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Cline vs GitHub Copilot

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Free plan
Both have one
Public API
Cline has one; not confirmed by us for GitHub Copilot
Higher Trust score
GitHub Copilot — 94 vs 73 for Cline
Best fit
Cline: Developers who want an open-source agent with their own API keys · GitHub Copilot: Teams standardising on one assistant across mixed IDEs and languages
Platforms
Cline: VS Code extension, macOS, Windows, Linux · GitHub Copilot: VS Code extension, Web, macOS, Windows, Linux

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

ClineOpen-source AI coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and a desktop app, running on any model you bring.GitHub CopilotInline completions, chat and coding agents across the major IDEs

Side by side

FactClineGitHub Copilot
CategoryAI Coding AssistantsAI Coding Assistants
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at—$10/mo
Public APIYesNot confirmed
Trust score73 / 10094 / 100
PlatformsVS Code extension, macOS, Windows, Linux, APIVS Code extension, Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
CompanyCline Bot Inc.GitHub, Inc.
Launched20242021
Last verifiedOct 29, 2026Oct 16, 2026

What our research says

Cline

Cline suits developers who want an agent that does multi-file work inside their existing editor and who prefer to choose and pay for the model themselves. Anyone who wants one predictable monthly price, or a tool that never spends tokens without a human in the loop, should compare it with GitHub Copilot or Cursor first.

Pros

  • Apache-2.0 open source, with no subscription for individuals
  • Works with many model providers, including self-hosted ones
  • Plan/Act split and step approvals keep changes reviewable
  • MCP support and an SDK for custom tools and headless runs

Cons

  • Costs depend entirely on token usage, which large tasks can drive up quickly
  • JetBrains support and admin controls sit behind the Enterprise quote
  • Quality varies a lot with the model you pick

GitHub Copilot

Still the least disruptive way to put an assistant in front of a whole engineering org, but the credit meter means the $10 tier is no longer a flat-rate promise once anyone starts using agents seriously.

Pros

  • Broadest IDE coverage of any assistant: VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Neovim, Xcode
  • Free tier is real and needs no card, which makes org-wide trials trivial
  • Unlimited completions on every paid tier, so the meter only touches the expensive work

Cons

  • Four individual tiers from $10 to $100 make it hard to predict what a team actually costs
  • Credits are consumed by premium models at very different rates, so budgeting is guesswork
  • IP indemnity is Business-and-up only, which is often the deciding factor for enterprises

Which one fits

Choose Cline if you need

  • Developers who want an open-source agent with their own API keys
  • Teams that need to pick or restrict model providers for compliance
  • Engineers who want the same agent in the editor, terminal and CI

Choose GitHub Copilot if you need

  • Teams standardising on one assistant across mixed IDEs and languages
  • Organisations that need IP indemnity and admin policy control
  • Developers who mostly want completions and occasional chat

Cline vs GitHub Copilot: the questions people ask

Is Cline cheaper than GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot starts at $10/mo. Cline has a free tier; what its paid plans cost is not confirmed by us yet.

Does Cline or GitHub Copilot have a free tier?

Both: Cline has a free tier, and GitHub Copilot has a free tier.

Which has a public API, Cline or GitHub Copilot?

Cline ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for GitHub Copilot is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

More comparisons

All Cline alternatives →All GitHub Copilot alternatives →Browse all AI Coding Assistants →