Open Source Alternatives LogoOpen Source Alternatives
AlternativesBlogAdvertise
Open Source Alternatives LogoOpen Source Alternatives

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and updates about Alternatives

Open Source Alternatives LogoOpen Source Alternatives

Handpicked Open Source Alternatives to Paid Softwares

Product
  • Search
  • Categories
  • Tag
  • Sign In
Resources
  • Blog
  • Collection
  • Submit
  • Advertise your tool
Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Refund Policy
  • Sitemap
Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
Home/Categories/AI & Machine Learning/Cline
icon of Cline

Cline

Open source alternative to GitHub Copilot, Gemini Code Assist and Cursor

Cline is an open source AI coding agent for VS Code that reads, writes, and runs code autonomously, planning changes across your entire project with your explicit approval at each step. Apache 2.0.

61.7K starsTypeScriptApache-2.0Active this month
Visit websiteGitHub repo
Cline AI coding assistant in VS Code
Contents
  1. 01What Cline does
  2. 02Who Cline is for
  3. 03The problem it solves
  4. 04How it solves it
  5. 05Strengths and trade-offs
  6. 06Cline vs alternatives
  7. 07Install and self-host
  8. 08Tech stack
  9. 09FAQ
  10. 10Similar open-source tools
TL;DR

Cline is an open source AI coding agent for IDE and terminal workflows, replacing Copilot-style autocomplete with planned edits, command execution, and visible approvals.Apache-2.0 · TypeScript · 61.7K stars · Active this month

what it does

What Cline does#

who it's for

Who Cline is for#

Startup founder scaling legacy scripts

Convert a monolith of migration scripts into reproducible agent-guided tasks that include validation and safe checkpoints.

Skip if

You only want inline editor suggestions and never want command execution.

Indie developer shipping a release

Run multi-file refactors, update tests, and fix lint errors in a single agent session before merging.

Skip if

You are working on isolated one-liners and do not need task orchestration.

Internal platform engineer

Use approval gates to enforce review rules while automating repetitive code changes across repositories.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
JavaScriptTypeScript
Frameworks
React
Infrastructure
AWS
Tooling
esbuild
frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Cline a free coding assistant?
Does Cline support both IDE and terminal workflows?
How do I keep edits safe?
also worth a look

Similar open-source tools#

PearAI

PearAI

Open source AI code editor with chat, autocomplete, and search

746Shell

Repository

Stars
61.7K
Forks
6.4K
License
Apache-2.0
Latest
cli-v3.0.2
Last commit
13 days ago
Last verified
May 13, 2026
Repo
cline/cline ↗

Additional details

Language
TypeScript
Open issues
852
Contributors
292
First release
2024

Categories

AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsLLMOps & AI Tooling

Tags

AI Coding AssistantAI AgentsDeveloper ToolsCode EditorsCodingWorkflow Automation

Skip if

You need hosted SLA terms and do not run local tooling.

Product engineer in regulated environments

Keep changes auditable in checkpoints and apply policy rules before each edit during sensitive code updates.

Skip if

Your team requires hands-off autonomous commits with no per-step checkpoints.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Cline is for teams that cannot leave coding tasks on a single autocomplete prompt and then re-run commands manually. Teams using Copilot, ChatGPT, or scripted snippets still switch between editing, terminal checks, and troubleshooting steps. Cline reduces this overhead by keeping planning, editing, and validation in one loop. It is most useful for builders who want AI acceleration across many files, without losing review visibility.

how Cline solves it

How it solves it#

Repository-level execution

Reads project context, edits files, runs terminal commands, and moves across folders without opening each context manually.

Plan and act control

Uses explicit Plan mode for intent, then Act mode for execution with step-level approval before every write.

Model flexibility

Works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints so you can shift providers without rewiring your workflow.

Tool and MCP integration

Connects external tools or APIs with MCP and reusable plugin hooks for project-specific automation.

Terminal-native workflows

Supports CI-friendly and headless usage for scripted review, fixes, and recurring maintenance tasks.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • Open protocol compatibilitySupports multiple model providers and local model stacks so budget, privacy, or compliance needs can shape the AI backend.
  • Safe change flowDiff-first approvals and one-step approval controls reduce accidental edits and support auditable change management.
  • Broader agent scope than autocompleteHandles multi-file refactors and command execution in one sequence rather than one-line suggestion bursts.

Trade-offs

  • -Provider and context setup requiredYou need a working model key or local endpoint before productive agent runs.
  • -Heavier than single-purpose toolsOn small edits, the planning and approval flow can feel heavier than lightweight suggestions.
  • -Requires terminal-aware usage habitsTeams that prefer fully autonomous behavior without checkpoints may find the default controls restrictive until they tune policies.
  • -Team governance lives in paid plansThe open source install gives individuals local IDE and terminal control, but enterprise needs such as SSO, RBAC, audit logs, centralized billing, and priority support sit behind Cline Teams or Enterprise. Teams adopting the free setup should plan their own governance and provider controls.
versus alternatives

Cline vs alternatives#

GitHub Copilot is strong at inline completion and quick suggestions while you stay in the editor, and many teams keep it for that use case. It does not match Cline for end-to-end task orchestration across files, terminal commands, and validation loops. Cursor brings a polished UI with built-in workflows, but teams often still pay for a proprietary stack and depend on one primary model strategy. Cline gives you a broader model choice and local execution path, while keeping every major action visible before write. For teams that value auditable AI coding, policy-driven approvals, and flexibility to move between Claude, GPT-compatible APIs, and local models, Cline is the more controllable option.

install · self-host

Install and self-host#

bash
```bash
# CLI
npm i -g cline
cline auth
cline

# VS Code
code --install-extension saoudrizwan.claude-dev
```

Use Act mode with approvals and review diffs before each write, so you can block risky operations before files change.

What is Cline best at?

It is strongest for multi-step coding tasks that require project context, command execution, and checkpoints across multiple files.

Can I run Cline without sending code to a hosted Cline service?

Yes. Cline runs in your IDE or terminal, and you choose the model provider, including local providers. Your privacy depends on the provider path you configure.

Agent Skills

Agent Skills

Structured workflows for AI coding agents.

41KShellMIT
Flue Framework

Flue Framework

Build powerful, autonomous agents with TypeScript.

3.4KTypeScriptApache-2.0
DeepSeek TUI

DeepSeek TUI

A coding agent that lives in your terminal.

27.6KRustMIT
Claude Context

Claude Context

Enhance AI coding assistants with semantic code search.

11KTypeScriptMIT
Remodex

Remodex

Control Codex agents from your iPhone, open source and free

3KSwiftApache-2.0

Cline is the open source AI coding agent for VS Code that goes beyond autocomplete: it reads and edits files, runs terminal commands, browses the web, and executes multi-step coding tasks across your entire repository, with your explicit approval at each step before anything is written.

Cline is Apache 2.0 and free to run. You supply your own model access for Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, or local providers.

Yes. It supports VS Code, JetBrains, and terminal usage patterns, including headless and scripted automation.