{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "cline",
      "name": "Cline",
      "vendor": "Cline Bot Inc.",
      "vendorUrl": "https://cline.bot",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Open-source coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, a CLI and a desktop app, all on one TypeScript SDK since extension 4.0.0 (26 June 2026).",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cline.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/cline/cline",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "cline"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Your own provider keys (kept in ~/.cline/data/settings/providers.json for the CLI), a local model, or a Cline account (Google, GitHub or email sign-in) for the Cline provider and ClinePass. The CLI's default provider is Cline's own, so it needs `-P` and a key, or `cline auth`, to use anything else.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "The extension, CLI and SDK are free and Apache-2.0. You pay your model provider, or buy Cline credits for pay-as-you-go access to 100+ models through the Cline provider, or ClinePass at $9.99 a month for higher limits on selected open models. Free models rotate for signed-in users. Enterprise (SSO, role-based access, audit logs, SLA) is priced by sales. We found no public per-token price list for Cline credits.",
      "priceSummary": "$9.99 / mo",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the pricing page or the source (checked 2026-10-01).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 67600,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-01"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://docs.cline.bot",
      "llmsTxt": "https://docs.cline.bot/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness",
        "agent.mcp-client",
        "agent.multi-agent"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "open-source",
        "local",
        "freemium",
        "typescript",
        "llms-txt",
        "telemetry-default-on",
        "enterprise",
        "no-card"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-10-01",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 60.4,
        "grade": "C",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 464,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 842,
        "categoryRank": 11,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 67,
          "maintenance": 85,
          "payments": 50,
          "reliability": 80,
          "schema": 77,
          "security": 57,
          "transparency": 61
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": -8,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "2026-02-17. GHSA-9ppg-jx86-fqw7. An attacker used a compromised npm publish token to release cline@2.3.0 with a postinstall script that ran `npm install -g openclaw@latest`. It was live for about eight hours before 2.4.0 and a deprecation, the token was revoked and publishing moved to OIDC. A supply-chain incident that reached users, fixed and documented and seven months old, -4. https://github.com/cline/cline/security/advisories/GHSA-9ppg-jx86-fqw7",
          "2026-05-08. GHSA-5c57-rqjx-35g2 (CVE-2026-44211, 9.6). The kanban server the CLI uses accepted WebSocket connections on 127.0.0.1:3484 without checking Origin, so any website could read workspace data and inject commands. Affects kanban before 2.13.0. Inside six months, -2. https://github.com/cline/cline/security/advisories/GHSA-5c57-rqjx-35g2",
          "2026-06-23. GHSA-3cj3-hqcr-g934 (CVE-2026-59723, 8.8). The Cline Hub dashboard's `/browser` WebSocket accepted cross-origin connections when ROOM_SECRET was unset, the local default, letting a website add MCP servers to the settings file and run commands. NVD lists versions before 3.0.30 as affected. Inside six months, -2. https://github.com/cline/cline/security/advisories/GHSA-3cj3-hqcr-g934"
        ],
        "verdict": "Approval before edits and commands in the IDE, with command auto-approval off by default since 4.0.0. The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider.",
        "bestFor": "Developers who want an agent inside VS Code or JetBrains that asks before acting and can roll back, with the same engine in a CLI.",
        "strengths": [
          "Approval before edits and commands in the IDE, with command auto-approval off by default since 4.0.0",
          "Checkpoints that restore files and task state, and sessions that resume by ID",
          "`CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS` allow and deny globs for shell commands, with deny taking precedence and redirects blocked",
          "Your own key for about 200 providers, or a local model, with no Cline account",
          "29 extension and 34 CLI releases since 3 July 2026, with tests passing on main"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider",
          "Extension telemetry on by default, and the CLI's telemetry undocumented",
          "A compromised npm token shipped cline@2.3.0 with an unwanted global install in February 2026",
          "Two cross-origin WebSocket flaws in its local servers in May and June 2026",
          "About 700 open issues and 525 open pull requests"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Set `CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS` with allow and deny globs before a headless run. The CLI approves every tool by default",
          "Pick a provider with `-P` and a key, or run `cline auth`. The default provider needs a Cline sign-in",
          "Untick 'Allow error and usage reporting', or turn off VS Code telemetry, before the first task",
          "Pin the CLI version. 2.3.0 was a malicious publish",
