Cline vs GitHub Copilot
Compare Cline and GitHub Copilot: free credits, features, and ratings. Which one is right for you?
Category
Coding Assistant
Coding Assistant
Rating
β 4.5
β 4.5
Free Credits
999999 unlimited
2000 completions/month (free tier)
Refresh Period
none
monthly
Resolution
N/A
N/A
Watermark
No
No
Commercial Use
Yes
Yes
Paid From
Free (BYOK)
$10/month
Cline
Open-source AI coding assistant for VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI. Supports 200+ models including Claude, GPT, Gemini. Launched ClinePass in June 2026 with curated models like GLM 5.1 - no API key needed. Free to use with your own API key. 63K+ GitHub stars.
Pros
- βFully open source, Apache 2.0 license
- βModel-agnostic, use any provider
- βActive community, fast updates
- βMulti-platform: terminal, IDE, web
- βAuto error detection and fixing
Cons
- βRequires your own API key
- βComplex tasks burn tokens fast
- βMany config options, learning curve for beginners
Key Features
VS Code ExtensionJetBrains PluginCLI Terminal ModeKanban Multi-Agent BoardPlan/Act Dual Mode200+ AI Model SupportMCP Server ExtensionsAuto Linter Error FixClinePass Model Service (GLM 5.1 etc.)
GitHub Copilot
Microsoft's AI coding assistant, deeply integrated with VS Code and GitHub. Code completion, Chat, and Agent mode. Free for students and OSS maintainers, $10/month for individuals.
Pros
- βDeep VS Code integration, smooth experience
- βFree Pro for students and OSS maintainers
- βSupports both GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet
- βIndustry-leading completion accuracy
- βSeamless GitHub ecosystem integration
Cons
- βFree tier limited to 2000 completions/month
- βAgent mode only in Pro ($10/month)
- βSuggestions can be verbose sometimes
Key Features
Code Auto-CompletionChat ModeAgent Autonomous CodingMulti-File EditingTerminal Command GenerationPR Summary GenerationCode Review Suggestions