Cline vs Zhipu GLM Coding Plan
Compare Cline and Zhipu GLM Coding Plan: free credits, features, and ratings. Which one is right for you?
Category
Coding Assistant
Coding Assistant
Rating
β 4.5
β 3.5
Free Credits
999999 unlimited
4.7 undefined
Refresh Period
none
unlimited
Resolution
N/A
N/A
Watermark
No
No
Commercial Use
Yes
Yes
Paid From
Free (BYOK)
Lite $30/quarter (~$10/mo)
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.)
Zhipu GLM Coding Plan
Zhipu's AI coding subscription paired with ZCode IDE. Free models available (GLM-4.7-Flash, GLM-4.5-Flash). Paid tiers: Lite ~$10/mo, Pro ~$30/mo, Max ~$80/mo (quarterly billing). Compatible with 20+ coding tools. Subscribers get 1.5x quota in ZCode.
Pros
- βFree models truly unlimited
- βGLM-5.1 flagship coding model
- βWorks with 20+ coding tools (Claude Code/Cursor/Cline etc)
- βFree MCP tools with subscription (vision/search/reader)
- β1.5x quota for subscribers in ZCode
- βEasy payment via Alipay in China
Cons
- βQuarterly billing only, no monthly
- βFlash models lack depth for complex tasks
- βGLM-5 requires Pro tier
- βPrices increased 30%+, no first-purchase discount
Key Features
Unlimited free Flash modelsZCode 3.0 coding tool (self-developed Agent)Multi-model: GLM-5.1/5-Turbo/4.7/4.6OpenAI/Claude API compatibleFree vision/search/reader MCP toolsWorks with Claude Code/Cursor/Cline/Codex CLI and 20+ tools