Cline vs JetBrains AI Assistant
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
AI chat and code suggestions inside JetBrains IDEs, with separate model and agent choices.
- Free access
- Cline: Free access
- JetBrains AI Assistant: Free access
- Paid from
- Cline: USD 9.99 per month
- JetBrains AI Assistant: EUR 10 per user per month
- Plans listed
- Cline: 4
- JetBrains AI Assistant: 3
- Public API
- Cline: Yes
- JetBrains AI Assistant: Not confirmed
Where Cline and JetBrains AI Assistant differ
- Open sourceOnly Cline is open source.
- CardJetBrains AI Assistant needs a card to start; Cline does not.
- Pricing checkSome prices or terms not confirmed for Cline; prices confirmed for JetBrains AI Assistant.
- PlansCline lists 4 plans and JetBrains AI Assistant lists 3.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| Cline | Fact | JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableOpen Source · USD 0 | Free accessSame | Free access availableAI Free · EUR 0 |
| USD 9.99 per monthClinePass | Lowest listed paid plan | EUR 10 per user per monthAI Pro, individual · billed monthly |
| Free open source software; models paid per use (own API key or Cline credits) or ClinePass at $9.99/month; Enterprise custom | Pricing model | Eligible Free tier; personal Pro EUR 10 per month |
| 4 | Plans listedDiffers | 3 |
| Yes | Public API | Not confirmed |
| Not required | Card to startDiffers | Required |
| 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 | Reviewing refactoring suggestions within JetBrains IDEs |
| Coding | CategorySame | Coding |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 24, 2026 | Pricing checkDiffers | Prices confirmed · Sep 27, 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
JetBrains AI Assistant
Prices confirmed · Sep 27, 2026- AI FreeEUR 0
- AI Pro, individualEUR 10 per user per monthbilled monthly
- AI Ultimate, individualEUR 30 per user per monthbilled monthly
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.
JetBrains AI Assistant
Strengths
- Work in a familiar IDE: The assistant is integrated with supported JetBrains products rather than requiring a separate coding editor.
- Inspect suggestions before applying: Chat mode supports a deliberate review step for generated code.
- Choose the context: Files and symbols can be attached to focus a question on a specific change.
Limits to plan around
- Free-tier IDE restrictions: AI Free is unavailable in Android Studio and specified free/community IDE editions; check the exact product and license.
- Cloud budget varies by task: A long conversation or agent run can use more credits than a short code explanation.
- AI and IDE licenses differ: An AI subscription does not replace the required IDE license; bundled entitlements depend on the product.
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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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.