Aider vs Cline (free)
Home › Guides · Last checked 2026-10-20 · Facts verified from each project's docs unless marked tested
Both are free and Apache-2.0. Aider is a terminal pair-programmer that edits your git repo. Cline is an autonomous coding agent in VS Code (also available as a CLI). Both need a language model: API usage can cost money, while a local model through Ollama or a free tier like Gemini or Groq keeps it free.
| Aider | Cline | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Where it runs | Terminal | VS Code (and CLI) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Model | Bring your own | Bring your own |
| Catch | API usage can cost money | API usage can cost money |
See all free coding assistants or read Continue vs GitHub Copilot.
FAQ
Which is better for VS Code users?
Cline, since it runs as a VS Code extension.
Which is better for terminal users?
Aider. It works from the command line and commits changes to your git repo.
Are they really free?
The tools are free. The model may not be: paid API keys bill per use. Local models via Ollama cost nothing beyond hardware.
How do they compare with Copilot?
See our Continue vs GitHub Copilot guide for the autocomplete side.