Comparison
Cline vs Cursor
Cline: Free AI agent for VS Code that asks permission before every change. Cursor: The most popular code editor with AI built in.
| Cline | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Price | Free Free and open source (Apache 2.0). Connect your Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Vertex or Azure key and pay only those tokens. | Freemium Pro from $20/month. Free plan (Hobby) with limits. |
| Free plan | ||
| API available | ||
| Open source | ||
| In Spanish | ||
| No watermark | — | — |
| Platforms | Windows · Mac · Linux | Windows · Mac · Linux |
Cline or Cursor?
Both live in VS Code, but Cursor is a commercial fork with models included and Cline is a free extension where you supply your key. Cursor is faster to use and more polished; Cline does not force you to change editor, is open source and gives you explicit control over every change the AI wants to make.
Choose Cline if…
You want to stay in your usual VS Code, with no subscription and approving change by change.
Choose Cursor if…
You prefer a ready-to-use tool, with models included and integrated autocomplete.
Cline
- Free and open source, inside VS Code
- Approve change by change: full control over what it touches
- Compatible with Anthropic, OpenAI, Bedrock, Vertex and Azure
- Bring your own key: you pay for the tokens
- Approving every step is slower than letting the agent run
Cursor
- Very polished AI experience built into the editor
- Compatible with VS Code extensions
- Agent mode for complete tasks
- The free plan runs out quickly
- Fairly resource-hungry
The differences that actually matter
Free extension versus paid editor
Cline is an open-source extension you install in your VS Code and drive with whatever API key you provide. Cursor is a complete editor with a monthly subscription and models included. One leaves your environment alone and charges by consumption; the other changes it and charges a flat fee.
Inline autocomplete
This is Cursor's clear advantage: the suggestion that appears as you type and the edits it proposes at several points in the file. Cline works by task, not while you type. If what you value most is writing code quickly with company, that difference decides it.
Controlling the spend
With Cline you see exactly what each task costs because you pay the API directly, which teaches you a lot about which requests are expensive. With Cursor you do not think about it until you hit the plan's limits. The first demands attention; the second avoids it.
Frequently asked questions
Can Cline replace Cursor?
For task-based work — refactors, new features, fixing a described bug — yes, and with no licence cost. What it does not replace is continuous autocomplete while you type. If that flow is what makes you productive, Cline alone will not be enough.
How much does Cline cost per month?
Whatever API you consume, and it varies enormously with usage. A typical moderate pattern runs to a few euros a month; delegating long tasks daily can easily exceed the price of a subscription. Estimate it with the API cost calculator before deciding.