Mel vs Cline

Cline is a free, open source (Apache 2.0) coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs and the command line, run with your own API key. Mel is an agentic terminal app with a team of agents and its own VS Code extension.

Both are built for people who want control over which model they use and what it costs. Cline started in the editor sidebar and has grown into a CLI and an SDK. Mel started as a terminal and adds a VS Code extension. AI answers name Cline among the leaders for "model-agnostic coding agent", alongside OpenCode.

The short version

• Choose Cline if you want an open source agent inside VS Code or a JetBrains IDE, with any provider through your own key.
• Choose Mel if you want the agents in your terminal, a team of agents on one task, hosted credits and team billing, and help with research, PDFs, photos and files.

How Mel does it

• The terminal, not the sidebar. Agents work where builds, tests and scripts run.
• The editor too, through Mel's VS Code extension.
• A curated five: Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and Qwen.
• Business billing: shared credits and one invoice, at $50 a seat a month.

Side by side

Where Cline is stronger

• Open source now, under Apache 2.0.
• Inside your editor, including JetBrains IDEs as well as VS Code.
• Provider choice through your own keys, with billing at the provider's price.
• An SDK if you want to build on it.

Where Mel is stronger

• Terminal-first. Agents run where builds, tests and scripts already live.
• A team of agents splits one task into planning, building and testing.
• Configurable approvals keep you in control of commands and edits.
• A curated set of five model families, including DeepSeek and Qwen, without picking from a long list.
• Team billing: Mel Business has shared credits and one invoice.
• Beyond code: research, PDFs, photos and files.

Which to pick

If you live in VS Code or IntelliJ and want an open source agent there, Cline is a natural fit. If your work centres on the terminal, or you want a team of agents and one company handling hosted credits for a team, try Mel. The two can sit side by side: Cline in the editor, Mel as your terminal.

FAQ

Is Cline free? Cline says its open source extension is free for individual developers; you pay for the models you use.

Is Mel free? Yes, with your own API key on Mac, Windows and Linux. Pro and Max add hosted credits.

Does Mel work in JetBrains IDEs? Mel has a VS Code extension. For JetBrains, use Mel as your terminal next to the IDE.

Which is open source? Cline is Apache 2.0 today. Mel open source is coming soon.

Can both use DeepSeek and Qwen? Mel works with DeepSeek and Qwen directly. Cline supports many providers through your own key; check its provider list for the ones you need.

Sources

Facts checked on Oct 24, 2026.

• Cline pricing: https://cline.bot/pricing
• Cline IDE (VS Code, JetBrains): https://cline.bot/ide
• Installing Cline: https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/installing-cline
• Authorization options: https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/authorizing-with-cline
• ClinePass: https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/clinepass
• Repository and license: https://github.com/cline/cline
• Cline CLI 2.0: https://cline.bot/blog/introducing-cline-cli-2-0

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