01Coding helpPaid · has free tier
VS Code coding agent
“Open-source agent in VS Code”
- Why you'd click
- BYO-model devs
- Red flags
- You pay API costs
- Price
- Free extension; pay your own API costsFree tier
Opening line
Implement dark mode.
Coding Assistants · Free · checked Oct 2026
Cline: pricing, pros & alternatives.
Profile
Cline, in short.
Cline: Open-source agent in VS Code. Best for byo-model devs. Watch out for: you pay api costs. Price: Free extension; pay your own API costs (free tier, checked Oct 2026).
Note: No paid plan: the extension is free, but you pay your model provider for API usage.
| Free tier | Free tier |
|---|---|
| Job in a stack | Coding help — VS Code coding agent |
| Cheapest paid plan | Free extension; pay your own API costs |
| Monthly equivalent | $0/mo |
| Price checked | Oct 2026 |
Alternatives
Cline alternatives.
- 01
Cloud IDE with an AI agent that builds and deploys
- 02
Thoughtful long-form writing assistant
- 03
AI-first code editor
- 04
AI pair programmer in your IDE
- 05
Cloud/CLI coding agent
- 06
Agentic IDE
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is Cline free?
Free tier. Cheapest paid plan: Free extension; pay your own API costs (checked Oct 2026).
What is Cline best for?
BYO-model devs.
What are the downsides of Cline?
You pay API costs.