          "Keep the hub on 127.0.0.1 or set ROOM_SECRET, and run 3.0.30 or later"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 2,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "C",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 60.4
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 67,
          "maintenance": 85,
          "payments": 50,
          "reliability": 80,
          "schema": 77,
          "security": 57,
          "transparency": 60
        },
        "provenanceScore": 61
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "npm i -g cline   # Node 22+; or the VS Code extension saoudrizwan.claude-dev",
        "headless": {
          "command": "cline --json -P anthropic -k \"$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY\" \"$TASK\"",
          "env": {
            "CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS": "{\"allow\": [\"npm test\", \"git diff *\"], \"deny\": [\"rm *\", \"sudo *\"]}"
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/cline"
      },
      "area": "frameworks",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "ClinePass",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 9.99,
          "note": "higher limits on selected open coding models"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Cline Bot Inc.",
        "domain": "cline.bot",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "https://cline.bot/tos",
        "privacy": "https://cline.bot/privacy",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://github.com/cline/cline/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The pricing page and the CLI's package.json name Cline Bot Inc.",
          "cline.bot/.well-known/security.txt lists security@cline.bot and the Bugcrowd programme, and expires on 2027-12-31.",
          "The privacy and terms pages render only with JavaScript, so we couldn't read them."
        ],
        "score": 61
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "cline",
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "cline/cline",
            "version": "desktop-v0.0.45",
            "released": "2026-10-08",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:05:43.225899402Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "cline",
            "version": "3.0.70",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:05:40.021205578Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 70026,
        "npmWeekly": 95033,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://cline.bot/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "valid",
          "expires": "2027-12-31T23:59:00z",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:39:00.499934829Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://docs.cline.bot/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:11.542837422Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "cline.bot",
          "registered": "2024-09-30",
          "source": "https://rdap.nominet.uk/bot/domain/cline.bot",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:10:22.024872209Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cline/cline/main/CHANGELOG.md",
            "kind": "deprecations",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:24:03.804390431Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-07T18:09:02.66614484Z",
            "fingerprint": "afe1a35c4bbd"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://cline.bot/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:16:11.11005196Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-08T18:16:11.11005196Z",
            "fingerprint": "7c5e50c585e0"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://cline.bot/tos",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:16:13.372700135Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-08T18:16:13.372700135Z",
            "fingerprint": "9f6fe5247cb8"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T18:24:03.804390431Z"
      }
    },
    "answer": "Kilo Code CLI scores 75.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.4 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.",
    "b": {
      "slug": "kilo-code-cli",
      "name": "Kilo Code CLI",
      "vendor": "Kilo Code Inc.",
      "vendorUrl": "https://kilo.ai",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Open-source coding agent for the terminal, forked from opencode and built from the same repository as Kilo's VS Code and JetBrains extensions. It runs with your own provider key, a local model or the Kilo Gateway.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kilo-code-cli.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode",
      "license": "MIT",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@kilocode/cli"
        },
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@kilocode/sdk"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Your own provider key in `~/.config/kilo/kilo.jsonc` or the environment, a local model, or a Kilo account through `kilo auth login` for the Kilo Gateway and its free models. `kilo serve` runs unauthenticated unless `KILO_SERVER_PASSWORD` is set.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "The CLI is free and MIT-licensed, and needs no Kilo account with your own key or a local model. Kilo Gateway credits are billed at provider rates with a 5 per cent fee on credit purchases. Kilo Pass starts at $19 a month, Teams is $15 a user a month and Enterprise is quoted. The pricing page says the free tier needs no card.",
      "priceSummary": "$19 / mo",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the pricing page or the README (checked 2026-10-08).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 27539,
        "npmWeekly": 32804,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-08"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://kilo.ai/docs/code-with-ai/platforms/cli",
