Cline vs Grok

Compare Cline and Grok: free credits, features, and ratings. Which one is right for you?

Feature
Category
Coding Assistant
API Platform
Rating
⭐ 4.5
⭐ 3.5
Free Credits
999999 unlimited
0 undefined
Refresh Period
none
unlimited
Resolution
N/A
N/A
Watermark
No
No
Commercial Use
Yes
Yes
Paid From
Free (BYOK)
$8/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

  • βœ“Fully open source, Apache 2.0 license
  • βœ“Model-agnostic, use any provider
  • βœ“Active community, fast updates
  • βœ“Multi-platform: terminal, IDE, web
  • βœ“Auto error detection and fixing

Cons

  • βœ—Requires your own API key
  • βœ—Complex tasks burn tokens fast
  • βœ—Many 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.)
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Grok

xAI's (Elon Musk) large language model. Grok 4.2/4.3 went viral on Bilibili. Free to use with no restrictions on mobile and PC. After removing limits, the experience rivals paid alternatives.

Pros

  • βœ“Completely free to use
  • βœ“Strong Chinese language ability
  • βœ“Works on mobile and PC
  • βœ“High popularity with active community

Cons

  • βœ—May need workarounds to remove restrictions
  • βœ—May need VPN for access in China

Key Features

Chat Q&ACode generationImage understandingReal-time web access
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