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Cline

An open-source AI coding agent that runs as a VS Code and JetBrains extension, able to read and edit files, run terminal commands, and use a browser.

AI coding assistants

Updated

Visit Cline (the official site)

Main use cases

  1. Run an autonomous coding agent
  2. Refactor legacy code
  3. Chat with the codebase

Ranked in the order the vendor's pages put them.

Alternatives to Cline

  1. CursorSubstitute
    shares 2 of 3shares 2 of 3: Run an autonomous coding agent, Chat with the codebase

    Cline states multi-file edits, codebase-aware chat, IDE plugin and 4 more; Cursor's pages do not say. Cursor states standalone editor and pull request review; Cline's pages do not say. Cline lists windows, editor-extension and api; Cursor's pages do not say.

  2. GitHub CopilotPartial overlap
    shares 1 of 3shares 1 of 3: Run an autonomous coding agent

    Cline states multi-file edits, choice of underlying model, local model support and 5 more; GitHub Copilot's pages do not say. GitHub Copilot states inline autocomplete and pull request review; Cline's pages do not say. Cline lists windows and api; GitHub Copilot's pages do not say.

  3. Amazon Q DeveloperSubstitute
    shares 2 of 3shares 2 of 3: Run an autonomous coding agent, Refactor legacy code

    Cline states choice of underlying model, local model support, bring your own API key and 3 more; Amazon Q Developer's pages do not say. Amazon Q Developer states inline autocomplete, pull request review and test generation; Cline's pages do not say. Cline lists macos, windows and api; Amazon Q Developer's pages do not say.

Cline next to its top 3 alternatives

Each cell is what the vendor's own pages state. Unknown means the pages do not say, which is not the same as no. Where a no rests on a figure, the cell shows the figure.

FeatureClineCursorGitHub CopilotAmazon Q Developer
Inline autocompleteUnknownUnknownYes13Yes16
Multi-file editsYes1UnknownUnknownYes17
Agentic task executionYes1Yes11Yes13Yes16
Codebase-aware chatYes1UnknownYes13Yes17
Command-line toolYes2Yes11Yes14Yes16
IDE pluginYes2UnknownYes13Yes16
Standalone editorUnknownYes11UnknownUnknown
Pull request reviewUnknownYes11Yes13Yes17
Test generationUnknownUnknownUnknownYes17
Choice of underlying modelYes1Yes11UnknownUnknown
Local model supportYes1UnknownUnknownUnknown
Bring your own API keyYes3UnknownUnknownUnknown
Diff review before applyingYes1Yes12UnknownYes16
Team-shared rules or configYes1UnknownUnknownUnknown
Self-hosted optionYes3UnknownUnknownUnknown
Background or cloud agentsYes1Yes11Yes15Unknown
Team chat integrationYes1Yes11UnknownYes16

Feature list with quotes

  • Multi-file edits: Yes1

    Coordinated multi-file changes with linter-aware fixes, diffs, checkpoints, and one-click undo on every step.

  • Agentic task execution: Yes1

    Toggle Plan mode to align on a strategy, then Act to execute. Approve every step, or flip auto-approve for autopilot.

  • Codebase-aware chat: Yes1

    See how a codebase is structured and ask Cline questions about files, dependencies, and behavior.

  • Command-line tool: Yes2

    Run Cline in your terminal with interactive chat or fully headless automation for CI/CD and scripting.

  • IDE plugin: Yes2

    VS Code Extension AI coding assistant in your editor. Create files, run commands, browse the web, and use tools with human-in-the-loop approval.

  • Choice of underlying model: Yes1

    Every model, your choice Claude, GPT, Gemini, local Ollama / LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

  • Local model support: Yes1

    Claude, GPT, Gemini, local Ollama / LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Bring your own key or your own weights.

  • Bring your own API key: Yes3

    You can bring your own API keys from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others.

  • Diff review before applying: Yes1

    Coordinated multi-file changes with linter-aware fixes, diffs, checkpoints, and one-click undo on every step.

  • Team-shared rules or config: Yes1

    Ship .clinerules with your repo to teach the agent your coding standards, architecture, and deployment conventions.

  • Self-hosted option: Yes3

    This includes JetBrains extension, centralized billing, team management dashboard, role-based access control, SSO, OIDC, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, VPC deployments

  • Background or cloud agents: Yes1

    Coordinator agents delegate to specialists with their own tools and context. Run them on cron for recurring automations.

  • Team chat integration: Yes1

    Chat with the agent from Slack, Discord, Telegram, or Linear.

Not stated on the vendor's pages: Inline autocomplete, Standalone editor, Pull request review, Test generation.

Sources

  1. https://cline.bot/, checked 20 Sep 2026
  2. https://docs.cline.bot/cline-overview, checked 20 Sep 2026
  3. https://cline.bot/pricing, checked 20 Sep 2026
  4. https://github.com/cline/cline, checked 2 Oct 2026
  5. https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.41, checked 2 Oct 2026
  6. https://rdap.nominet.uk/bot/domain/cline.bot, checked 2 Oct 2026
  7. https://api.npmjs.org/downloads/point/last-week/@cline/sdk, checked 2 Oct 2026
  8. https://hn.algolia.com/api/v1/search?query=%22cline.bot%22&restrictSearchableAttributes=url&tags=story&hitsPerPage=1000, checked 2 Oct 2026
  9. https://status.cline.bot/, checked 2 Oct 2026
  10. https://cline.bot/.well-known/security.txt, checked 2 Oct 2026
  11. https://cursor.com/, checked 20 Sep 2026
  12. https://cursor.com/docs, checked 20 Sep 2026
  13. https://github.com/features/copilot, checked 20 Sep 2026
  14. https://github.com/features/copilot/plans, checked 20 Sep 2026
  15. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot, checked 20 Sep 2026
  16. https://aws.amazon.com/q/developer/, checked 20 Sep 2026
  17. https://aws.amazon.com/q/developer/features/, checked 20 Sep 2026

Updated