Cline vs Devin (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Cline and Devin on pricing, features, and fit, so you can decide which is right for you.
Quick answer
Cline and Devin are both strong choices, but they fit different needs. Choose Cline if you mainly need scaffolding new applications from a plain-language description of requirements — its edge is fully open-source with no vendor lock-in, giving developers complete control over model choice and costs. Choose Devin if you need automating the resolution of open github issues across a repository — its edge is handles complete, multi-step engineering tasks autonomously from start to finish. Cline starts at Varies by AI provider (e.g., Anthropic or OpenAI API costs); Devin starts at $500/month (Teams plan).
Features compared
- Autonomous multi-step coding agent that plans, executes, and self-corrects tasks inside VS Code
- Supports multiple AI providers including Claude, GPT-4, and local models via OpenRouter
- Reads and writes project files, runs terminal commands, and browses the web for context
- Open-source codebase with full transparency and support for self-hosted deployments
- Autonomous end-to-end software development with minimal human input
- Sandboxed environment with terminal, browser, and code editor access
- Ability to read and learn from external documentation and codebases
- Seamless GitHub integration for resolving issues and submitting pull requests
Pros & cons
- Fully open-source with no vendor lock-in, giving developers complete control over model choice and costs
- Deep VS Code integration means the agent can act on real project files and terminals without copy-pasting
- Supports a wide range of AI backends, making it flexible for teams with existing API contracts
- API costs for underlying models can add up quickly on large or complex projects
- Requires manual setup of API keys and provider configuration, which may be a barrier for non-technical users
- Handles complete, multi-step engineering tasks autonomously from start to finish
- Integrates directly with existing developer workflows and version control systems
- Reduces engineering bottlenecks by working in parallel alongside human developers
- Pricing is quite high, making it less accessible for solo developers or small startups
- Complex or highly domain-specific tasks may still require significant human review and correction
The verdict
Choose Cline if
you mainly need to scaffolding new applications from a plain-language description of requirements. Its edge: fully open-source with no vendor lock-in, giving developers complete control over model choice and costs.
Choose Devin if
you mainly need to automating the resolution of open github issues across a repository. Its edge: handles complete, multi-step engineering tasks autonomously from start to finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cline better than Devin?
Neither is universally better. Cline is stronger for scaffolding new applications from a plain-language description of requirements, with an edge in fully open-source with no vendor lock-in, giving developers complete control over model choice and costs. Devin is stronger for automating the resolution of open github issues across a repository, with an edge in handles complete, multi-step engineering tasks autonomously from start to finish. Pick based on your main task.
Which is cheaper, Cline or Devin?
Cline starts at Varies by AI provider (e.g., Anthropic or OpenAI API costs) and Devin starts at $500/month (Teams plan). Free tier: Cline — Free to install as a VS Code extension; you pay only for the underlying AI model API usage; Devin — No permanent free tier; limited preview access available.
What is Cline best for?
Cline is best for scaffolding new applications from a plain-language description of requirements, refactoring or modernizing legacy codebases with guided automated edits, debugging runtime errors by having cline trace logs, suggest fixes, and apply patches autonomously.
What is Devin best for?
Devin is best for automating the resolution of open github issues across a repository, building and deploying new web application features from a written specification, migrating legacy codebases to modern frameworks or languages.
Do Cline and Devin have free plans?
Cline: Free to install as a VS Code extension; you pay only for the underlying AI model API usage. Devin: No permanent free tier; limited preview access available. Check each tool's pricing page for current limits, as plans change.