> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.edgewisely.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cline vs Continue: Which to Pick in 2026 - URL: https://www.edgewisely.com/cline-vs-continue/ - Published: 2026-10-26T17:08:31.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-26T17:08:30.000Z - Description: Cline vs Continue compared on what they are, model support, pricing and maintenance. One is now unmaintained — here's which coding agent to pick. - Author: John Karpentar - Tags: AI, Engineering **TL;DR** - **Cline vs Continue** in short: **Cline** is an open-source (Apache-2.0) autonomous coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal — it plans, edits across files, and runs commands with your approval. Actively maintained, \~67k stars. - **Continue** was the open-source autocomplete-plus-chat assistant — but its public repo went **read-only in mid-2026** and is frozen at a final **v2.0.0**. The company now sells a hosted agent platform. - **Verdict:** Pick **Cline** if you want a maintained open-source IDE agent you fully control. Choose Continue only if you're buying into its commercial platform, or you specifically want its tab-autocomplete and can live with an unmaintained extension. As of October 2026, **Cline** is the stronger choice for most engineers who want an open-source AI coding agent in their editor. It is actively developed and does genuine multi-file, agentic work. **Continue** was its main open-source rival, but its public codebase is now **read-only and no longer maintained** — so "cline vs continue" is less a feature fight than a question of which project still has a pulse. ## What is the difference between Cline and Continue? The core difference is scope and status. **Cline** is an **autonomous agent**: you give it a task, it plans the steps, edits multiple files, and runs terminal commands — each gated behind your approval. The [Cline repository](https://github.com/cline/cline?ref=edgewisely.com) describes it as an "autonomous coding agent as an SDK, IDE extension, or CLI assistant." **Continue** started as an "amplified developer" tool — inline **tab-autocomplete** plus chat, with agent features added later. The crucial update: the [Continue open-source repository](https://github.com/continuedev/continue?ref=edgewisely.com) is now marked "no longer actively maintained and is read-only," and its [co-founder confirmed the wind-down](https://github.com/continuedev/continue/issues/12629?ref=edgewisely.com), freezing it at a final **v2.0.0** build. So the practical difference in 2026: Cline is a living project; Continue's open-source extension is a snapshot. ## How does each work? **Cline** runs as a VS Code or JetBrains extension (and now a CLI and SDK). You describe an outcome; it proposes a plan, shows every diff and command before acting, and executes once you approve. It reads your codebase, runs tests, and iterates. That approval loop is the point — it is powerful without being unsupervised. **Continue** (at v2.0.0) runs as a VS Code/JetBrains extension too, with three modes: autocomplete, chat, and an agent mode. Its historic edge was fast, low-friction **inline completions** — the thing Cline deliberately does not do. Both are **bring-your-own-model**: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and local models via **Ollama**. If you're weighing other editor agents, we've also compared [Cline against Kilo Code](https://www.edgewisely.com/kilo-code-vs-cline/) and mapped the broader field in our [roundup of AI agent platforms](https://www.edgewisely.com/top-7-ai-agent-platforms-2026/). ## Cline vs Continue: the differences that matter The decisive factor isn't a feature — it's maintenance. Cline ships multiple release trains; Continue's public code stopped. | | **Cline** | **Continue** | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | What it is | Autonomous multi-file coding agent | Autocomplete + chat + agent assistant | | Primary model | Agent (plan → edit → run, with approval) | Assistant-first; agent mode added later | | Inline autocomplete | No | Yes (its historic strength) | | Model support | BYO key — Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Ollama (local) | BYO key — same providers, Ollama (local) | | Surfaces | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, SDK | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI (frozen at v2.0.0) | | Pricing | Free OSS; BYOK or inference at cost; Enterprise tier | OSS free (frozen); hosted platform Solo free / Team $20 / Company custom | | License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 | | Maintenance | Active (core **v4.1.17**, Sept 2026) | **Repo read-only / unmaintained** (final **v2.0.0**) | | Stars (approx.) | \~67k | \~36k | ## Which is better for local