Cline vs GitHub Copilot: pricing, features and which to choose

Cline is an open source coding agent from Cline Bot Inc. The project was created in July 2024 and is distributed through a VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app, JetBrains plugin, and SDK. Its GitHub repository lists the Apache License 2.0 and more than 70,000 stars. Cline’s July 2025 funding announcement says the company raised $32 million across seed and Series A rounds. The agent is built for developers who want to inspect code, edit files, run commands, and choose model providers. The same core supports editor work, terminal sessions, desktop use, and embedded applications. The client is free for individual developers, while AI inference can use Cline credits, ClinePass, or a developer’s own provider credentials.

Cline reads project files, writes code, runs terminal commands, uses a browser, and works with external tools. A typical task can begin in Plan mode, where the developer reviews an approach, then move to Act mode for implementation. The interface asks for approval before actions, while auto-approve can reduce interruptions. File edits appear as diffs, and checkpoints support undoing agent changes. Project rules in .clinerules files describe coding standards, architecture, testing, and deployment conventions. MCP servers add tools for databases, APIs, and infrastructure. Cline also supports plugins, skills, messaging connections, scheduled tasks, headless automation, and multi-agent workflows. The CLI supports interactive and headless operation, making the same agent available for local development, scripting, and CI work.

Cline still requires review of generated edits, shell commands, model output, checkpoints, and provider availability. Telemetry is enabled by default in the VS Code and JetBrains extensions, desktop app, and CLI, although users can turn it off. Requests made through Cline or ClinePass can include prompts and model responses in Cline’s handling of those providers, while requests using other providers go to those providers under their policies. Cursor is a closer commercial editor competitor, GitHub Copilot is closely tied to GitHub workflows, and Windsurf is another agentic coding product. Cline suits developers who want Apache-licensed code, provider choice, local runtimes, and explicit action approval. Teams wanting a managed editor subscription with bundled model access may prefer Cursor, Copilot, or Windsurf.

GitHub Copilot is GitHub’s AI coding assistant, developed with OpenAI and introduced in technical preview in 2021 before general availability in June 2022. It now supports inline completions, next-edit suggestions, chat, agent mode, code review, pull-request summaries, vulnerability fixes, and a cloud coding agent that can plan work, edit repositories, run tests, and open pull requests. Copilot works across VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Xcode, Vim, Neovim, terminal, web, mobile, Slack, and Teams. Current model choices include GPT-5.3-Codex, GPT-6 variants, Claude Sonnet and Opus models, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, and others, depending on plan and client. Free access is limited, while Pro costs $10 monthly, Pro+ $39, and Max $100; Business is $19 per seat and Enterprise $39. Cursor, Windsurf, and Claude Code can feel stronger for specialized agent workflows, but Copilot is the best fit for GitHub-centered teams.

A typical Copilot session starts with inline completions or next-edit suggestions, then expands into chat for explaining files, drafting functions, refactoring, testing, and documentation. Agent mode can modify several files and run approved terminal commands, while GitHub’s cloud coding agent researches issues, creates plans, implements changes, runs tests, and opens pull requests. Its strongest advantage is context: repositories, issues, pull requests, Actions, CI/CD, security findings, and review history inform suggestions beyond an editor’s open files. Developers can also use pull-request summaries, Copilot Autofix, custom instructions, prompt files, content exclusion, Spaces, MCP, the CLI, and desktop app across many clients. The trade-off is required oversight: generated code can be inaccurate, insecure, outdated, or license-sensitive, so testing and human review remain essential.

Copilot’s chief strength is its GitHub-centered workflow, connecting inline suggestions, chat, agent mode, code review, pull requests, issues, Actions, security tooling, and repository context across VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, terminal, web, mobile, and other clients. Its multi-model catalog includes GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, and MAI options, although availability depends on plan, client, feature, and provider. Free and Student tiers impose tighter model and credit limits; Pro costs $10 monthly, Pro+ $39, Max $100, Business $19 per assigned seat, and Enterprise $39, with included AI-credit pools and paid overage controls. Output can be inaccurate, insecure, incomplete, outdated, or license-sensitive, requiring testing and review. GitHub-focused developers should choose Copilot, while editor-first teams should compare Cursor or Windsurf, and terminal-oriented users should consider Claude Code.