Cline — A free, open-source AI coding agent (Apache 2.0) for VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal that lets you bring your own API key for any model provider.
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Best for: developers who want a free, open-source coding agent that works across multiple IDEs with any AI model provider
Pricing: Free and open-source; pay AI providers directly for usage via your own API key. Enterprise tier custom-priced.
- Cline is free and open-source under the Apache 2.0 license, with no subscription fee for the tool itself.
- Users pay AI providers directly for model usage by bringing their own API key (Claude, GPT, Gemini, or local Ollama).
- Cline's GitHub repository has roughly 66,600 stars.
- Cline is available as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin (early access), a CLI tool, and an embeddable SDK.
- Cline reports 8M+ installs and use at companies including Samsung, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Limitations: No bundled AI usage; costs scale unpredictably with each provider's own token pricing.; JetBrains support is still in early access.; Enterprise features require a custom sales conversation rather than published self-service pricing.
Top alternatives: GitHub, Cursor, Windsurf, Continue, Aider — full list
What is Cline?
Cline is an open-source AI coding agent published under the Apache 2.0 license, distributed as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin (early access), a CLI tool for terminal use, and an SDK for embedding into other products. Unlike vendor-locked coding assistants, Cline is model-agnostic: it works with Claude, GPT, Gemini, and locally-run models via Ollama, and users supply their own API key from whichever provider they choose rather than paying Cline directly for AI usage. It supports multi-file coordinated edits with automatic linter fixes, checkpoints for reverting to earlier states, a Plan-and-Act mode that separates strategy review from execution, and project-specific rules defined in .clinerules files. Cline also integrates with Slack, Linear, Discord, and CI/CD pipelines, and supports multi-agent coordination for specialized workflows.
Cline is a free, open-source AI coding agent, licensed under Apache 2.0, available as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin (early access), CLI tool, and embeddable SDK. There's no subscription fee: Cline itself costs nothing, and users pay only for the AI model usage they consume by bringing their own API keys from providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or a local Ollama instance. An Enterprise tier offers custom pricing for organizations needing SSO, SLAs, centralized billing, and a team management dashboard. Cline differentiates on openness and model flexibility: rather than locking users into one vendor's model the way many closed-source coding agents do, it lets developers plug in any supported provider and switch freely, with 8M+ installs and adoption at companies including Samsung, Amazon, and Microsoft. It supports multi-file coordinated edits with automatic linter fixes, checkpoints for reverting changes, a Plan-and-Act mode for reviewing strategy before execution, and custom project rules via .clinerules files.
Standout feature: Fully open-source (Apache 2.0) with 8M+ installs, letting users plug in any model provider — Claude, GPT, Gemini, or a local Ollama model — instead of being locked to one vendor's model and pricing.
Biggest weakness: No bundled AI usage is included with the free tool — every request draws down the user's own API key balance, so total cost scales unpredictably with usage and there's no flat monthly price to budget against.
Pros
- Fully open-source under Apache 2.0, with no subscription fee for the tool itself.
- Model-agnostic: works with Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local Ollama models via a bring-your-own-key setup.
- Available as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, CLI, and embeddable SDK.
- Plan-and-Act mode separates strategy review from execution, and checkpoints allow reverting changes.
Cons
- No bundled AI usage included; costs scale directly and unpredictably with each provider's own token pricing.
- JetBrains support is still in early access, behind the more mature VS Code extension.
- Requires managing and securing your own API keys across one or more model providers.
- Enterprise features (SSO, SLA, centralized billing) require a custom sales conversation rather than transparent published pricing.
Cline pricing
Free · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free for individual developers; no subscription fee. Pay providers directly for AI model usage by bringing your own API key. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom pricing; adds JetBrains support, SSO, SLA, centralized billing, and a team management dashboard. |
What reviewers say
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