Open-source IDE agents · Checked Sep 08, 2026
Cline vs. Continue
Choose Cline for a maintained interactive editor agent. Keep Continue only for an existing final 2.0 installation while you plan migration; its repository is read-only.
By Ros · No universal winner · No paid ranking · Unknown stays unknown
01 / Verified matrix
The working difference
| Criterion | Cline | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | IDE extension | IDE extension |
| Surfaces | VS Code, JetBrains, Terminal, Web | VS Code, JetBrains, Terminal, GitHub |
| Autonomy | Background agent work | Background agent work |
| Model strategy | Cloud and local models through multiple providers | Role-based cloud and self-hosted models |
| Deployment | Cloud + self-hosted | Cloud + self-hosted |
| Starting point | Free client; inference billed separately | Free, open-source clients |
| Billing basis | Subscription or usage | Subscription or usage |
| Code processing | BYOK requests are sent from the client to the configured provider; Cline’s hosted provider is an optional alternative. | The IDE extension and CLI send selected context to the configured model provider; local and self-hosted providers are supported. |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle | Active | Discontinued |
| Last verified | Sep 08, 2026 | Sep 08, 2026 |
02 / Workflow fit
Choose by constraint
Approval-driven implementation
ClineCline centers an interactive agent loop with explicit tool use and broad provider access inside supported editors.
Read profile →Existing Continue installation
ContinueContinue 2.0 preserves role-based model configuration and source-controlled behavior for current users, but it is no longer actively maintained.
Read profile →03 / Composition
Using both
Do not add Continue to a new stack. During migration, run both only long enough to reproduce Continue model roles, instructions, and checks in the maintained replacement.
04 / Switching
Migration cost
Model-provider credentials and repositories remain external. Inventory Continue configuration, model roles, instruction files, approval defaults, and CI checks; recreate and test each behavior before removing the final client.
Where they differ
Cline is a maintained agent beside the developer, making tool use and approval part of the visible loop. Continue’s final release retains broader configuration concepts across IDE, CLI, and checks, but its acquisition by Cursor and read-only repository make lifecycle—not feature preference—the deciding difference.
What to test
For an existing Continue deployment, use the same provider and a safe fixture repository in the proposed replacement. Compare approval ergonomics, diff quality, failed-test recovery, model routing, and source-controlled settings before migrating production repositories.
05 / Evidence
Primary sources
- Cline repository and product overview ↗Checked Sep 08, 2026
- Continue IDE extension quick start ↗Checked Sep 08, 2026
- Continue repository ↗Checked Sep 08, 2026