Cline vs OpenCode
Cline: Open-source coding agent that runs in the editor. OpenCode: Open-source terminal coding agent.
Pricing, free tier, and features on this page come from each tool's own site. Google autocomplete (suggestqueries.google.com, client=firefox, hl=en) for "<tool> vs", fetched 2026-10-14; a pair is kept when the suggestion appears from both sides (2+ hits). Sorted by how much you can use for free (free or open source first, then free plan with paid tiers, then paid only), then by the number of documented features, then alphabetically. No ratings or reviews are used. Read the comparison methodology. How benchmark evidence is labeled.
| Cline | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source coding agent that runs in the editor. | Open-source terminal coding agent. |
| Category | AI Coding | AI Coding |
| Pricing | Freemium (free plan + paid tiers) | Free and open source |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Who it's for | Individual developers and organizations that need team and security controls. | Developers who write code in a terminal, IDE, or desktop app. |
| Key features | Plan a strategy, then run it with step approval | Writes code in the terminal, a desktop app, or an IDE |
| Edit many files with diffs, checkpoints, and undo | Loads matching language servers for the model automatically | |
| Run shell commands and react to live terminal output | Runs multiple agents in parallel on the same project | |
| Use Claude, GPT, Gemini, Ollama, or your own API keys | Shares a link to a session for reference or debugging | |
| Connect MCP servers for databases, APIs, and infrastructure | Connects 75+ model providers, including local models | |
| Website | cline.bot | opencode.ai |
Who should pick which
Pick Cline if…
- Its stated audience fits you (individual developers and organizations that need team and security controls).
- You need: Plan a strategy, then run it with step approval.
Pick OpenCode if…
- Its stated audience fits you (developers who write code in a terminal, IDE, or desktop app).
- You want open-source software you can run yourself.
- You need: Writes code in the terminal, a desktop app, or an IDE.
FAQ
Is Cline or OpenCode free?
Cline: Freemium (free plan + paid tiers). OpenCode: Free and open source. Both can be used without paying.
What is the difference between Cline and OpenCode?
Cline: Open-source coding agent that runs in the editor. OpenCode: Open-source terminal coding agent.
Data comes from each tool's homepage and pricing page. Pair chosen from search suggestions (cline vs opencode; opencode vs cline).