Cline
- Category
- VS Code AI Agent Extension
- Platform
- VS Code, JetBrains (beta), CLI
- Pricing
- Free + API costs (BYOM)
- License
- Apache 2.0
- Models
- Any via API — Claude, GPT, Gemini, local Ollama
- Key Features
- Plan/Act modes, MCP, browser use, checkpoint diffs
Cline (formerly Claude Dev) is the open-source agent extension that put VS Code agent mode on the map. With 5M+ installs, it's the default for developers who want full agent autonomy with bring-your-own-model flexibility — pay API costs directly, swap models per task, run local models via Ollama.
Why BYOM Still Wins
When you control the model API key, you choose cost vs quality per task: Haiku for boilerplate, Opus for architecture. Cline's Plan/Act split lets you approve the plan before the agent executes — a safety rail that subscription agents often skip.
Key Features
- Plan/Act modes — review the plan, then approve execution
- MCP — full Model Context Protocol server support
- Browser use — agent can drive a browser for testing
- Checkpoint diffs — roll back any agent step
- Roo Code fork — community variant with additional modes
Tradeoffs
You manage API keys and costs yourself. UX is less polished than Cursor or Devin Desktop. Best for cost-conscious power users and self-hosted stacks — not for teams wanting a single vendor bill.