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Comparison · AI coding assistants

Cline vs Cursor: which is better in 2026?

Cline86.5#5 in best AI coding assistantsCursor92.0#2 in best AI coding assistants

Cursor ranks higher in our list of AI coding assistants (#2 against #5, score 92.0 against 86.5).

How we rank Share

  • 86.5
    Editorial score
    92.0
  • 4
    Platforms
    3
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • Yes
    Open source
    No

Which should you choose?

Choose Cline if you want

Open-source agent that works with any model.

An Apache 2.0 agent for desktop, IDE, terminal and SDK, with Plan and Act modes and MCP support. Cost depends on the model provider, and its ability to run commands needs careful permission settings.

Choose Cursor if you want

Developers who want an AI-first editor.

An AI-first editor with agents, cloud agents and team controls, and a free Hobby plan with limits. It is an editor you switch to, so teams that want to keep their current editor may prefer an extension.

The main differences

  • Cline is open source; Cursor is not.

Side by side

ClineCursor
Score86.592.0
Rank in list#5 of 10#2 of 10
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source under Apache 2.0; the site also lists Enterprise optionsFree plan, paid upgradesFree Hobby plan with limits; Individual $20 a month; Teams $40 per user a month
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesNo
PlatformsWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineWindows, macOS, Linux, Command linemacOSWindowsLinuxmacOS, Windows, Linux
Made byCline Bot Inc.Not stated
InterfaceDesktop app, IDE, CLI and SDKAI code editor
Model choiceAny model the user connectsSeveral frontier models
Commits to gitNot listedNot listed
Best forOpen-source agent that works with any modelDevelopers who want an AI-first editor
Strengths
  • Apache 2.0 license with source on GitHub
  • Plan and Act modes separate proposing from running
  • Works with any model the user connects
  • Free Hobby plan without a credit card
  • Agents, cloud agents and MCP support on paid plans
  • Team billing, SSO and usage analytics on Teams
Limits
  • Model costs depend on the provider the user connects
  • The agent can run bash commands, so permissions need care
  • Hobby plan limits agent requests
  • Some features use usage-based billing
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Cline vs Cursor

Is Cursor better than Cline?
Cursor ranks higher in our list of AI coding assistants (#2 against #5, score 92.0 against 86.5). Cline is best for: open-source agent that works with any model. Cursor is best for: developers who want an AI-first editor.
Which is cheaper, Cline or Cursor?
Cline: Free and open source under Apache 2.0; the site also lists Enterprise options. Cursor: Free Hobby plan with limits; Individual $20 a month; Teams $40 per user a month.
Do Cline and Cursor run on the same platforms?
Cline supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line. Cursor supports macOS, Windows, Linux.

Choosing between the two

Learning Center
1:17Beginner · 4 min readHow to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.1:20Beginner · 6 min readHow to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.

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