Cline vs Continue: Side-by-Side Comparison 2026
Cline vs Continue comparison 2026. Side-by-side features, pricing & capabilities.
Cline is an AI agent from Cline (Open Source) — open-source ai agent for vs code. Continue is an editor extension from Continue — open-source ai coding extension.
Cline
Cline — AI Coding Agent from Cline (Open Source). VS Code Agent.
- ✓ AI chat
- ✓ Agentic mode
- ✓ Multi-file editing
- ✓ Terminal commands
- ✓ Test generation
Free / $20/mo · 3 plans
Continue
Continue — AI Code Assistant from Continue. Open Source IDE Extension.
- ✓ Code completions
- ✓ AI chat
- ✓ Agentic mode
- ✓ Multi-file editing
- ✓ Terminal commands
$20/mo · 3 plans
| Feature | Cline | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Agent | Extension |
| Starting Price | Free | $20/mo |
| Model Family | Multi-model (any) | Multi-model (any) |
| Open Source | Yes (Apache 2.0) | Yes (Apache 2.0) |
Pricing verified Mar 20, 2026. Cline pricing | Continue pricing
Key Differences
- Category: Cline is an AI agent; Continue is an editor extension.
- Free tier: Cline has a free tier; Continue does not.
- Platforms: Cline runs on Desktop; Continue runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
- Provider: Cline is built by Cline (Open Source); Continue is built by Continue.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cline if you want autonomous coding with full transparency into every action taken. Choose Continue if you want open-source AI coding with full control over model and context. Read our full reviews to see which fits your workflow.