// head_to_head
Cline vs GitHub Copilot
Plans, included models and benchmark scores for Cline and GitHub Copilot, side by side — and which to pick for what.
All coding toolsPlans checked 2026-10-27
Which to choose
- You don’t want a subscription: Cline. Cline has no paid individual plan; you pay only for model usage.
- You want to pay per token with your own API key: Cline. Cline accepts your own API key, so cost tracks usage instead of a plan’s limits.
- You want to switch between labs’ models: Cline. Cline works with any model you have a key for.
Side by side
| Cline | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Cline (open source) | GitHub (Microsoft) |
| Where you use it | VS Code extension and CLI | IDE extensions, github.com, CLI and a cloud coding agent |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from | Tokens only | $10/mo · Pro |
| Best coding model | Any model | 97.7Claude Fable 5.1 |
| Best agentic model | Any model | 77.9Claude Fable 5.1 |
| Own API key | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
Cline plans and models
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free | Free extension and CLI; inference at cost or with your own key |
| Enterpriseteam | Customcustom | SSO, RBAC, centralised billing, SLA |
| Model | Coding | Long-horizon agentic | Same work via API |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Fable 5.1 | 97.7 | 77.9 | $6,540/mo |
| Claude Opus 5.5 | 96.3 | 72.8 | $2,672/mo |
| DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 | 96.0 | 40.9 | $171.36/mo |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | 96.0 | 68.7 | $1,336/mo |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | 94.7 | 63.4 | $1,336/mo |
Any model you have a key for — you pay the provider directly at cost.
GitHub Copilot plans and models
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Limited chat and agent usage; no cloud coding agent |
| Pro | $10/mo | $15 of AI credits a month ($10 base + $5 flex); cloud coding agent |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | $70 of AI credits a month; can delegate to Claude and Codex agents |
| Max | $100/mo | $200 of AI credits a month; can delegate to Claude and Codex agents |
| Model | Coding | Long-horizon agentic | Same work via API |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Fable 5.1 | 97.7 | 77.9 | $6,540/mo |
| Claude Opus 5.5 | 96.3 | 72.8 | $2,672/mo |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | 96.0 | 68.7 | $1,336/mo |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | 94.7 | 63.4 | $1,336/mo |
| GPT-6.1 Terra | 94.3 | 48.6 | $668.00/mo |
Cline vs GitHub Copilot FAQ
Is Cline or GitHub Copilot cheaper?
Cline has no paid individual plan — you pay only for tokens.
Which is better if you don’t want a subscription?
Cline. Cline has no paid individual plan; you pay only for model usage.
Which is better if you want to pay per token with your own API key?
Cline. Cline accepts your own API key, so cost tracks usage instead of a plan’s limits.
Do Cline and GitHub Copilot have free plans?
Cline: yes. GitHub Copilot: yes.
Where these numbers come from
- Plans and prices — each vendor's own pricing page, checked 2026-10-27: Cline, GitHub Copilot. Usage allowances change often; check before you buy.
- Model scores — LiveBench coding and long-horizon agentic categories for the models each plan includes, live from the same data as the leaderboard. A tool's own agent loop matters too; these scores rate the model, not the tool.
- “Same work via API” — a heavy coding-agent month (40K tokens in, 4K out, 20K requests, 70% cached input) at OpenRouter list price, for comparing a subscription against paying per token.