Windsurf vs Cline
Compare Windsurf and Cline: free credits, features, and ratings. Which one is right for you?
Category
Coding Assistant
Coding Assistant
Rating
β 4
β 4.5
Free Credits
0 undefined
999999 unlimited
Refresh Period
one-time
none
Resolution
N/A
N/A
Watermark
No
No
Commercial Use
No
Yes
Paid From
$20/month
Free (BYOK)
Windsurf
AI coding IDE, formerly Codeium. Free plan at $0/month with Light usage. Cascade feature for multi-file editing. Pro at $20/mo.
Pros
- βFree plan $0/mo
- βGreat Cascade multi-file editing
- βClean interface
- βStudent pricing available
Cons
- βLimited free usage
- βFewer model choices than Cursor
- βDirection uncertain after acquisition
Key Features
Cascade multi-file editingAI Agent modeTab smart completionJetBrains pluginStudent pricing
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.)