Cline vs Kimi Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Cline starts at $9.99/mo and Kimi Code starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Plan and Act modes
- Bring your own key
- MCP support
- Cline CLI
- Per-task cost display
- Terminal coding agent
- Desktop app
- VS Code extension
- Runs tests and builds
- 1M-token context
| Feature | Cline | Kimi Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal | Moonshot AI's coding agent for the terminal, desktop and IDE |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | Moonshot AI |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Cline starts at $9.99/mo and Kimi Code starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
Open Source
Free
- Free VS Code extension and CLI
- Bring your own model API keys
Enterprise
Contact sales
- JetBrains extension
- SSO and SLA
- Dedicated support
- Centralized billing
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Cline
- Free and open source
- Transparent token costs
- Works with local models
- API bills can grow quickly
- Approving each step slows long tasks
Kimi Code
- Very long context for large codebases
- One subscription across desktop, CLI and IDE
- Membership includes other Kimi tools
- Requires a paid Kimi membership
- Desktop app download listed for macOS only
- Plan prices not shown on the product page
Which one should you choose?
Choose Cline if you want:
- Free and open source
- Transparent token costs
- Works with local models
Watch out: api bills can grow quickly.
Choose Kimi Code if you want:
- Very long context for large codebases
- One subscription across desktop, CLI and IDE
- Membership includes other Kimi tools
Watch out: requires a paid kimi membership.
Cline vs Kimi Code FAQ
What is the difference between Cline and Kimi Code?
Cline: Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal. Kimi Code: Moonshot AI's coding agent for the terminal, desktop and IDE. Both are coding tools.
Is Cline or Kimi Code cheaper?
Cline starts at $9.99/mo and Kimi Code starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Cline and Kimi Code have free plans?
Cline: Yes. Kimi Code: No.
Who makes Cline?
Cline is made by Cline Bot Inc., based in United States.
Who makes Kimi Code?
Kimi Code is made by Moonshot AI, based in China.
Which should I choose, Cline or Kimi Code?
Choose Cline if you value free and open source and transparent token costs. Choose Kimi Code if you value very long context for large codebases and one subscription across desktop, cli and ide.