Is Cline really free?

The extension is free. You pay the API costs of whichever model you use.

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Last updated: May 14, 2026Reviewed by Priya Sharma

Cline

Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code

FreeAI Coding Assistants4.5/5

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Cline is the open-source AI coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension. Bring your own API key (Claude, GPT-5, Gemini), and Cline handles multi-step tasks with full transparency — every command, every diff, requires your approval.

What Cline is in 2026

Open-source autonomous AI coding agent for VS Code. BYO API key. Approve every diff and command.

The honest take

For developers who want transparency and pay-per-use, Cline is excellent. For polished daily use, Cursor or Claude Code earn their subscriptions.

Best for

Developers wanting transparency over polish
Cost-conscious users with their own API keys
Open-source enthusiasts

Skip if

You want a turnkey product — pay for Cursor or Claude Code

Pricing

Plan	Price	What you get
Free	$0	Open source — pay your model API directly

Pricing last verified May 1, 2026

Pros

Free and open source
Total transparency
Works with any model via API

Cons

You pay API costs separately
Less polished than Cursor or Claude Code

Our verdict

Cline is the best open-source AI coding agent in 2026. For developers who want full control and to pay only API costs, it's the right choice. For most professional developers, the polish of Cursor or Claude Code is worth the subscription.