kitio.aiCline vs Refraction
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $10 for Cline.
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
- Bug detection
- Language conversion
- Function generation
- Inline documentation
- Mermaid diagrams
- VS Code extension
| Feature | Cline | Refraction |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal | AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | Refraction |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $10 for Cline.
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
4 plans
Hobby
Free
- One user
- 10 code generations in total
Pro
$8/mo
- Unlimited code generations
- Unlimited history
- Editor extensions
Team
$14/mo
- Per user
- Shared code history
- Team management
Enterprise
Contact sales
- SSO and SCIM
- Audit logs
- Dedicated support
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
Refraction
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
- Free use stops after 10 generations
- Task-based actions, not a full coding agent
- No student or nonprofit discount yet
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 Refraction if you want:
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
Watch out: free use stops after 10 generations.
Cline vs Refraction FAQ
What is the difference between Cline and Refraction?
Cline: Open-source coding agent for VS Code and the terminal. Refraction: AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs. Both are coding tools.
Is Cline or Refraction cheaper?
Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $10 for Cline.
Do Cline and Refraction have free plans?
Cline: Yes. Refraction: No, trial available.
Who makes Cline?
Cline is made by Cline Bot Inc., based in United States.
Who makes Refraction?
Refraction is made by Refraction.
Which should I choose, Cline or Refraction?
Choose Cline if you value free and open source and transparent token costs. Choose Refraction if you value low monthly price for unlimited use and many small utilities in one tool.