Coding agents
Claude Code vs Cline
Claude Code (Anthropic) and Cline (Cline Bot Inc.) are two tools in the “Coding agents” category of the OrigoTech directory. This page puts the information from their tool pages side by side: 10 criteria are filled in for both tools. No editorial opinion: every value comes from the tool page, which cites its sources.
Tool page data · Verified
Comparison table
| Criterion | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Anthropic | Cline Bot Inc. |
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Pricing details | Included in paid Claude plans (Pro from $17/month billed annually, $20 monthly); not in the free plan (source: anthropic.com/pricing). Available in the terminal, VS Code and JetBrains, the desktop app, the web and iOS/Android (source: anthropic.com/claude-code). | Free for individuals, usage-based inference (your keys or the Cline provider); Enterprise on request with JetBrains extension, SSO and SLA (source: cline.bot/pricing). |
| Plans and pricing |
|
|
| License | Proprietary (© Anthropic PBC, Commercial Terms; github.com/anthropics/claude-code/LICENSE.md) | Apache-2.0 |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | CLI, IDE, Desktop, Web, Mobile | IDE, CLI, Desktop |
| Operating systems | macOS, Windows, Linux | — |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes |
| Context window | Up to 1M tokens depending on the model (source: code.claude.com/docs/en/model-config) | Depends on the model and provider |
| Version | — | v4.1.25 (extension) |
| GitHub repository | anthropics/claude-code · ★ 152,673 · Verified | cline/cline · ★ 70,722 · Verified |
| Updated on |
“—”: information not filled in on the tool page.
What they have in common
- Both support MCP.
- Shared platforms: CLI, IDE, Desktop.
Differences
- Claude Code is published by Anthropic, Cline by Cline Bot Inc.
- Pricing model: paid for Claude Code, free for Cline.
- Only Cline is open source.
- License: Proprietary for Claude Code, Apache-2.0 for Cline.
- Platforms only Claude Code offers: Web, Mobile.
- GitHub repository: 152,673 stars for Claude Code, 70,722 for Cline (as of October 20, 2026).
- Plans listed on the tool pages: 5 for Claude Code, 2 for Cline.
Sources
- Gartner: 2026 Magic Quadrant (Virtualization Review)
- Stack Overflow: 2026 survey, AI data
- Anthropic: Claude pricing
- Claude Code: model configuration (context)
- Cline: pricing
- GitHub: cline/cline repository (Apache-2.0 license)
- GitHub: Cline releases
Tool pages and related pages
Related articles
- Open-source coding agents on GitHub: OpenCode, Cline, OpenHands, Aider
- Choosing a coding agent by budget: free, $20 a month or enterprise
- Gartner's first Magic Quadrant for coding agents
- Stack Overflow 2026: agents in, production off-limits
- Week of October 12: coding agents go team-mode
- How to install and get started with Claude Code: a step-by-step guide