Open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and a desktop app, using your own model keys or local models via Ollama or LM Studio.
Open-source alternative toClaude CodeCursor
Cline at a glance
Checked 21 Oct 2026Cline is a coding agent that edits files across your project, runs terminal commands and reacts to test or build failures, asking for approval before each step unless you turn on auto-approve. It ships as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, an npm CLI with a headless mode for CI, and a desktop app for macOS and Windows (Windows in beta). It supports MCP servers, rules and skills, multi-agent teams and scheduled agents. Use your own model keys or local models. Apache-2.0, except the JetBrains plugin, which is not open source.
RepoQuarry. “Cline.” Checked 21 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/clineHow much of Claude Code does it replace?
- Personal use
- Confirmed: Yes
- For a business
- Confirmed: Yes
6 of 6 jobs. Covers terminal, IDE, MCP and headless CI (with GitHub Actions samples); branches and pull requests are documented for Cloud Agents rather than local sessions.
How much of Cursor does it replace?
- Personal use
- Confirmed: Yes
- For a business
- Confirmed: Yes
4 of 7 jobs. Agent runs inside VS Code or JetBrains rather than its own editor; no tab autocomplete; Cloud Agents need a Cline account.
For code in an AI-first editor, multi-line tab completion and next-edit prediction, ask questions about your whole codebase, see other Cursor alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.
Facts, with sources
Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.
The open source coding agent in your IDE, terminal, & desktop.github.com · cline#readme ↗ today
Apache 2.0 © 2026 Cline Bot Inc.github.com · cline#license ↗ today
each Contributor hereby grants to You a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright licensegithub.com · LICENSE ↗ today
Run Cline with local models using Ollama, LM Studio or Atomic Chat.docs.cline.bot · overview ↗ today
Available for macOS and Windows (Windows is currently in beta).docs.cline.bot · installing-cline ↗ today
Click Install on the Cline extension.docs.cline.bot · installing-cline ↗ today
No licence changes since we started watching. Licence watch: follow Cline and we email you if its licence terms change.
Growth and activity in detail
Is it popular, and is anyone still working on it? From GitHub.
Numbers appear after the first nightly fetch from GitHub.