kitio.aiCline vs Qwen Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Qwen Code 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
- Terminal agent
- Long-context support
- OpenAI-compatible providers
- Subagents
- Apache 2.0 license
| Feature | Cline | Qwen Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal | Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | Alibaba Qwen Team |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Qwen Code 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
Qwen Code
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
- No longer has a free hosted tier
- Best results need Qwen models
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 Qwen Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
Watch out: no longer has a free hosted tier.
Cline vs Qwen Code FAQ
What is the difference between Cline and Qwen Code?
Cline: Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal. Qwen Code: Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models. Both are coding tools.
Is Cline or Qwen Code cheaper?
Qwen Code is completely free, while Cline is freemium.
Do Cline and Qwen Code have free plans?
Cline: Yes. Qwen Code: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Cline?
Cline is made by Cline Bot Inc., based in United States.
Who makes Qwen Code?
Qwen Code is made by Alibaba Qwen Team, based in China.
Which should I choose, Cline or Qwen Code?
Choose Cline if you value free and open source and transparent token costs. Choose Qwen Code if you value free and open source and works with cheap open models.