Cline review: plan first, then act, but it is mid-rewrite

Not sponsoredAI Agents · Developer Tools

Tested on Linux · Free · Open source

Cline is an open-source AI coding agent inside VS Code. It plans in a Plan mode that can't edit files, acts on your approval, and lets you view and undo its changes. We tested it on Linux with an open model.

The good

Free, open source, any model. Cline is free and open source under Apache 2.0, with no seat fees. You can even run it on a local model without an account.
Plan, then act. We like Cline's plan mode: it reads your code but can't edit files until you switch to Act, so the plan comes first.
Undo any step. We like that View Changes shows what changed since your last message, and Reset Code on an earlier message puts the files back and rewinds the chat to that point.

The not so good

Mid-rewrite. Cline is mid-rewrite right now: Explain Changes and Focus Chain are deprecated, the checkpoint menu differs from its own docs, and in a new project with no commit yet checkpoints fail silently.
Reporting on by default. Usage reporting is on by default; you have to clear it in the settings yourself.

Our verdict

Recommended with caveats

Apache 2.0, no seat fee, any model with no account, and a clear Plan and Act flow with undo. But it is mid-rewrite: features are being removed, and its checkpoints do not match its own docs.

Reviewed: Cline for VS Code 4.1.24 · facts checked 2026-10-15

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