models? **Cline** is now the safer local-LLM bet, mainly because it's maintained. Both tools connect to **Ollama** and other local endpoints for fully offline, no-API-key use, and Continue's frozen v2.0.0 still runs local models fine today. Historically Continue's lightweight autocomplete suited smaller local models well. But an unmaintained extension won't adapt to new local model formats or VS Code API changes — so for a local-only setup you intend to keep, Cline is the forward-looking choice. ## Are Cline and Continue free? Both are free and open source under **Apache-2.0**. **Cline's** [pricing page](https://cline.bot/pricing?ref=edgewisely.com) confirms no subscriptions or seat fees for the open-source extension — you bring your own API key or buy inference at cost, with a separate Enterprise tier for SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and VPC deployment. **Continue's** open-source extension is free but frozen. Its commercial platform, per [continue.dev/pricing](https://continue.dev/pricing?ref=edgewisely.com), runs **Solo** (free, BYOK or credits), **Team** ($20/seat/month with $10 in credits), and **Company** (custom, with SSO/SAML and SLA). ## What this means for you - **Solo developer:** Use **Cline**. It's free, maintained, model-agnostic, and does real agentic work with approval gates. The absence of inline autocomplete is the only trade-off — pair it with your editor's built-in completion if you miss it. - **Team / startup:** **Cline** for the editor agent; evaluate Cline's Enterprise tier if you need SSO and audit logs. Consider Continue's hosted **Team** plan only if you specifically want its scheduled/CI-CD agents and are comfortable paying per seat. - **Regulated or local-only:** **Cline** with a local model via Ollama keeps code on your machine, and it's actively maintained. Continue's frozen build works offline too but won't receive security or compatibility updates. - **Autocomplete-heavy workflow:** This was Continue's home turf. With the OSS repo unmaintained, you're better served by a dedicated, maintained autocomplete tool alongside **Cline** for agentic tasks. **The verdict:** For an open-source AI coding agent you'll rely on going forward, choose **Cline**, which is [still shipping releases regularly](https://github.com/cline/cline/releases?ref=edgewisely.com). Reach for Continue only if its commercial agent platform fits a specific team workflow, or you want its autocomplete and accept running an unmaintained extension. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between Cline and Continue? Cline is an autonomous agent that plans, edits across files, and runs terminal commands with your approval. Continue was an autocomplete-and-chat assistant that later added an agent mode. The practical 2026 difference: Cline is actively maintained, while Continue's open-source repository is now read-only and frozen at v2.0.0. ### Is Cline or Continue better for local LLMs? Both run local models through Ollama with no API key, fully offline. Continue's frozen v2.0.0 still works and its autocomplete historically suited small local models. But because Cline is actively maintained and will track new model formats and editor changes, it's the better long-term choice for a local-only setup. ### Are Cline and Continue free? Yes — both are free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Cline charges nothing for the extension; you bring your own API key or buy inference at cost. Continue's open-source build is free but no longer updated; its separate hosted platform has paid Team ($20/seat) and Company tiers. ### Should I use Cline or Continue vs Aider? Cline and Continue are IDE extensions (VS Code, JetBrains). [Aider is a terminal-first, git-native agent](https://www.edgewisely.com/aider-vs-claude-code/) with no editor UI — it commits each change as you go. Choose Cline for an in-editor agent, Aider if you live in the terminal and want tight git integration. Continue is hard to recommend now given its unmaintained repo. ### Can you use Cline and Continue together? Technically yes — both are VS Code extensions and can be installed side by side, historically a common combo (Continue for autocomplete, Cline for agentic edits). With Continue's extension unmaintained, a cleaner setup is Cline plus a maintained autocomplete tool, rather than relying on frozen Continue code. --- **Editor's note — sources:** Cline GitHub repository (what Cline is, Apache-2.0); Continue GitHub repository (read-only/unmaintained, final v2.0.0); Continue issue #12629 (co-founder confirms active maintenance has ended); Cline releases page (active release trains, core v4.1.17, Sept 2026); Cline pricing; Continue pricing. All linked inline above. Star counts are approximate, read from the live repo pages on 2026-10-26.