Cline pricing explained (2026): the real cost
verified 2026-06-01The tool is $0; your real bill is whatever the underlying model costs, e.g. Cline cites roughly $0.06 per request on its enterprise dashboard, so a moderate user typically spends tens of dollars a month in API/credit usage. Prices verified 2026-06-01 against cline.bot. prices change often, verify live
The tiers
Monthly and annual. The unit you pay against, per plan.
| tier | monthly | annual | what's included | unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free | n/a | VS Code extension, CLI, secure client-side architecture, BYOK or Cline provider inference, MCP marketplace, multi-root workspaces, community support; pay only for AI inference usage | per user |
| Cline provider (inference credits) | Usage-basedverify live | n/a | Optional managed access to multiple models via one sign-in; add credits from the Cline dashboard, some models tagged FREE; pay-as-you-go for what you use | per usage / credits |
| Enterprise | Customverify live | n/a | All Open Source features plus JetBrains plugin, SSO/OIDC, SLA, dedicated support, centralized billing, team dashboard, role-based access control, inference provider limits, auth logs | custom quote |
// pools and per-unit rates are volatile · verified 2026-06-01 · cells flagged verify live link to the live vendor page
"Free" only covers the extension, not the AI.
"Free" only covers the extension, not the AI. Real spend comes entirely from model inference, which is usage-based and unbounded, so heavy use of frontier models can run high. The vendor pricing page lists only Open Source (Free) and Enterprise (Custom); a $20/user/month Teams tier appears in third-party write-ups but is not published on the live pricing page, so treat it as unconfirmed.
See live pricing on Cline →Worth it if
- You want a fully open-source coding agent in your IDE and would rather pay model providers directly than a fixed monthly subscription.
- Your usage stays inside the included allowance.
- You value Developers who want a free, transparent BYOK coding agent over raw lowest cost.
Look elsewhere if
- "Free" only covers the extension, not the AI. Real spend comes entirely from model inference, which is usage-based and unbounded, so heavy use of frontier models can run high. The vendor pricing page lists only Open Source (Free) and Enterprise (Custom); a $20/user/month Teams tier appears in third-party write-ups but is not published on the live pricing page, so treat it as unconfirmed.
- You're highly cost-sensitive at scale.
- A cheaper tool in the comparison covers your use case.
Ready to try Cline?
Start on the free tier (Yes. The Open Source plan is free forever for individual developers: VS Code extension, CLI, MCP marketplace, BYOK or Cline provider, multi-root workspaces, community support. You only pay for AI inference when you use models, and some models in the Cline provider are tagged FREE.), then size your plan with the numbers above.
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Questions
How much does Cline really cost?
The tool is $0; your real bill is whatever the underlying model costs, e.g. Cline cites roughly $0.06 per request on its enterprise dashboard, so a moderate user typically spends tens of dollars a month in API/credit usage.
Does Cline have a free tier?
Free tier: Yes. The Open Source plan is free forever for individual developers: VS Code extension, CLI, MCP marketplace, BYOK or Cline provider, multi-root workspaces, community support. You only pay for AI inference when you use models, and some models in the Cline provider are tagged FREE..
What's the catch with Cline's pricing?
"Free" only covers the extension, not the AI. Real spend comes entirely from model inference, which is usage-based and unbounded, so heavy use of frontier models can run high. The vendor pricing page lists only Open Source (Free) and Enterprise (Custom); a $20/user/month Teams tier appears in third-party write-ups but is not published on the live pricing page, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Is Cline worth it?
Cline is worth it if you specifically need Developers who want a free, transparent BYOK coding agent. That's where it beats the alternatives. The tool is $0; your real bill is whatever the underlying model costs, e.g. Cline cites roughly $0.06 per request on its enterprise dashboard, so a moderate user typically spends tens of dollars a month in API/credit usage. If your usage is high-volume or budget is the priority, a cheaper tool in the comparison will do the same work for less.