Cline vs Roo Code

Cline (open source (community)) and Roo Code (open source (community)) compared head-to-head: prices from $0 and $0, model-dependent vs. model-dependent context, free tiers, models, limits plus strengths and weaknesses. Find out which AI coding agent fits your workflow.

Cline vs Roo Code — Category side-by-side

Provider	Cline open source (community)	Roo Code open source (community)
From /month	Free	Free
Billing	BYO-key (usage)	BYO-key (usage)
Top models	Claude Sonnet 4, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Qwen3	Claude Sonnet 4, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Qwen3
Context	model-dependent	model-dependent
Limits	whatever your API key allows	whatever your API key allows
Free tier	free software (model usage billed separately)	free software (model usage billed separately)
Best for	Devops who want a transparent, hackable agent	Power-users wanting custom modes & subagents
Strengths	Fully open source Works with any API provider Transparent plans	Custom modes/subagents Open source Highly configurable
Weaknesses	You manage & pay for model usage Less polish than commercial IDEs	You supply & pay for the model Steeper config

Recommendation by priority

💰 On a budget? Cline ($0) is cheaper than Roo Code ($0).

Cline is especially strong when you care about "Devops who want a transparent, hackable agent".

Go to Cline → Go to Roo Code →

Frequently asked questions: Cline vs Roo Code

Cline or Roo Code: which is cheaper?

The entry price depends on each provider and plan tier. This page shows the current indicative values side by side.

Which offers more context — Cline or Roo Code?

Cline reaches model-dependent, Roo Code reaches model-dependent. More context helps with long files and large repos.

Is there a free tier for Cline or Roo Code?

Yes — details on free tiers and free quotas are in the side-by-side table above.