Cline vs TRAE
Plans, free access, limits and intended use side by side, taken from each vendor’s own pages. No score and no winner: the facts show where the two differ.
Change tools
Open source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and the browser, paid per model use
Budget dollars of model usage, not messages
- Free access
- Cline: Free access
- TRAE: Free access
- Paid from
- Cline: USD 9.99 per month
- TRAE: USD 3 per month in the US
- Plans listed
- Cline: 4
- TRAE: 5
- Public API
- Cline: Yes
- TRAE: Not confirmed
Where Cline and TRAE differ
- Open sourceOnly Cline is open source.
- Pricing checkSome prices or terms not confirmed for Cline; prices confirmed for TRAE.
- PlansCline lists 4 plans and TRAE lists 5.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| Cline | Fact | TRAE |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableOpen Source · USD 0 | Free accessSame | Free access availableFree · USD 0 outside the US |
| USD 9.99 per monthClinePass | Lowest listed paid plan | USD 3 per month in the USLite · $2.25 a month billed yearly; $8 per month in 12 listed countries |
| Free open source software; models paid per use (own API key or Cline credits) or ClinePass at $9.99/month; Enterprise custom | Pricing model | Free plan; Pro $20/month ($10 in the US) |
| 4 | Plans listedDiffers | 5 |
| Yes | Public API | Not confirmed |
| Not required | Card to start | Not confirmed |
| Yes | Open sourceDiffers | No |
| What it is for | ||
| Developers who want an approval-based coding agent and choose and pay for their own models | Built for | Agentic coding in a desktop IDE on a metered budget |
| Coding | CategorySame | Coding |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 24, 2026 | Pricing checkDiffers | Prices confirmed · Oct 2, 2026 |
Official source check for both tools. No hands-on testing and no score: “Differs” marks a documented difference, not a better tool.
Plans and prices
Cline
Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 24, 2026- Open SourceUSD 0
- Cline credits (usage-billing)Pay as you go; inference at cost
- ClinePassUSD 9.99 per month
- EnterpriseCustom quote
TRAE
Prices confirmed · Oct 2, 2026- FreeUSD 0 outside the US
- LiteUSD 3 per month in the USUSD 2.25 a month billed yearly; $8 per month in 12 listed countries
- ProUSD 20 per month outside the USUSD 200 billed yearly; $10 per month in the US · $7.50 a month billed yearly
- Pro+USD 60 per month outside the USUSD 600 billed yearly; $30 per month in the US · $22.50 a month billed yearly
- UltraUSD 200 per month outside the USUSD 2,000 billed yearly; $100 per month in the US · $75 a month billed yearly
Strengths and limits
Cline
Strengths
- No software fee: The extension, CLI and desktop app are free for individual developers, with no subscription or seat fee on the open source path.
- Open source client: The GitHub repository is published under the Apache 2.0 licence, so the code can be read, forked and built.
- Wide model choice: Your own key for dozens of providers, local models, or one Cline balance across 100+ models; switching provider does not lock you in.
Limits to plan around
- Open-ended model bill: Pay-as-you-go cost follows token use, so a long task on a frontier model can cost more than a flat-priced editor plan.
- ClinePass limits unquantified: ClinePass is measured against 5-hour, weekly and monthly limits, but the docs give no amounts, and it covers only curated open models.
- No refunds on credits: The terms say fees are non-refundable, including unused credits and unused subscription time, unless the law requires otherwise.
TRAE
Strengths
- A free way to start: Outside the US, Free includes Auto mode, a limited allowance and 5,000 autocompletions a month; first-time US subscribers get a one-time 7-day Pro trial.
- Itemized usage records: The Usage page lists each charge with the model, time and amount deducted.
- Prorated refund on upgrades: Moving to a higher tier refunds the unused share of the old plan automatically.
Limits to plan around
- A budget, not unlimited use: Paid plans include a fixed dollar allowance; heavy agent work needs a higher tier or pay-as-you-go.
- Chats may train models by default: Chat content, code snippets and outputs can be used for training unless Privacy mode is on while signed in.
- Plans and prices differ by region: Subscriptions are sold only in listed countries, Lite in fewer still, and US visitors see a separate price list without a Free card.
See both products
Start from your task, not from a winner.
Run both tools on the same real task, then compare the result, how much editing it needs and how fast it uses your plan’s allowance.
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Comparing tools from different categories is fine, and often useful — a writing assistant and a research tool solve different halves of the same job. The table will show you exactly where they diverge.
Questions about comparing tools
How does the comparison work?
Add two tools to the comparison tray from any tool card, then open this page. The table pulls each tool's verified plan details, platforms, strengths and limits from its profile, so both columns carry the same kind of evidence, with a separate source-check date for each tool.
Do you declare a winner?
No. The table sets two tools against each other on documented facts, not on a score. Which one wins depends on your task, your budget and your usage volume — three things we cannot see from here.
Why are some cells empty or marked unverified?
Because we could not confirm that detail on the vendor's own pages. Rather than filling the gap with a figure from elsewhere, we mark it and say why on the tool's profile.
Can I compare more than two tools?
Not at once. Two columns keep the differences readable and force a real decision. Remove either selected tool to replace it, or clear both to start a new pair.
Every figure in the table above comes from the linked profile, where the source and the verification date are listed. Browse all tools or read the editorial policy.