Tools for
Conviviality

Home / Compare / GitHub Copilot vs Cline

GitHub Copilot vs Cline

Cline scores 24 out of 30 and GitHub Copilot scores 15. Cline is ahead on footprint, lock-in, self-direction, power and longevity.

GitHub Copilot

The giant

15/30 · Mixed

The AI coding assistant built into GitHub and your editor, run by a company that owns the place your code lives.

Cline

The small tool

24/30 · Leaning convivial

An open-source coding agent for your editor, terminal or desktop that asks before it changes anything.

Footprint
2
3
Lock-in
2
5
Self-direction
3
5
Power
1
3
Longevity
3
4
Delivery
4
4
Price
Free and paid plans
Free; you pay your model provider
Source
Closed source
Open source (Apache-2.0)
Runs on
Editors and GitHub
VS Code, JetBrains, terminal, Mac and Windows desktop
Maker
XL · Extra large
M · Medium

What you give up by switching

Cline is built around asking first, an agent that edits files and runs commands with your approval, and the page we read does not describe inline suggestions as you type. You choose the model, so you manage keys and costs yourself, and a company, Cline Bot Inc, makes it, with no price or funding stated.

How to move

Install the VS Code or JetBrains extension, add a model provider's key or point it at Ollama or LM Studio for local models, and check the Privacy settings in your GitHub account while you compare.

Scores are our opinion on six questions from Ivan Illich, based on public sources and dated October 2026. Read the full reviews of GitHub Copilot and Cline, or see how we score.

Visit Cline More tools for “code with an ai agent i control”