Cline vs Devon
Cline and Devon are both popular tools in the AI Agents space. Both use a open-source pricing model, with Cline starting at Free and Devon at Free. Both offer a free tier to get started. Below we break down features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide which tool fits your workflow best.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Choose Cline if you want an autonomous ai coding agent that runs right in your editor.. Cline's biggest strengths include full transparency with step-by-step approval and open-source and free to use with your own api keys. It's also rated higher (4.2 vs 3.7). Choose Devon if you prefer open-source autonomous ai software engineer inspired by devin.. Key advantages include free open-source alternative to devin and community-driven development and improvements.
An autonomous AI coding agent that runs right in your editor.
| Cline | Devon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Open-source | Open-source |
| Rating | ★ 4.2 | ★ 3.7 |
| Categories | Code Generation, AI Agents | AI Agents |
| Key Features | 6 features | 6 features |
| Feature | Cline | Devon |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous file creation and editing in VS Code | ✓ | — |
| Terminal command execution with approval workflow | ✓ | — |
| Browser interaction for testing and debugging | ✓ | — |
| Support for any LLM API (Claude, GPT-4, local models) | ✓ | — |
| Human-in-the-loop approval for every action | ✓ | — |
| MCP (Model Context Protocol) server support | ✓ | — |
| Autonomous software engineering agent | — | ✓ |
| Natural language task specification | — | ✓ |
| Codebase navigation and code editing | — | ✓ |
| Shell command execution | — | ✓ |
| Multi-step task planning and execution | — | ✓ |
| Support for multiple LLM providers | — | ✓ |
Cline
Pros
- + Full transparency with step-by-step approval
- + Open-source and free to use with your own API keys
- + Highly capable at complex multi-step tasks
- + Active community with frequent updates
Cons
- − API costs can add up quickly on complex tasks
- − Requires your own LLM API key to use
- − Can be slow on tasks requiring many iterations
Devon
Pros
- + Free open-source alternative to Devin
- + Community-driven development and improvements
- + Good for experimenting with autonomous agents
- + No expensive subscription required
Cons
- − Significantly less capable than commercial alternatives
- − Early-stage project with frequent breaking changes
- − Limited documentation and support
The Bottom Line
Choose Cline if: you want an autonomous ai coding agent that runs right in your editor.. It's completely free to use. It holds a higher user rating (4.2 vs 3.7). Keep in mind: api costs can add up quickly on complex tasks.
Choose Devon if: you prefer open-source autonomous ai software engineer inspired by devin.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: significantly less capable than commercial alternatives.
Both tools compete in the AI Agents space. The right choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and budget.
