Cline Review (2025): The Open-Source “Agent” That Scares Cursor
In this Cline Review (2025), we explore the open-source tool challenging the status quo. For the past year, Cursor AI has been the undisputed king of AI coding, largely because it felt like “magic.” But magic often comes with a hefty price tag ($20/month) and a “black box” ecosystem.
Enter Cline (formerly known as Claude Dev). It’s not a new IDE; it’s a VS Code extension that claims to do everything Cursor’s “Agent Mode” can do, but fully open-source and potentially much cheaper.
With over 3.8 million installs on the marketplace and the rise of ultra-cheap models like DeepSeek V3, developers are flocking to Cline to build a “DIY Cursor.” But is it really a viable replacement for a dedicated AI editor?
Our SMB verdict: Cline is the “Linux” to Cursor’s “Mac” — powerful, customizable, and budget-friendly, but you better be ready to tinker.
What is Cline? (The “BYOK” Agent)
Unlike Windsurf or Cursor, which are forks of VS Code, Cline is an extension that lives inside your existing VS Code setup. Its philosophy is simple: Bring Your Own Key (BYOK).
It acts as an autonomous agent in your sidebar. You give it a task (e.g., “Update the navigation bar to be responsive and fix the CSS bug”), and Cline will:
- Analyze your file structure.
- Read relevant files.
- Run terminal commands (if permitted) to install packages or run tests.
- Edit the files directly.
The “Killer Feature” right now is its support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a new standard that allows the AI to securely connect to external tools like PostgreSQL databases or GitHub issues without complex custom coding.
Cline Review Pricing: Why “Pay-As-You-Go” Wins
The biggest driver for Cline’s adoption is cost efficiency for SMBs. Instead of a flat $20/seat, you pay only for what you use via API keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, or DeepSeek).
| Scenario | Cursor (Business) | Cline + DeepSeek V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $20/user (Flat) | ~$2 – $5/user* (Variable) |
| Model Access | Limited “Fast” Requests | Unlimited (Pay per token) |
| Privacy | Cloud-based (SOC2) | Local Capable (Ollama) |
*Note: The $2-5 estimate assumes heavy daily usage of roughly 10,000 input tokens per day using DeepSeek’s cached API pricing.
The Math: With the release of DeepSeek V3 (which costs ~$0.14 per million input tokens), a developer can code heavily for an entire month on Cline and spend less than the price of a coffee. However, if you use Claude 3.5 Sonnet exclusively, costs can exceed $20 if you aren’t careful with context caching.
Showdown: Cline vs. Cursor
Is the savings worth the trade-off? Here is the feature gap.
| Feature | Cline (Extension) | Cursor (IDE) |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete (Tab) | ❌ None (Requires Copilot/Supermaven) | ✅ Built-in & Fast |
| Agentic Coding | ✅ Excellent (Full Terminal Access) | ✅ Excellent (Composer Mode) |
| Setup Difficulty | High (Need API Keys) | Plug & Play |
| Local LLM Support | ✅ Native (Ollama) | Limited / Complicated |
🕵️ Analyst’s Note: The “Autocomplete” Gap
This is the most critical realization from our Cline review testing. Cline is NOT a full IDE replacement.
When you use Cursor, you get two things: an “Agent” (that writes code for you) and “Autocomplete” (that predicts your next keystroke). Cline only provides the Agent.
The Reality: If you switch to Cline to save money, you will miss the “Ghost Text” autocomplete feature. To fix this, you will need to install a separate extension like GitHub Copilot or Supermaven alongside Cline.
Update: The open-source community is actively discussing this limitation in GitHub Issue #1386, but as of this review, there is no native solution.
Pros & Cons (Based on Real User Feedback)
✅ PROS (Why Devs Love It)
- Cheap with DeepSeek: Connecting Cline to DeepSeek V3 creates the most powerful low-cost coding setup currently available.
- Open Source Freedom: Apache 2.0 license. No fear of vendor lock-in. You own the tool and the connection.
- MCP Support: Future-proof connection to external databases and tools, which standard Chatbots can’t do.
❌ CONS (The Dealbreakers)
- No Native Autocomplete: You are typing “blind” unless you install another plugin.
- The “Loop” Risk: Agents can sometimes get stuck in a loop of fixing their own errors, burning through your API credits if not monitored.
- Configuration Heavy: Not for the “I just want it to work” crowd. Requires managing API keys.
🏁 The SMB Verdict: Cline (VS Code Ext)
8.2/10“The Best Cost-Saving Alternative for Technical Founders.”
👍 Best For:
- Cost-conscious Startups
- Developers using Local LLMs
- Privacy-focused Enterprises
🚫 Not For:
- Junior Developers (High friction)
- Teams needing unified billing
- Fans of “Tab-to-Complete”
Strategic Advice: If you are spending >$100/mo on team Cursor subscriptions, switch 2-3 senior devs to Cline + DeepSeek to test the savings.
FAQ: Common SMB Questions
Cline Review FAQ: Is the tool completely free?
The software extension is free and open-source (Apache 2.0). However, you must pay for the intelligence (API tokens) from providers like Anthropic or OpenAI, unless you run a local model like Llama 3.
What is the License for Cline?
Cline is fully open-source under the Apache 2.0 License. This is highly favorable for enterprise use as it allows for modification and commercial distribution without permissive “copyleft” restrictions.
Does Cline work with DeepSeek?
Yes, and this is the most popular combo right now. By using DeepSeek V3 via OpenRouter or DeepSeek’s API, you can achieve performance similar to Claude 3.5 Sonnet for a fraction of the cost.
Is it better than Github Copilot?
They are different. Copilot is a “Code Completion” tool (autocomplete). Cline is an “Autonomous Agent” (writes entire files/features). Most pros use both together.
Can I use it offline?
Yes. Unlike Cursor, Cline has native support for Ollama. You can run models locally on your machine for 100% air-gapped coding security.
💬 Join the Discussion
Have you tried the “Cline + DeepSeek” combo to lower your burn rate? Tell us how much you saved in the comments!
About the Author
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, MyAIVerdict.com
I am a tech educator and developer passionate about simplifying complex AI tools for small businesses. I approach every software review with a teacher’s mindset: strict grading, clear explanations, and zero fluff.
Disclosure: This review adheres to MyAIVerdict’s strict editorial integrity policy. No payment was accepted for this rating.