Cline

The most popular open source AI coding agent for VS Code.

💰Free ★★★★½ 4.8/5 (82 opinion)

Code & Development

#Agents IA #Code Generation

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Overview of Cline

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Présentation détaillée

Cline is an __open source AI coding agent__ that integrates directly into VS Code. It can create and modify files, execute terminal commands, navigate the web, and interact with __MCP tools__. Used by more than 5 million developers, Cline offers a Plan/Act mode enabling planning and execution of complex tasks __autonomously and transparently__. It is compatible with all major AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek…) and supports the __BYOK model__ (Bring Your Own Key).

What is Cline?

Cline is a VS Code extension that transforms your IDE into an autonomous development agent. It can create and modify files, execute terminal commands, navigate the web, and call MCP tools. Its Plan/Act architecture allows it to plan an approach before acting, ensuring transparency and control of the process.

Main Features

Cline offers a set of features designed for modern developers. Its Plan mode allows defining a strategy before execution, while Act mode intervenes directly in code. The integrated MCP Marketplace provides access to hundreds of extensions. Cline is compatible with all major LLM providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek, AWS Bedrock, Azure, and can also use local models via LM Studio or Ollama. Real-time API cost transparency is displayed.

Use Cases

Cline applies to many use cases: component generation, refactoring, bug fixing, automated test writing, code documentation, and application deployment. It is particularly effective for teams adopting an AI-first approach, wanting to automate repetitive tasks while keeping a human developer in oversight.

Advantages

Cline adds significant value through its transparent approach. Developers see exactly what the agent does at each step. The BYOK model ensures no data passes through third-party servers without your consent. The tool’s gratuity itself allows controlling costs by choosing the most suitable models for each task.

Pricing

Cline is entirely free and open source. The only costs are tokens from the connected LLM. You can use free models like Gemini 2.0 Flash, or premium models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet at varying rates depending on the provider. The dashboard displays costs in real-time.

Conclusion

Cline establishes itself as the reference choice for development teams wanting to integrate a powerful and transparent AI agent into their VS Code workflow. Its active community and rapid evolution make it a tool to closely follow.

✅ Strengths

Open source and approved by 5M+ developers worldwide
Plan/Act modes for controlled autonomy at each step
Compatible with all major LLMs (Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek…)
MCP Marketplace integration to extend agent capabilities
Terminal access, browser, and file system in real-time
Complete transparency on API costs with BYOK

⚠️ Limits

Requires VS Code as environment (no standalone app)
LLM API costs can be high depending on chosen model
Learning curve to master MCP workflows
Agent autonomy may require regular supervision

👤 GOOD CHOICE?

Cline est-il fait pour vous ?

✓ Ideal if you…

✓ Développeurs VS Code cherchant un copilote agentique
✓ Équipes adoptant une approche AI-first du développement
✓ Ingénieurs souhaitant automatiser les tâches répétitives
✓ Builders exploitant les protocoles MCP pour leurs workflows

✗ To avoid if you…

✗ Développeurs n’utilisant pas VS Code
✗ Débutants sans bases en programmation
✗ Équipes avec des budgets API très limités
✗ Projets nécessitant une solution SaaS sans configuration

🎯 Our verdict

Cline establishes itself as one of the most advanced and widely adopted AI coding agents in the open source market. With 5 million developers, it benefits from a solid community and rapid evolution. Its Plan/Act architecture enables delegating complex tasks to the agent while maintaining precise control at each step. Compatibility with all major LLM providers and the BYOK model offer maximum pricing flexibility. Integration of the MCP Marketplace transforms Cline into a true extensible platform, capable of interacting with third-party services. Its main limitations are dependence on VS Code and API costs that can escalate with premium models. For serious teams and developers wanting to transition to an AI-first development approach, Cline represents an undisputed reference choice.

❓ FREQUENT QUESTIONS

FAQ — Cline

Is Cline free?

Yes, Cline is a free open source tool. You only need an API key from an LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini…) to use it. Some models like Gemini Flash are available for free.

What is the difference between Plan and Act modes?

Plan mode allows Cline to think and propose a strategy before acting. Act mode executes actions directly. You can switch between the two based on desired supervision level.

Does Cline work only with VS Code?

Cline is a VS Code extension. There is no standalone app at this time. It works therefore in all VS Code-based editors, including Cursor and some forks.

What is Cline's MCP Marketplace?

The MCP Marketplace is an integrated marketplace allowing installation of MCP servers (Model Context Protocol) that extend Cline’s capabilities: database access, web tools, third-party APIs, etc.

Is Cline secure for professional code?

Cline only sends your code to the LLM provider you configured. Using on-premise or local models, you can keep code completely private. Actions are always subject to your approval.

★★★★½ 4.8/5 (82 avis)

✅ Verified by Comparateur-IA

Code & Development

The most popular open source AI coding agent for VS Code.

💰 Rate Free

🆓 Free trial Yes

🌐 Languages 🇫🇷 Français, 🇬🇧 English

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