Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code and JetBrains
Last reviewed 2026-06-18
Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs as a sidebar inside VS Code and JetBrains (with support for other editors and a CLI). It reads your codebase, creates and edits files, runs terminal commands, and can drive a browser, asking for approval at each step. Its Plan/Act model lets you align on a strategy in Plan mode before switching to Act to execute, and you can approve every step or enable auto-approve for hands-off runs. Cline is Apache-2.0 licensed and uses a bring-your-own-key model: you connect API keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, AWS Bedrock, or your own endpoint, and Cline charges no markup on inference. It reports 5M+ installs and is used at large enterprises, with a free open-source tier plus paid Teams and Enterprise plans for governance.
What it can do
Plan then act on coding tasks
SupervisedPlan mode aligns on a strategy before Act mode executes it; the human can approve each step or enable auto-approve for autonomous runs.
sourceEdit files and run terminal commands
SupervisedReads the codebase, makes coordinated multi-file edits with diffs and checkpoints, and runs terminal commands, reacting to their output.
sourceDrive a real browser
SupervisedControls a browser via Puppeteer to test changes and inspect running apps as part of a task.
sourceUse MCP tools and bring-your-own-key models
SupervisedConsumes MCP servers and works with any major model provider via your own API keys, with no inference markup.
source
Strengths
- +Open source (Apache-2.0) with no inference markup; bring your own model keys
- +Plan/Act mode plus per-step approval makes autonomy controllable
- +MCP support, browser control, and adoption reported at large enterprises
Limitations
- −Auto-approve can run consequential commands; oversight still recommended
- −Costs scale with the model you bring; heavy agentic runs can get expensive
- −Editor-extension model means it depends on your IDE and local environment
Overview
Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code, JetBrains, and other editors (plus a preview CLI). It is Apache-2.0 licensed and reports 5M+ installs and a large GitHub following.
What it does
Cline reads your codebase, edits files, runs terminal commands, and can drive a real browser via Puppeteer. Its Plan/Act model lets you agree on an approach in Plan mode and then execute in Act mode, approving each step or enabling auto-approve for hands-off runs. It provides diffs, checkpoints, and one-click undo on every step.
Integrations & setup
Cline consumes MCP servers and works with any major model provider through bring-your-own-key, taking no markup on inference. It runs as an editor extension, so it depends on your IDE and local environment. Cline reports deployments at Fortune 500 companies.
Pricing
The core agent is free and open source. Paid Teams (reported around $20/mo) and Enterprise plans add governance and management; model costs flow directly to your providers.
Best for / not for
Best for developers and teams who want an open, controllable in-IDE agent with no vendor lock-in. Less suited to those wanting a single managed bill or who are uncomfortable supervising an agent that edits files and runs commands.
Alternatives
Continue and Aider are open-source coding agents; Cursor and Windsurf are AI-native IDEs; GitHub Copilot is the incumbent assistant.
What people are saying
Loved for
- +code
- +project
- +local
Common gripes
- −code
- −playwright
Recent mentions
“Come see the stunning Mendenhall and Dawes Glaciers, along with whales, sea lions, and some of Alaska’s most spectacular scenery!”
“To all my NC State Connections, My time here at NC State Poole College of Management will be coming to an end on June 26th. I have been here at Poole for about five years now and have learned so much. The community here”
“Normally, when the agent is done with its thing, I submit a "secret PR". It's a PR I don't show to anyone. I just submit it because the web ui is usually the cleanest way to inspect the diff. So then I make a bunch of no”
“ponytail — a skill that gets AI coding agents to write less code, not more New open-source project from Dietrich Gebert. ponytail embeds a veteran senior developer persona into AI coding agents — "long ponytail, oval”
“Excited to share that I have graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. At the end of March, I wrapped up my senior project with Cal Poly Engineering.”
FAQ
Is Cline free?+
The core agent is free and open source under Apache-2.0. Paid Teams and Enterprise plans add governance; with bring-your-own-key you pay model providers directly with no Cline markup.
How autonomous is Cline?+
It performs multi-step work but asks for approval at each step by default, so it is a supervised agent. Auto-approve enables more autonomous runs at the user's discretion.
Sources
- Cline (official site) · accessed 2026-06-18
- cline/cline (GitHub) · accessed 2026-06-18
- Cline raises $32M (official blog) · accessed 2026-06-18
Last reviewed 2026-06-18