Cline
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves

Last updated: 2026.08.12

# Code Generation # AI Model Development & Management # API & SDK # AI Agent

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What is Cline?

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside the editor and terminal you already use (built by Cline Bot Inc., Apache 2.0). You can use the same agent from a VS Code extension, JetBrains, a CLI, or an SDK, and with Plan/Act it separates planning from execution so you approve as it goes, autonomously handling multi-file edits and command execution. It supports every provider — Claude, GPT, Gemini, local models and more — and with bring your own key there is no vendor lock-in. The extension and CLI are open source and free for individuals (the only cost is usage-based model inference). Used by more than 8 million developers, with 66,000 GitHub stars.

Business problems it solves

【Engineer】

About "Cline"

What is Cline

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside the editor and terminal you already use. It is built by Cline Bot Inc. and licensed under Apache 2.0. You can use the same agent from multiple entry points: a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, a CLI (command line), and an SDK. It autonomously handles code comprehension, edits that span multiple files, and command execution, all while pausing for your approval along the way. Its biggest distinction is that it isn't tied to any specific AI model or service — you can run it with a model you choose yourself (bring your own API key). According to the company, it is used by more than 8 million developers, with 66,000 GitHub stars and over 250 contributors.

An agent you can use without switching editors

Rather than migrating to an "AI-first, dedicated editor" like Cursor or Windsurf, Cline's philosophy is to plug straight into the VS Code, JetBrains, and terminal you already use. Install the extension and you can call the agent without changing your existing development environment, settings, or workflow. The terminal version (CLI) can also be embedded into CI/CD, scripts, and cron.

Plan and Act — plan first, then execute

At the core of Cline is switching between Plan mode and Act mode. First, in Plan mode, it investigates the codebase, asks questions, and settles on an approach; once you agree, it moves to Act mode to carry it out. You can approve file edits and command execution one at a time, and switch to auto-approve (autopilot) when you want.

PLAN

Plan

Investigate the codebase
Ask about unknowns and propose an approach

APPROVE

Approve

Approve edits and commands one step at a time. Can switch to auto-approve

ACT

Act

Edit multiple files in coordination
Run in the terminal and react to the output

Edits come with diff views, checkpoints, and one-click undo, so you keep track of exactly where and what changed as things move forward.

How to use it

Install Cline

Search for "Cline" in the VS Code extension marketplace and install it. You can also choose the JetBrains version or the CLI for the terminal (npm i -g cline).
Configure a model and key

Set the API key for the AI provider you want to use (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and so on). You can also choose a local model (Ollama / LM Studio) or Cline's own provider.
Settle on an approach in Plan

Tell it what you want to do, and use Plan mode to investigate the codebase and align on an implementation approach.
Execute and approve in Act

Switch to Act mode and proceed by approving the edits and commands it proposes. With auto-approve, it can also run autonomously.
Teach it your own conventions with rules

Place a .clinerules file in your repository to have the agent learn your coding conventions, architecture, and deployment procedures.

Features

01Edit and run

Change code, run it, verify it.

Multi-file editing — linter-aware coordinated edits, with diffs, checkpoints, and undo
Run bash commands — execute in the terminal and react to the output in real time
Plan / Act — separate planning from execution, with step approval or auto-approve

02Models and extensibility

Any model you like, extended as far as you like.

Every model supported — Claude / GPT / Gemini / local / OpenAI-compatible, bring your own key or weights
MCP and plugins — add tools and hooks with the SDK, connect to DBs, APIs, and infrastructure via MCP servers
Rules and skills — reflect your conventions with `.clinerules`, and load rules when needed with skills

03Teams and automation

One agent, everywhere.

Multi-agent / scheduling — a coordinator delegates to specialized agents, run on a schedule with cron
Kanban — run many agents in parallel on a web task board (each card gets its own dedicated worktree)
Integrations — converse from Slack / Discord / Linear, run headless with GitHub Actions and more

Supported models and providers

Cline isn't locked to a specific AI provider. You can pick the model that fits the job (no vendor lock-in).

Provider	Models
Anthropic	Claude Opus / Sonnet / Haiku
OpenAI	GPT series
Google	Gemini series
OpenRouter	200+ models from various providers
AWS Bedrock / Azure and GCP Vertex	Various hosted models
Cerebras / Groq	High-speed inference models
Ollama / LM Studio	Local models (run on your own machine)

Beyond these, it also supports Vercel AI Gateway, DeepSeek, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints. The new ClinePass feature makes open-weight models easier to use.

Pricing

Cline's extension and CLI are open source and free for individual developers. There are no subscriptions or per-seat charges — the only cost is AI inference (model usage). You either bring your own API key or use Cline's provider at cost (as of August 2026).

Plan	Price	What's included
Open source	Free	VS Code extension, CLI, client-side architecture, MCP marketplace, BYOK/at-cost inference, community support
Enterprise	Contact us	Everything above, plus the JetBrains version, SSO, SLA, dedicated support, centralized billing, permission management (RBAC), audit logs, team management, and more

Inference costs follow the usage-based pricing of the model and provider you choose. Using a local model (such as Ollama) lets you run it without incurring model usage fees.

How it differs from other AI coding tools

What stands out about Cline is that it is "an open-source agent that doesn't make you switch editors and lets you freely choose your model." It suits developers who want to avoid migrating to a dedicated editor or depending on a single vendor.

	Cline	Cursor	GitHub Copilot
Form	Extension for your existing editor + CLI + SDK	AI-first dedicated editor (VS Code-based)	Editor extension (GitHub/Microsoft)
Models	All providers supported, BYO key/weights	In-house Composer + major models	Mainly OpenAI-based, provided in-house
License	Open source (Apache 2.0)	Proprietary	Proprietary

If you value the experience of a dedicated editor, Cursor and Windsurf are worth comparing; if GitHub integration matters most, look at GitHub Copilot; and for an agent that runs autonomously in the cloud, Devin. It also sits close to Claude Code, which uses Claude from the terminal.

The information on this page is based on what was published on the official website as of August 2026. Please check the official website for the latest specifications and pricing.

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