kitio.aiCline vs Novel
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Novel is completely free, while Cline is freemium.
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
- Notion-style editing
- AI autocompletion
- Tiptap-based
- Vercel AI SDK
- Live demo
| Feature | Cline | Novel |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal | Open-source Notion-style editor with AI autocompletion |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | Steven Tey |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Novel is completely free, while Cline is freemium.
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
Novel
- Free and open source
- Familiar block-editor behavior
- Documentation and demo included
- Developer component, not a finished app
- Needs your own OpenAI key and setup
- Limited detail on features beyond the demo
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 Novel if you want:
- Free and open source
- Familiar block-editor behavior
- Documentation and demo included
Watch out: developer component, not a finished app.
Cline vs Novel FAQ
What is the difference between Cline and Novel?
Cline: Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal. Novel: Open-source Notion-style editor with AI autocompletion. Both are coding tools.
Is Cline or Novel cheaper?
Novel is completely free, while Cline is freemium.
Do Cline and Novel have free plans?
Cline: Yes. Novel: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Cline?
Cline is made by Cline Bot Inc., based in United States.
Who makes Novel?
Novel is made by Steven Tey.
Which should I choose, Cline or Novel?
Choose Cline if you value free and open source and transparent token costs. Choose Novel if you value free and open source and familiar block-editor behavior.