Claude Code vs Cline
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Paid
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE and the web: it reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and supports skills.
AI tool · Open source
An open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code that plans, edits files and runs commands with your approval.
Our verdict
Claude Code is a paid agent you run in your terminal, IDE or browser, built to handle multi-step work across a whole repository, including running commands and tests. Cline is a free, open-source agent that lives inside VS Code, lets you plug in your own model provider, and asks you to approve each action. Choose based on whether you want a terminal-first paid tool or a transparent, bring-your-own-model extension.
Pick Claude Code if you work mostly in the terminal and want a paid agent that handles multi-step tasks across a repository and supports custom skills.
Pick Cline if you use VS Code, want an open-source agent with step-by-step approval, and want to choose your own model provider.
| Key difference | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid tool | Open source; you pay your own API token costs |
| Where it runs | CLI, macOS, Windows, Linux, and web | VS Code and JetBrains |
| Best at | Multi-step agentic work across a repository | Transparent, step-by-step agent work in VS Code |
| Control | Skills, hooks, subagents, and MCP integrations | Plan and act modes with approval for each action |
| Model choice | Built around Anthropic's own tool | Works with any model provider |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Claude Code if you need…
- Agentic coding tasks across a repository
- Terminal-centric developers
- Custom agent skills
Choose Cline if you need…
- Bring-your-own-model agent in VS Code
- Transparent step-by-step agent work
Side-by-side
| Claude Code | Cline | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coding · Coding agents | Coding · Coding agents |
| Price | Paid | Open source |
| Platforms | CLI, macOS, Windows, Linux, Web | VS Code, JetBrains |
| Works with | VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub | VS Code, JetBrains |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | Not yet |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE and the web: it reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and supports skills. Capable at multi-step work in real repositories. It can run commands, so configure permissions carefully and review its diffs.
Cline
An open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code that plans, edits files and runs commands with your approval. Very flexible and transparent. Token costs on your own API key can climb fast.
Best for
Claude Code
- Agentic coding tasks across a repository
- Terminal-centric developers
- Custom agent skills
Cline
- Bring-your-own-model agent in VS Code
- Transparent step-by-step agent work
Strengths
Claude Code
- Terminal and IDE agent
- Runs commands and tests
- Skills, hooks and subagents
- MCP integrations
Cline
- Plan and act modes
- Approval for each action
- Any model provider
- MCP tools
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Claude Code or Cline?
Claude Code is a paid agent you run in your terminal, IDE or browser, built to handle multi-step work across a whole repository, including running commands and tests. Cline is a free, open-source agent that lives inside VS Code, lets you plug in your own model provider, and asks you to approve each action. Choose based on whether you want a terminal-first paid tool or a transparent, bring-your-own-model extension. Pick Claude Code if you work mostly in the terminal and want a paid agent that handles multi-step tasks across a repository and supports custom skills. Pick Cline if you use VS Code, want an open-source agent with step-by-step approval, and want to choose your own model provider.
What is the difference between Claude Code and Cline?
Claude Code: Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE and the web: it reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and supports skills. Cline: An open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code that plans, edits files and runs commands with your approval. Claude Code suits agentic coding tasks across a repository, while Cline suits bring-your-own-model agent in vs code.
Are Claude Code and Cline free?
Claude Code: Paid. Cline: Open source.
What are other alternatives to Claude Code and Cline?
Other options people compare them with include Gemini CLI, OpenAI Codex, Amp, Aider, Devin.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.