Cline
Best free planOpen-source coding agent for your editor and terminal
Our verdict
The best-value agent if you are happy supplying an API key — the software is free, the model usage is not.
Cline is an Apache-2.0 agent that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and drives a browser, asking for approval at each step. The extension is free; you bring your own model key or pay for its hosted provider as you go.
How we scored it
What we liked
- ✓Free and open source
- ✓Any provider, including local models
- ✓You approve every action
What to watch
- ✕Model tokens are billed on top
- ✕No free hosted usage included
Key features
- ◆Plan and Act modes
- ◆File editing and shell
- ◆Browser automation
- ◆Checkpoints
- ◆MCP marketplace
- ◆CLI and desktop app
Best for
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