Cline vs Continue
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent that runs in VS Code with full visibility
Free
Read full review →Continue
Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything
Free
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Cline | Continue | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source autonomous coding agent that runs in VS Code with full visibility | Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Categories | coding, vscode-extension, autonomous | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, open-source |
| Made by | Cline | Continue |
| Launched | 2024-07 | 2023-08 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Cline highlights
- + Step-by-step transparency with explicit approval for every file write and command
- + Bring-your-own-key support for Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Mistral, and local models
- + MCP (Model Context Protocol) client for connecting custom tools and data sources
- + Browser and computer use for web research and UI testing
- + Plan mode for reviewing the agent's strategy before it touches a single file
Continue highlights
- + Bring your own model from any provider or run locally via Ollama
- + Chat, edit, autocomplete, and agent modes in VS Code and JetBrains
- + JSON and YAML config files for full control over every behavior
- + Continue Hub for sharing and discovering assistant configurations
- + Custom slash commands and context providers for any workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Cline or Continue?
Neither is universally better. Cline (Free) leans into coding, while Continue (Free) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Cline and Continue?
Cline is free. Continue is free. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Cline and Continue together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.