+Pros
- Human-in-the-loop tool approvals1 · 100%
- IDE, CLI, and parallel-task options1 · 100%
- Open-source and inspectable1 · 100%
Cline
byCline (OSS)listed Jun 3, 2026
Coding AgentsFreeEasy setupClaude Sonnet, GPT-4o, Gemini (user-configurable)
Cline is a VS Code extension that turns your editor into an autonomous coding agent, able to create/edit files, execute terminal commands, and use a browser — all with human-in-the-loop approval checkpoints. It has risen rapidly in the developer community thanks to its transparent action log and ability to use any API-accessible model. Cline is particularly strong for full-stack feature development where you want to supervise each step.
Freshness note: AI-agent behavior can change after model releases, client updates, pricing changes, or new default settings. Use the aggregate score as a historical baseline and check recent reviews plus model/runtime context before deciding.
- Pricing
- Free and open-source; you pay for your own LLM API keys
- Model backbone
- Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, Gemini (user-configurable)
- Setup complexity
- Easy setup
- Last reviewed
- Aug 1, 2026
- Recent signal
- 1 in 90 days
What reviewers consistently say.
Top pros and cons surfaced from 1 review. Counts reflect how many loaded reviews cite each point.
−Cons
- Advanced workflows require configuration1 · 100%
- API usage needs monitoring1 · 100%
1 reviews.
Sorted by recency, with helpful votes used as a tie-breaker.
RE
Ruling Editorial — Engineeringfresh
6-12 months usage·supervised full-stack implementation from an IDE or terminal·Aug 1, 2026
8.6/10
Best open-source choice for supervised IDE agent work
Ruling editorial benchmark: Cline gives developers an open-source agent across the IDE and terminal, with file editing, command execution, browser use, and human approval around tool actions. Its CLI, JetBrains support, and parallel Kanban workflows extend it beyond a single VS Code chat panel. The tradeoff is operational: model choice, API cost, permissions, and parallel worktrees require more deliberate setup than a bundled commercial IDE.
+ ProsOpen-source and inspectable · Human-in-the-loop tool approvals · IDE, CLI, and parallel-task options
− ConsAPI usage needs monitoring · Advanced workflows require configuration
23 helpfulReviewed Aug 1, 2026
Similar agents.
Coding Agents agents you might also consider, sorted by aggregate score.
Claude Code
Anthropic · Usage Based
Claude Code is Anthropic's CLI-native agentic coding tool, running directly in the terminal with deep filesystem and shell access. It reads the entire codebase context and can autonomously edit files, run tests, and commit code — making it a favourite among power users who prefer a terminal-first workflow. Claude Code is widely regarded as the most capable agent for complex, multi-file refactors.
9.6/10 · 1 reviewsCompare
Compare cline with claude-code
Cursor
Anysphere · Freemium
Cursor is the most popular AI-powered IDE, built as a fork of VS Code with deep model integration across autocomplete, chat, and inline edits. It supports multiple frontier models and has become the reference point for all coding agent comparisons. Its CMD+K and Composer features enable both single-file edits and full multi-file agentic workflows.
9.4/10 · 1 reviewsCompare
Compare cline with cursor
Codex CLI
OpenAI · Usage Based
Codex CLI is OpenAI's open-source terminal-based coding agent, positioned as direct competition to Claude Code and Aider. Running in your local terminal, it can read your codebase, write and edit files, and execute shell commands with configurable approval modes. As OpenAI's answer to Anthropic's Claude Code, it's generated significant interest among developers already in the OpenAI ecosystem.
9.2/10 · 1 reviewsCompare
Compare cline with codex-cli