Cline vs Devin
Features, pricing and Editor Score side by side — to help you pick the right coding & development tool in 2026.
Quick verdict
Cline edges it by 0.5 on our Editor Score. Pick Cline if you want open-source coding agent; choose Devin for autonomous multi-step task planning and execution. On pricing, Cline is the one with a free or freemium plan, so it's the cheaper place to start.
Cline vs Devin at a Glance
| Pricing | Free | Subscription |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | open-source coding agent | autonomous multi-step task planning and execution |
Cline
Cline is an open-source AI coding agent that works in your editor as a VS Code extension, in the terminal as a CLI, as a desktop app and through an SDK, using any model including open-weight ones, with a plan-and-act workflow where you approve its actions.
- Open source and transparent
- Free choice of model
- Runs in editor, terminal or desktop
- Approval steps keep you in control
- Model costs can climb
- Agent actions carry risk
- Requires supervision on big changes
Devin
Autonomous AI software engineer for end-to-end tasks Category: Coding & Development.
- Handles long, multi-step engineering tasks end to end
- Works within familiar developer tools and workflows
- Can run several tasks in parallel to save time
- Autonomous multi-step task planning and execution
- Autonomous output still needs human review
- Can be expensive for heavy or continuous usage
- Customization options can take time to master
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cline if…
- you want open-source coding agent
- a free or freemium plan is important
Choose Devin if…
- you want autonomous multi-step task planning and execution
Cline vs Devin: The Verdict
Your use case decides this one: Cline leans into open-source coding agent, while Devin is built for autonomous multi-step task planning and execution. Weigh features and pricing for your workflow. Cline is the lower-cost place to start thanks to its free or freemium plan; the other is worth a trial if its feature set fits better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cline better than Devin?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your budget and which features matter most. The side-by-side breakdown above shows where each one wins.
What is the difference between Cline and Devin?
Cline (free) is best for open-source coding agent, while Devin (subscription) is best for autonomous multi-step task planning and execution. See the full feature and pricing comparison above.
Is Cline or Devin cheaper?
Cline has a free or freemium plan, so it's the cheaper way to start. For paid plans, check each tool's current pricing on its review page.
Which is better for beginners, Cline or Devin?
Cline is usually the easier starting point thanks to a lower barrier to entry. Beginners should favour a free tier and a simple interface over raw power.
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About the Authors
AI Tools Comparison Analyst
Olivia runs side-by-side comparisons and benchmarks, digging into pricing, features, and real-world performance so readers can choose between competing AI tools with confidence.
Senior AI Tools Reviewer
Daniel reviews AI tools the slow way — by actually using them on real projects. His reviews cover what works, what breaks, and who each tool is genuinely a good fit for.
Keep exploring
Last updated October 2026. Comparisons are ranked by our Editor Score (features, value and pricing, blended with verified user reviews where a tool has them) — see our methodology.