Cline

Cline is an open-source (Apache 2.0) coding agent that started as a VS Code extension and now also ships a CLI, a desktop app and hosted cloud sessions. Its main draw is that it works with almost any model provider, including local models, so you can bring your own API keys and pay providers directly.

The latest extension release is 4.1.26 from October 26, 2026.

Who it’s for

Developers who want an agent inside the editor they already use without being tied to one vendor’s subscription or models. It’s a natural fit if you already pay for an API, want to run models locally, or need to keep code off third-party servers.

What stands out

• Any model, your keys. Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Vertex, Groq, DeepSeek and more, plus local models. There are no seat fees on the open-source version.
• Plan and Act modes. Cline plans first, then acts, asking for approval on each step unless you turn on auto-approve.
• Reviewable diffs and checkpoints. Multi-file edits appear as diffs, and checkpoints let you undo a step.
• Headless CLI. JSON output makes it usable in CI pipelines and scripts.
• Cloud agents. Run a task against a GitHub repo in a sandbox and get back a branch and pull request, even after you close the tab.
• Project rules and skills. .clinerules files guide it per project, and it now also picks up skills from .claude/skills.

Drawbacks and things to watch

• You manage the costs. Without a subscription cap, a long agent run on an expensive model can cost more than you expect, so set budgets with your provider.
• Defaults changed in 4.1.26. Default models changed for most providers, so pin a model if you rely on one.
• Cloud sessions are limited. They don’t load your rules, skills or MCP servers, pause after 15 minutes idle, and can access one repo per session.
• ClinePass limits aren’t published. It has five-hour, weekly and monthly limits, but Cline doesn’t say what they are.

Privacy and security

Cline says code is processed locally and isn’t uploaded, indexed or used for training. Telemetry is on by default and excludes your code and prompts unless you use Cline’s own providers; you can switch it off in settings. Cline doesn’t hold its own SOC 2 certification and says compliance comes from your chosen model provider. Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM, audit logs and VPC deployment.

Getting started

Search for “Cline” in the VS Code extensions panel. For the terminal, install Node.js 20 or later, then run npm install -g cline and cline auth.

Plans and prices

Cline FAQ

Is Cline free?

Yes. The extension and CLI are free and open source (Apache 2.0) with no seat fees. You pay only for model usage, either with your own API key or through Cline's provider at cost. ClinePass is an optional $9.99-a-month plan for curated open-weight models.

Can Cline run local models?

Yes. Cline supports local models through Ollama, LM Studio and Atomic Chat, alongside cloud providers such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock and Vertex.

Does Cline see or train on my code?

Cline says your code is processed locally and isn't uploaded, indexed or used for training. Usage telemetry is on by default but excludes code and prompts, except for requests sent through the Cline and ClinePass providers. You can turn it off in settings.

Which editors does Cline work in?

VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium, Antigravity and JetBrains IDEs, plus its own CLI and a desktop app for macOS and Windows (Windows in beta).

Does Cline support MCP?

Yes. Cline has an MCP Marketplace in the extension, and the CLI manages servers with the cline mcp command.

Latest changes

Sources

• Cline pricing
• ClinePass docs
• Cline on GitHub
• Cline releases
• Cline docs: installing Cline
• Cline docs: cloud agents
• Cline docs: telemetry
• Cline docs: running models locally

Facts last checked November 14, 2026.