Cline

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and desktop that plans, edits files and runs commands with approval.

Cline is an open-source coding agent that runs in VS Code and JetBrains editors, in the terminal, as a desktop app, or embedded in other products through its SDK. In Plan mode it works out a strategy with the developer, and in Act mode it makes coordinated multi-file edits with diffs, checkpoints and one-click undo, and runs terminal commands while reacting to their output. Every step can be approved, or auto-approve can be turned on. It works with Claude, GPT, Gemini, local models through Ollama or LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, with the user's own keys or Cline's inference at cost. Teams can add .clinerules for coding standards, MCP servers and plugins, coordinator agents with specialists, scheduled runs and connections to Slack, Linear and CI, and Cline says more than 11 million developers use it.

Cline at a glance

Best for: Software engineer
Runs on: VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, macOS, Windows, Linux, open source
Pricing: Free and open source; pay only for model use; Enterprise plan for teams
Released: July 2024
Category: AI coding tool
Website: cline.bot

Key features

Plan and Act modes with step approvals
Multi-file edits with diffs, checkpoints and undo
Terminal commands and long-running processes
Any model, including local Ollama and LM Studio
MCP servers, plugins and .clinerules
Multi-agent teams and scheduled runs
CLI for scripts and CI pipelines

Use it for

Refactor a large codebase across many files
Run recurring code checks in CI with the CLI
Ask questions about an unfamiliar codebase

Companions

Tools that articles about Cline recommend using with it, each with its job.

GitHub MCP Server — Issues, pull requests and repository actions from Cline.
Context7 — Version-specific documentation for accurate code.
Brave Search — Real-time web search through the Brave Search MCP server.
Memory MCP server — A knowledge graph that persists across sessions.
Sequential Thinking MCP server — Structured, multi-step problem solving.

Companion to

Tools whose articles name Cline as a companion, each with its job for them.

DeepSeek — Cline: Coding agent
LM Studio — Cline: Coding agent
Ollama — Cline: Coding agent

Alternatives to Cline

OpenClaude — Connects one terminal interface to over 200 different AI models.
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
Kilo Code — Open-source agent with any model and no markup on inference
Command Code — Repairs open model tool calls and learns developer patterns automatically.
Clai — Query twelve models and local Ollama directly from your terminal using unix pipes.
Zed — Very fast native editor with parallel agents and multiplayer
jevgrep — Reduces coding agent costs by providing targeted, relevant repository context.
NOVA CLI v1.0 — Works directly inside the terminal with 160+ AI models and persistent project context.
Dropstone CLI — Runs directly in your shell with automated testing and bug fixes.
CLI Manager — Manage multiple AI coding agents and watch visible sessions from a single interface.
Freebuff — Access multiple coding AI models for free without subscriptions.
Google Agents CLI — Turns coding agents into experts at building and deploying Google Cloud agents.

All Cline alternatives