Cline
Open-source AI coding agent extension for VS Code that works with many model providers.
Liked as a VS Code coding agent that works with many models and providers,123 and several commenters say it outperforms GitHub Copilot.45 Caveats include the agent making changes while plan mode was on,6 repeated mistakes on a poorly documented framework migration,7 and costs that climb as context grows or with pricier models.89
Why people recommend it
Model choice · 3
Commenters value the wide choice of models and providers, with switching described as just a dropdown change.
“I’ll express my personal preference for VS Code with Cline.”
“I use Cline, it's just a dropdown change”
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“I had moderately good results with using that as a coding agent”
Output quality · 3
Users report it works well out of the box, one-shots apps and beats Copilot.
I used their $50 plan and with the previously offered Qwen3 coder 480B. While fast - none of the “supported” tools I tried were able to use it in a way that didn’t hit the per minute request limit in a few seconds. It was incredibly frustrating. For the record, I tried OpenCoder, VSCode, Quen Coder CLI, octofriend and a few others I don’t remember. Fast forward to now, when GLM 4.6 has replaced Qwen3 coder in their s
“i can get an app one shotted pretty much every time i use cline too.”
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“Several of the open source agents will out perform copilot regularly (try aider, open code or cline if you can).”
Cost control · 2
Commenters credit it with using prompt caching well, and one likes paying as they go.
“you have to use Cline (or other harness) if using vscode.”
“I’ll express my personal preference for VS Code with Cline.”
Lower error rate · 1
One user picks it with Anthropic models for error-prone, high-fidelity tasks.
“Anthropic models via OpenRouter + Cline – when the task is error-prone, tedious, or needs high fidelity”
Configurable skills · 1
Skills can be defined globally or per project.
“At least for the agent I use (Cline), you can define skills either globally or locally (project level).”
Caveats and dissent
Ignores plan mode · 1
One user says the agent made changes even with plan mode enabled.
“I originally made this out of frustration when I used to use Cline (the agent would make changes even when their plan mode was enabled)”
Migration mistakes · 1
A Claude-backed setup got a Spring Boot 3 to 4 migration badly wrong and could not fix its errors.
“I used Claude-backed Cline in March to make that migration, and it got SO much wrong”
Rising costs · 2
Costs can get high as context fills up or with pricier models.
“I also tried VS Code + Cline + OpenRouter + MiniMax M2.7.”
“Anthropic models via OpenRouter + Cline – when the task is error-prone, tedious, or needs high fidelity”
Moderate results · 1
One user had only moderately good results and later switched to another tool.
“I had moderately good results with using that as a coding agent”
Tool access risk · 1
One user limits its web search access, noting the risk applies to all agent tools with CLI access.
“I use Cline personally”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- JetBrains Thinkrail 1 mention
- Show HN: Cosplay as a tech lead, using gVisor to sandbox agents 1 mention
- Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (September 2026) 1 mention
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 1 mention
- The Kimi K3 Moment 1 mention
- Stop wasting tokens and re explaining your project between sessions 1 mention
Data: cline.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 18
“I had moderately good results with using that as a coding agent”
“I originally made this out of frustration when I used to use Cline (the agent would make changes even when their plan mode was enabled)”
“AI coding tool evaluations (Cursor, Aider, Cline, Windsurf, etc.)”
“you have to use Cline (or other harness) if using vscode.”
“OpenCode Go, Cline, and AtlasCloud have generous limits for open weights”
“I'd like to try it on my cline project history.”
“I used Claude-backed Cline in March to make that migration, and it got SO much wrong”
“At least for the agent I use (Cline), you can define skills either globally or locally (project level).”
“I also tried VS Code + Cline + OpenRouter + MiniMax M2.7.”
“with Claude Code or Cline.”
“I use it with OpenClaw, OpenCode, and Cline running concurrently”
“i can get an app one shotted pretty much every time i use cline too.”
“Several of the open source agents will out perform copilot regularly (try aider, open code or cline if you can).”
“I’ll express my personal preference for VS Code with Cline.”
“I use Cline personally”
“I use Cline, it's just a dropdown change”
I used their $50 plan and with the previously offered Qwen3 coder 480B. While fast - none of the “supported” tools I tried were able to use it in a way that didn’t hit the per minute request limit in a few seconds. It was incredibly frustrating. For the record, I tried OpenCoder, VSCode, Quen Coder CLI, octofriend and a few others I don’t remember. Fast forward to now, when GLM 4.6 has replaced Qwen3 coder in their s
“Anthropic models via OpenRouter + Cline – when the task is error-prone, tedious, or needs high fidelity”