Cline vs Roo Code
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Cline
An open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal that works with any model you choose.
Roo Code
A model-agnostic open-source coding agent for VS Code; the extension shut down in May 2026.
The short answer
This one has a clear answer: choose Cline. Roo Code began as a fork of Cline and was popular for its custom modes, but its team shut down the extension, cloud and router services on 15 May 2026, and Roo's own documentation points users back to Cline. Cline is still actively developed, open source, model-agnostic and free for individuals, so it is the natural place to move existing Roo setups.
Cline or Roo Code: our take
The two were close relatives. Both are open-source coding agents that read and write files, run terminal commands, connect to MCP servers and work with almost any model provider through your own API keys. Roo Code set itself apart with customisable modes such as architect, code, debug and orchestrator, and a willingness to spend more tokens for better results. Cline's signature is its Plan and Act flow: it proposes a plan before changing anything and asks for approval on each action, which keeps you in control but can slow long tasks.
The difference now is maintenance. Roo Code's team stopped the extension on 15 May 2026 to focus on Roomote, a separate cloud agent, so Roo no longer gets fixes or model updates from its original developers. Its code remains on GitHub, and a community fork called ZooCode has carried on. Kilo Code, which built on Roo, is another maintained option for people who liked Roo's modes. Cline, meanwhile, has grown beyond a VS Code extension into a JetBrains plugin, a CLI, a desktop app and an SDK.
Cost works the same way in both: Cline is free for individuals with no seat fees, and you pay model providers such as Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, OpenRouter or Bedrock directly, so expensive models can push token costs up quickly. Cline's paid Enterprise tier adds SSO, centralised billing and team management. Both run on macOS, Windows and Linux.
If you are choosing today, pick Cline, or look at Kilo Code if you specifically want Roo-style modes. If you still run Roo Code, plan a migration rather than relying on an unmaintained extension; your model API keys and MCP servers will carry over to Cline with little effort.
Which should you pick?
Choose Cline if…
- Developers who want a transparent, open-source agent and to pick and pay for their own models
- Free and open source with no seat fees
- Works with nearly any model provider, including local ones
Choose Roo Code if…
- Nobody starting fresh; existing users should migrate to Cline or Kilo Code
- Code remains open source and forkable
- Customisable modes for different kinds of work
About each app
What is Cline?
Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that started as a VS Code extension and now also ships as a JetBrains plugin, a CLI, a desktop app and an SDK. It reads and writes files, runs terminal commands, uses a browser to check its work, and connects to MCP servers, with a Plan and Act flow where it proposes a plan before changing anything and asks for approval on each action. It's model-agnostic: you bring your own API key for Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, AWS Bedrock, local models and others, and you pay those providers directly. The extension is free for individuals with no subscription or seat fees; an Enterprise tier adds SSO, centralised billing, team management and support. Because it is open source and you control the model, it's popular with developers who want transparency over prompts and costs. Roo Code and Kilo Code both began as forks of Cline.
What is Roo Code?
Roo Code was an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, forked from Cline, that became popular for its customisable modes, including architect, code, debug and orchestrator, and its willingness to use more tokens for better results. It could read and write files, run terminal commands, use MCP servers and work with almost any model provider through your own API keys. Its team shut down the Roo Code extension, cloud and router services on 15 May 2026 to focus on Roomote, a separate cloud coding agent. The code remains available on GitHub, a community fork called ZooCode has carried on, and Roo's own documentation points users to Cline, the project it came from. Kilo Code, which built on Roo, is another actively maintained option. Listed here because many developers still search for it; don't adopt it for new work, since it no longer receives fixes or model updates from its original team.
Side by side
| Attribute | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Best for | Developers who want a transparent, open-source agent and to pick and pay for their own models | Nobody starting fresh; existing users should migrate to Cline or Kilo Code |
| Status | Active | Discontinued |
Cline vs Roo Code pricing
Cline: open source
- Price for individuals: Free, pay only for inference source
- Seat fees: None for the open-source version source
Roo Code: open source
We couldn't verify Roo Code's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Platforms
| Platform | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux |
Cline facts
4 of 4 verified- Price for individuals
- Free, pay only for inference
- Checked Oct 25, 2026cline.bot(opens source in a new tab)
- “Cline is free for individual developers. Pay only for AI inference on a usage basis - no subscriptions, no vendor lock-in.”
- Seat fees
- None for the open-source version
- Checked Oct 25, 2026cline.bot(opens source in a new tab)
- “There are no subscriptions or seat fees for the open source version.”
- CLI
- npm i -g cline
- Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.cline.bot(opens source in a new tab)
- “CLI Run Cline in your terminal with interactive chat or fully headless automation for CI/CD and scripting.”
- Model providers
- Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Bedrock and more
- Checked Oct 25, 2026cline.bot(opens source in a new tab)
- “Cline is open source and supports providers like Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, OpenRouter, AWS Bedrock, GCP Vertex, Groq, Cerebras, Vercel AI Gateway, DeepSeek, and many more.”
Roo Code facts
3 of 3 verified- Shutdown
- 15 May 2026
- Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.roocode.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The Roo Code Extension was shut down on May 15th.”
- Suggested alternatives
- ZooCode fork and Cline
- Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.roocode.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “If you're looking for an alternative, check out ZooCode (a fork started by the Roo Code community) and Cline (from where Roo Code originated).”
- Model support
- Model-agnostic
- Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.roocode.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “It's powerful, customizable, and model-agnostic, with actual file system access, terminal control, and multi-step workflows.”
Pros and cons of Cline
- Free and open source with no seat fees
- Works with nearly any model provider, including local ones
- Approval step before every file change or command
- Token costs can climb fast with expensive models
- Approving every step slows down long tasks
- Team features need the paid Enterprise tier
Pros and cons of Roo Code
- Code remains open source and forkable
- Customisable modes for different kinds of work
- Worked with nearly any model provider
- Extension shut down in May 2026
- No updates or fixes from the original team
- Cloud and router services are gone
Other apps to consider
GitHub CopilotInstead of Cline
A managed subscription if you'd rather not manage API keys and token bills.
Kilo CodeInstead of Cline
A Cline-family fork with a model gateway, cloud agents and the same open-source base.
ContinueInstead of Cline
Open-source assistant for VS Code and JetBrains; now acquired, but the code remains.
Cline vs Roo Code: common questions
Is Cline better than Roo Code?
This one has a clear answer: choose Cline. Roo Code began as a fork of Cline and was popular for its custom modes, but its team shut down the extension, cloud and router services on 15 May 2026, and Roo's own documentation points users back to Cline. Cline is still actively developed, open source, model-agnostic and free for individuals, so it is the natural place to move existing Roo setups.
Is Cline free?
Yes. Cline is free, open-source software.
Is Roo Code free?
Yes. Roo Code is free, open-source software.
Is Cline or Roo Code open source?
Both are open source.
Which platforms do Cline and Roo Code support?
Cline: macOS, Windows and Linux. Roo Code: macOS, Windows and Linux.