# Claude Code vs Cline

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Cline

| Attribute | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 57.5 (54% (medium)) | 68.2 (56% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | - | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | - | 811 |
| adoption.github_stars | - | 66,899 |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"hybrid":true}` |
| description.long | Claude Code is an AI coding assistant integrated into Claude that helps developers write, edit, and generate code across multiple interfaces and platforms. | Cline is a coding agent that integrates into your development environment—editors and CLI—to automate file reading and writing, execute terminal commands, and browse the web while maintaining human approval over every action. It supports both interactive conversation-based development and headless automation for CI/CD workflows. |
| features.capabilities | `{"form":"autonomous_agent","autonomy":"autonomous","oss_client":"closed","model_source":"single_vendor","pricing_model":"per_seat","runs_commands":true,"self_hostable":false,"editor_support":"terminal, IDE, browser, desktop extensions"}` | `{"form":"chat_edit","autonomy":"agentic","languages":"All languages supported by underlying LLM models","model_source":"model_agnostic","runs_commands":true,"self_hostable":true,"editor_support":"VS Code, JetBrains (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand), Cursor, Windsurf, Anti","codebase_context":"repo_wide","multi_file_edits":true,"architecture_model":"vs_code_extension_cline","enterprise_controls":true,"bring_your_own_key_byok_api_support":true,"browser_automation_support_for_visual_qa":true,"multi_file_diff_generation_and_automated_apply":true,"terminal_bash_execution_and_self_correction_loops":true}` |
| integrations.count | 6 | 5 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Slack"},{"name":"Google Workspace"},{"name":"Microsoft 365"},{"name":"Remote MCP"},{"name":"Connectors"},{"name":"External APIs"}]` | `[{"name":"Telegram"},{"name":"Slack"},{"name":"Discord"},{"name":"Google Chat"},{"name":"WhatsApp"},{"name":"Linear"},{"name":"GitHub Actions"},{"name":"OpenTelemetry"},{"name":"Datadog"},{"name":"Grafana"},{"name":"Splunk"}]` |
| language.primary | - | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | - | Apache-2.0 |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"$0","features":["Chat on web, iOS, Android, and desktop","Generate code and visualize data","Write, edit, and create content","Ability to search the web","Memory across conversations","Create files and execute code","Unlock more from Claude with desktop extensions","Connect Slack and Google Workspace services","Integrate any context or tool through connectors with remote MCP","Extended thinking for complex work"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"currency":"USD"}],"description":"Free for everyone","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","summary":"$17/month (annual, $200 billed upfront) or $20/month (monthly)","features":["More usage","Includes Claude Code","Includes Claude Cowork","Includes Claude Design","Includes Claude Science","Access to unlimited projects to organize chats and documents","Access to Research","Ability to use more Claude models","Claude for Microsoft 365"],"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":17,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":20,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For everyday productivity","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Max","summary":"From $100/month (billed monthly)","features":["Choose 5x or 20x more usage than Pro","Higher output limits for all tasks","Early access to advanced Claude features","Priority access at high traffic times"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":100,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"5–20x more usage than Pro","contactSales":false}],"summary":"Free tier available. Pro from $17/month (annual) or $20/month (monthly). Max from $100/month (monthly).","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://claude.ai/code","retrievedAt":"2026-08-05T14:07:01.276Z","startingPrice":{"amount":17,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Cline (usage-billing)","summary":"$9.99/month","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":9.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Flat monthly subscription with built-in model access offering 2-5x usage on popular open coding models versus standard API rates","contactSales":false},{"free":true,"name":"Bring Your Own Key","description":"Free option using your own API credentials for cloud providers or local LLM runtimes","contactSales":false}],"summary":"From $9.99/month with built-in model access, or free with your own API keys","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://docs.cline.bot/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-21T13:46:20.230Z","startingPrice":{"amount":9.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | mid | low |
| pricing.starting_price | - | `{"amount":9.99,"currency":"USD"}` |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.history | - | `[{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.16","date":"2026-08-26T08:42:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.81","date":"2026-08-26T09:38:01Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.81"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.80","date":"2026-08-26T08:45:56Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.80"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.19","date":"2026-08-26T09:31:17Z","type":"stable","version":"desktop-v0.0.19"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.18","date":"2026-08-26T08:16:24Z","type":"stable","version":"desktop-v0.0.18"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/cli-v3.0.60","date":"2026-08-26T09:43:26Z","type":"stable","version":"cli-v3.0.60"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.17","date":"2026-08-25T09:06:31Z","type":"stable","version":"desktop-v0.0.17"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.79","date":"2026-08-24T23:01:12Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.79"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/cli-v3.0.58","date":"2026-08-24T23:07:51Z","type":"stable","version":"cli-v3.0.58"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.15","date":"2026-08-23T19:56:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.15"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.14","date":"2026-08-23T10:11:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.14"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.13","date":"2026-08-22T20:23:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.13"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.78","date":"2026-08-22T23:58:28Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.78"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.16","date":"2026-08-22T23:45:18Z","type":"stable","version":"desktop-v0.0.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/cli-v3.0.57","date":"2026-08-23T00:04:14Z","type":"stable","version":"cli-v3.0.57"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.12","date":"2026-08-21T22:39:29Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/v4.1.11","date":"2026-08-21T05:30:55Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.77","date":"2026-08-21T04:56:35Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.77"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/sdk/sdk/v0.0.76","date":"2026-08-21T02:39:16Z","type":"stable","version":"sdk/sdk/v0.0.76"},{"url":"https://github.com/cline/cline/releases/tag/desktop-v0.0.15","date":"2026-08-21T05:56:11Z","type":"stable","version":"desktop-v0.0.15"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | - | `{"count":2,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=cline&per_page=100","last_12m":2,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` |

## Capabilities (AI Coding Assistants)

| Capability | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Form | Autonomous agent | Chat / edit |
| Autonomy level | Autonomous | Agentic |
| **Surface** |  |  |
| Editor / surface support | terminal, IDE, browser, desktop extensions | VS Code, JetBrains (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand), Cursor, Windsurf, Anti |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Model source | Single-vendor | Model-agnostic (BYO key) |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Self-hostable / air-gapped | ✗ | ✓ |
| **Context** |  |  |
| Codebase context | - | Repo-wide indexing |
| **Editing** |  |  |
| Multi-file edits | - | ✓ |
| **Agentic** |  |  |
| Runs commands / tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Data** |  |  |
| Zero-data-retention option | - | - |
| **Security** |  |  |
| Enterprise controls | - | ✓ |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Language coverage | - | All languages supported by underlying LLM models |
| **Commercial** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Per-seat | - |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source client | Closed | - |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:34:20.526Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*