Cline

Name: Cline
Author: AgentRadar

Verified

Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code

Coding Agents Open Source

8.6 /10

Visit Website GitHub

Released

2024

Country

United States

API

N/A

Self-Host

Yes

GitHub Stars

50,000

Monthly Active Users

600K+

Funding

Seed

Last Updated

2026-06

About Cline

Cline is an open-source autonomous coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension. Unlike autocomplete-style assistants, it works as a genuine agent: given a task, it plans steps, edits multiple files, runs terminal commands, and can even drive a headless browser to test changes. It is model-agnostic — you bring your own API key for Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, or local models via Ollama — which makes it a favorite for developers who want choice and cost control. Cline pioneered features like checkpoints (rewind to a previous state) and MCP support that the rest of the ecosystem has since adopted. With hundreds of thousands of installs, it is the most widely deployed open-source coding agent in the VS Code ecosystem.

Verdict

The open-source agent layer for VS Code. If you want autonomous coding behavior with full model choice, local-model support, and no subscription, Cline is the canonical pick. Less polished than Cursor and less autonomous than Claude Code out of the box, but unmatched on flexibility and cost control for developers who like to tinker.

Features

Autonomous multi-file editing in VS Code

Terminal command execution

Headless browser control for testing changes

Model Context Protocol (MCP) support

Checkpoints to rewind to previous states

Bring-your-own-key for Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, local models

Detailed Ratings

Ease of Use

8.5

Value for Money

9.0

Features

8.5

Support

8.0

Performance

8.5

Overall Rating

8.6 /10

Pros & Cons

Pros

Fully open-source with an Apache-style license — no vendor lock-in
Model-agnostic BYOK means you control cost and capability
Genuine agent behavior: plans, executes, and verifies with browser testing
Local-model support via Ollama or LM Studio for fully private workflows
Pioneered checkpoints and MCP, now adopted across the ecosystem

Cons

VS Code only — no terminal, JetBrains, or web variant
BYOK means you manage your own API billing and rate limits
Quality of results depends heavily on the model you bring

Use Cases

Autonomous coding in VS Code with model choicePrivate, air-gapped development using local modelsCost-controlled agent workflows via BYOK pricingTasks that need browser verification of UI changes

Who Is It For?

Developers who want a free, model-agnostic autonomous agent inside VS Code with browser and local-model support

#vscode-extension#open-source#autonomous#byok#browser-use

Pricing Plans

Open Source

Free

Full extension, no feature gates
Bring your own model API key
Local model support via Ollama or LM Studio

Managed

Contact

Cline-managed API key and billing
Team admin controls
Priority support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cline really free?

Yes, the extension is free and open-source. You pay only for the model API you bring — your own Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or local model. There is also a managed plan if you prefer not to manage API keys.

How is Cline different from Cursor?

Cursor is a standalone IDE (VS Code fork) with built-in AI and subscription pricing. Cline is a free VS Code extension that brings its own agent to the editor you already use, with model choice and BYOK pricing. Many developers run Cline inside VS Code alongside other extensions.

What is browser use in Cline?

Cline can drive a headless browser to verify UI changes, run end-to-end tests, or scrape documentation. This is what lets it close the loop on web development tasks — edit, run, test, fix.