# Cline vs Roo Code

> Side-by-side comparison of Cline (Cline) and Roo Code (Roo Code): pricing, key features, ideal use cases and verdicts.

Source: https://ai.dosa.dev/compare/cline-vs-roo-code · IDE Extensions · Updated 2026-11-01 · Published by dosa.dev

## Quick answer

Cline (Open Source) is best for developers who need an agentic assistant for complex, multi-step coding tasks, refactoring, or codebase maintenance while maintaining full control over model choice and costs. Roo Code (Free) is best for individual developers and teams who required highly customizable, agentic workflows within VS Code and preferred selecting their own LLM providers.

## Comparison table

| | [Cline](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cline) | [Roo Code](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code) |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cline | Roo Code |
| Category | IDE Extensions & Plugins | IDE Extensions & Plugins |
| Pricing | Open Source | Free |
| Best for | Developers who need an agentic assistant for complex, multi-step coding tasks, refactoring, or codebase maintenance while maintaining full control over model choice and costs. | Individual developers and teams who required highly customizable, agentic workflows within VS Code and preferred selecting their own LLM providers. |
| Not ideal for | Users who prefer simple, passive autocomplete-style code suggestions over an interactive, agent-based workflow that requires decision-making and task oversight. | Users seeking a maintained or actively supported product, or those preferring simple, plug-and-play AI tools without configuration. |
| Verdict | Cline is a powerful, highly transparent, and flexible agentic coding tool that excels at integrating deep codebase context with external tools, making it a top choice for developers seeking an extensible and non-proprietary AI assistant. | Roo Code is a discontinued, unmaintained project and is not recommended for new adoption; users are advised to migrate to Cline or Kilo Code. |

## Key features

### Cline

- Plan and Act modes for strategy alignment and autonomous execution
- Multi-file codebase awareness with linter and compiler integration
- Real-time terminal command execution and monitoring
- Model-agnostic support for frontier and local open-weight models
- Extensible architecture via SDK, MCP, and custom plugins

### Roo Code

- Role-specific modes like Architect, Code, Ask, and Debug
- Model-agnostic support for multiple LLM providers
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) server integration
- Codebase indexing using vector embeddings
- Configurable auto-approval for actions and commands

## FAQ

### Is Cline or Roo Code free?

Cline is Open Source; Roo Code is Free. Check each tool's detail page for full pricing breakdowns.

### Which should I choose, Cline or Roo Code?

Cline is best for Developers who need an agentic assistant for complex, multi-step coding tasks, refactoring, or codebase maintenance while maintaining full control over model choice and costs. Roo Code is best for Individual developers and teams who required highly customizable, agentic workflows within VS Code and preferred selecting their own LLM providers.

### What is the main difference between Cline and Roo Code?

Cline (Cline) is listed as IDE Extensions & Plugins; Roo Code (Roo Code) is listed as IDE Extensions & Plugins. Cline is an AI-powered coding agent that functions within your editor or terminal to autonomously execute complex development tasks. It operates through a human-in-the-loop archit… By contrast, Roo Code was an open-source AI-powered coding agent for VS Code that enabled developers to automate tasks, refactor code, and execute terminal commands. It utilized a role-based '…

## Links

- Cline review: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cline
- Cline alternatives: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cline/alternatives
- Roo Code review: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code
- Roo Code alternatives: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code/alternatives