Cline

Cline is an autonomous coding agent right in your IDE, capable of creating/editing files, executing commands, using the browser, and more with your permission every step of the way. It features dual Plan/Act modes, allowing developers to strategize and execute coding actions efficiently. Solo developers prefer it because it runs entirely on your machine and uses your API keys directly, ensuring your code never passes through external servers.

Strengths

• Complete transparency and control - Free and open source with no markups, subscriptions, or surprises - you only pay for the AI models you use at exactly the price your chosen provider charges.
• Privacy-first architecture - Code stays local while Cline works with it, giving you complete control over the model and costs.
• Extensible through MCP integration - Utilizes the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to extend capabilities through specialized extensions that add new functionality like web pages, image processing, and API access.
• Autonomous coding capabilities - Demonstrates high autonomy through Plan/Act modes that handle routine tasks and provide intelligent code assistance.
• Seamless IDE integration - Operating directly within VS Code ensures a seamless coding experience with project context management.

Weaknesses

• Higher potential costs - Users report spending over $20 in a single evening, which equals an entire month's worth of some subscription-based alternatives.
• Limited to VS Code - Only available as a VS Code extension, limiting IDE choice.
• Requires technical setup - Managing API keys and MCP servers requires more configuration than hosted solutions.
• Variable performance depends on chosen model - Quality and speed depend entirely on the AI model provider you select.

Best for

Solo developers and small teams who prioritize privacy, cost transparency, and want full control over their AI coding assistant.

Pricing plans

• Cline Extension — Free — Open source VS Code extension
• AI Model Costs — Variable — Pay directly to your chosen model provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.)

Tech details

• Type: VS Code extension / Autonomous coding agent
• IDEs: Visual Studio Code
• Key features: Plan/Act modes, file creation/editing, terminal commands, browser integration, MCP server support, project context management
• Privacy / hosting: Self-hosted, runs locally on your machine, uses your API keys directly, code never leaves your environment
• Models / context window: Supports multiple providers (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, etc.), context window varies by chosen model

When to choose this over Windsurf

• You want complete transparency in AI model costs without subscription markups
• Privacy is paramount - you need code to stay entirely on your local machine
• You prefer open-source tools with full customization control

When Windsurf may be a better fit

• You want predictable monthly pricing instead of variable token-based costs
• You prefer a ready-to-use solution without API key management
• You need support for IDEs beyond VS Code

Conclusion

Cline stands out among Windsurf alternatives for developers who prioritize transparency and control. Its open-source nature and direct API integration eliminate subscription markups while keeping code entirely local. The combination of Plan/Act modes with MCP extensibility creates a powerful, customizable coding environment. While costs can be variable and setup requires more effort, developers gain unprecedented control over their AI coding experience.

Sources

• Official site
• GitHub Repository
• VS Code Extension Marketplace