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Cline vs Windsurfwhich AI code agent should you pick in 2026?

Open-source autonomous coding agent that lives in your IDE.

💻CodeSemi-autonomousOpen source
CodeTool useBrowser

Codeium's AI editor — Cascade agent flows alongside in-line completion and chat.

💻CodeSemi-autonomousFreemium · from $15
CodeTool useMemoryBrowser

Cline vs Windsurf — specs

SpecClineWindsurf
Agent Rank77 / 100 (A)80 / 100 (A)
AutonomySemi-autonomousSemi-autonomous
PricingFree · OSSFreemium · from $15
Open sourceYesNo
CapabilitiesCode, Tool use, BrowserCode, Tool use, Memory, Browser
Integrations2 apps2 apps
VerifiedVerifiedVerified
ReleasedMay 2025Apr 2025

Categories: ClineCode · WindsurfCode

Agent Rank breakdown

Cline
Agent Rank
77/ 100
AA-tier
Autonomie
8
Capacités
6
Intégrations
4
Tarification
10
Maturité
8
Vérifiabilité
10

Calculé automatiquement à partir de l'autonomie, des capacités, des intégrations, de la tarification, de la maturité et de la vérification éditoriale. Mis à jour à chaque déploiement. Comment est-ce calculé ?

Windsurf
Agent Rank
80/ 100
AA-tier
Autonomie
8
Capacités
8
Intégrations
4
Tarification
8
Maturité
10
Vérifiabilité
10

Calculé automatiquement à partir de l'autonomie, des capacités, des intégrations, de la tarification, de la maturité et de la vérification éditoriale. Mis à jour à chaque déploiement. Comment est-ce calculé ?

Pros & cons

Cline
Pour
  • +Full transparency — every tool call and reasoning step visible
  • +Bring-your-own model key keeps proprietary code on your network
  • +Active OSS community, weekly releases
Contre
  • You manage the API key + token spend ($40–120/mo at daily use)
  • Less polished editor UX than Cursor
  • Plan-then-execute mode requires manual gating each turn
Windsurf
Pour
  • +Cascade agent flows are the strongest "watch it work" UI in any IDE-native agent
  • +Cheapest Pro tier in the category at $15/month
  • +Codeium has a deep model team — completion quality consistently leads
Contre
  • Smaller ecosystem of extensions than Cursor
  • Pro Ultimate ($60) is opaque on which models are actually premium
  • Memory feature less mature than Cursor + Claude Code memories

Pricing

Cline
Open source
Gratuit
Everyone
  • +Full extension free under MIT
  • +BYO model API key
  • +All tools and approval modes
  • +Self-host friendly
Windsurf
Free
Gratuit
Trial
  • +Limited Cascade flow runs
  • +Standard models
  • +Editor + chat
Recommandé
Pro
$15/mois
Working engineers
  • +Unlimited Cascade flows
  • +All Pro models
  • +Background agents
  • +Memories
Pro Ultimate
$60/mois
Power users
  • +Highest model priority
  • +Premium models included
  • +Higher concurrency
Teams
$35/siège/mois
Teams
  • +SSO + admin
  • +Usage analytics
  • +Shared memories

Which one should you pick?

Cline

Pick Cline if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters.

Try Cline →
Windsurf

Pick Windsurf if its specific capabilities (Code, Tool use) match what you need.

Try Windsurf →

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Frequently asked

Should I pick Cline or Windsurf in 2026?+

Pick Cline if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters. Pick Windsurf if its specific capabilities (Code, Tool use) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use Cline for primary work and Windsurf for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.

What's the price difference between Cline and Windsurf?+

Cline starts at Free · OSS; Windsurf starts at Freemium · from $15. Cline is the cheaper entry option. For team deployments the TCO can differ — use the AI Agent Rank TCO calculator for your specific volume.

Which is more autonomous, Cline or Windsurf?+

Both Cline and Windsurf are Semi-autonomous agents — neither has a meaningful autonomy advantage over the other. The decision should hinge on capabilities and pricing instead.

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Want the real monthly cost at your volume? Run the TCO calculator →
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Cline vs Windsurf (2026): which AI code agent wins? · AI Agent Rank