Updated for 2026
Clinevs
Trae
Not sure which fits your workflow in 2026? Compare pricing, features, and trade-offs — then switch tools below to explore more options in this category.
ai-ide
Cline
Cline is a widely used open-source VS Code coding agent with autonomous edits, terminal tools, MCP, and bring-your-own models. One of the most popular AI coding tools on VS Code.
Visit Clineai-ide
Trae
Trae is China's first AI-native IDE, launched by ByteDance in January 2025 (International) and March 2025 (Domestic), competing with Cursor and Windsurf. Key features: dual development modes (IDE & SOLO), natural language coding support, and built-in major AI models
Visit TraeBasics
| Feature | Cline | Trae |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Company | Cline | ByteDance |
| Country | United States | China |
| Region / Availability | Global | Global (strong China availability) |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | Cline | Trae |
|---|---|---|
| Model | open-source | freemium |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | $0/mo | $3/mo |
| Plan 1 | Open Source: Free | Free: Free |
| Plan 2 | ClinePass: $9.99/moCline's official paid plan includes multiple built-in models. | Lite: $3/moInfinite auto-completion, multi-mode support, 2 concurrent cloud tasks. |
| Plan 3 | Model usage: 自定义模型价格Pay your model provider | Pro: $10/moMore credits, unlimited auto-completion, multi-mode support, 10 concurrent cloud tasks. |
| Plan 4 | — | Pro+: $30/mo3.5x Pro credits. |
| Plan 5 | — | Ultra: $100/mo20x Pro credits, priority access to advanced models. |
Feature checklist
| Feature | Cline | Trae |
|---|---|---|
| Visual IDE UI | ✓ | ✓ |
| OS Platforms | macOS / Windows / Linux (via VS Code) | macOS / Windows / Linuxhttps://www.trae.ai/download |
| Third-party Models | ✓https://cline.bot/models | ✓https://docs.trae.cn/ide_models |
| MCP / Plugins | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skills Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| VS Code Extension | ✓ | ✓https://www.trae.cn/plugin |
| JetBrains Plugin | ✓https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/28247-cline | ✓https://www.trae.cn/plugin |
| AI Autocomplete | ✗ (Not supported, but can be paired with completion plugins like Copilot or Continue for support.) | ✓ |
| Chat / Inline Agent | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-file Edit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codebase Indexing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terminal Integration | ✓https://cline.bot/cli | ✓ |
| Local LLM Support | ✓ | ✓https://docs.trae.cn/ide_models |
| Open Source | ✓https://github.com/cline/cline | ✗ |
| Team Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Privacy Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| VS Code Compatible | ✓ | ✓ |
| Autonomous Agent | ✓ | ✓ |
| Git Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Use Case | VS Code agent extension for autonomous edits with bring-your-own models | ByteDance AI IDE for everyday coding with strong China-region availability |
Pros & cons
Cline
- Open-source ai agent inside VS Code
- Custom models and MCP are highly flexible
- Active community and fork ecosystem
- Not a standalone IDE — requires VS Code
- Setup and guardrails are more DIY
- UX polish trails commercial AI IDEs
Trae
- Dual-mode switching: IDE mode and AI Agent task mode
- Modern AI IDE feature set
- Fast iteration from ByteDance engineering
- Data residency concerns for some teams
- English docs / community still growing
- Enterprise SSO story less mature
Dimension scores
Editorial 0–10 scores across shared dimensions — higher is better for that axis.
| Dimension | Cline | Trae |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 8.2 | 7.5 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 6.5 |
| Value | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| Depth | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Ecosystem | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| DX | 7.5 | 7.5 |
- Cline
- Trae
FAQ
Is Cline better than Trae? (2026)
It depends on workflow. Cline emphasizes open-source coding agent that runs as a vs code extension with mcp and byo models. Trae emphasizes bytedance’s ai-native ide focused on builder velocity. Use the feature checklist above for your stack.
Which use cases fit Cline vs Trae?
- Cline: VS Code agent extension for autonomous edits with bring-your-own models
- Trae: ByteDance AI IDE for everyday coding with strong China-region availability
What are the main differences between Cline and Trae?
- OS Platforms: Cline (macOS / Windows / Linux (via VS Code)) vs Trae (macOS / Windows / Linux)
- AI Autocomplete: Cline (no (Not supported, but can be paired with completion plugins like Copilot or Continue for support.)) vs Trae (yes)
- Open Source: Cline (yes) vs Trae (no)
- Team Collaboration: Cline (no) vs Trae (yes)
How do Cline and Trae compare on pricing?
Cline pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: open source
- Starting from ~$0/mo
- Plan Open Source: Free
- Plan ClinePass: $9.99/mo
- Plan Model usage: 自定义模型价格
Trae pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: freemium
- Starting from ~$3/mo
- Plan Free: Free
- Plan Lite: $3/mo
- Plan Pro: $10/mo
Always verify current prices on the vendor site before buying.
Do Cline and Trae offer a free tier?
- Cline: Has a free tier
- Trae: Has a free tier
Are Cline and Trae open source?
- Cline: yes
- Trae: no
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Related alternatives
Disclaimer:Not Financial or Investment Advice, Educational/Dev Tool Comparison Only. Information may change; always verify pricing on the vendor site before purchasing.