monthly limits.