      "llmsTxt": "https://kilo.ai/docs/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness",
        "agent.mcp-client",
        "agent.multi-agent"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "harness",
        "coding-agent",
        "cli",
        "open-source",
        "typescript",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "telemetry-default-on",
        "freemium",
        "no-card",
        "local"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-10-07",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 75.4,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 47,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 842,
        "categoryRank": 1,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 72,
          "maintenance": 87,
          "payments": 50,
          "reliability": 85,
          "schema": 90,
          "security": 66,
          "transparency": 76
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-08"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Shell commands ask before running by default, and an optional operating-system sandbox blocks writes outside the workspace and outbound network. Telemetry to PostHog is on by default and the sandbox is off, so an unattended `kilo run --auto` approves everything not denied unless both are configured first.",
        "bestFor": "Developers who want an open-source terminal agent with per-tool permission rules, an optional sandbox and a choice of provider, and the same engine in VS Code and JetBrains.",
        "strengths": [
          "Permission rules of `allow`, `ask` or `deny` per tool with glob patterns, and shell commands asking by default outside a built-in allow list",
          "A sandbox on macOS and Linux that limits writes, blocks network by default and refuses to run when it can't be enforced",
          "Project config can't weaken the sandbox or read environment variables through `{env:VAR}`",
          "Your own provider key or a local model works with no Kilo account",
          "37 stable releases since 10 July 2026, with the last 40 workflow runs on main passing on 8 October 2026"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Telemetry to PostHog is on by default, and the privacy policy and PRIVACY.md don't mention it",
          "The sandbox is off by default and unavailable on Windows",
          "`kilo run` lists no flag for a turn, time or cost limit",
          "The terms grant a perpetual licence to use uploaded Customer Data to improve Kilo's services",
          "SECURITY.md still says the CLI has no sandbox, and the changelog has no dates or breaking-change headings"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Set `sandbox.enabled` to true in the global `kilo.jsonc` before `kilo run --auto`. `--auto` approves every permission request not explicitly denied",
          "Set `experimental.openTelemetry` to false, or `KILO_TELEMETRY_LEVEL` to a value other than `all`, to stop telemetry",
          "Add needed hosts to `sandbox.allowed_hosts` in global config. MCP tool calls are unavailable while network restriction is on",
          "Without `--auto` a non-interactive run rejects every permission prompt and exits 1",
          "Put provider keys in global config or the environment. `{env:VAR}` in a project `kilo.json` is ignored"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 0,
        "avgRating": 0,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 75.4
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 72,
          "maintenance": 87,
          "payments": 50,
          "reliability": 85,
          "schema": 90,
          "security": 66,
          "transparency": 61
        },
        "provenanceScore": 90
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "npm install -g @kilocode/cli   # or: brew install Kilo-Org/tap/kilo",
        "headless": {
          "command": "kilo run --auto --format json \"$TASK\""
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/kilo-code-cli"
      },
      "area": "frameworks",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Kilo Pass, entry tier",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 19,
          "note": "monthly model credits with bonus credits, optional"
        },
        {
          "item": "Teams plan",
          "unit": "seat-month",
          "usd": 15,
          "note": "model use billed separately at provider rates"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Kilo Code Inc. (the terms are a contract with Anaconda, Inc. on behalf of itself and its affiliates, including Kilo Code Inc.)",
        "domain": "kilo.ai",
        "domainRegistered": "2017-12-16",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "https://kilo.ai/terms",
        "privacy": "https://kilo.ai/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.kilo.ai",
        "changelog": "https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode/blob/main/packages/opencode/CHANGELOG.md",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "notes": [
          "The terms (last updated 30 September 2026) name the CLI among the services they cover and are made with Anaconda, Inc. The privacy policy (29 May 2026) names Kilo Code Inc. as data controller.",
          "kilo.ai/.well-known/security.txt lists security@kilo.ai and the policy at kilo.ai/security, names the CLI in scope and expires on 2026-12-31.",
          "trust.kilo.ai redirects to trust.anaconda.com, which has a Kilo Code section.",
          "status.kilo.ai is a Statuspage site for the website, gateway and cloud platform. The CLI runs on the owner's machine.",
          "PRIVACY.md in the repository is a separate short policy for the CLI dated March 2025."
        ],
        "score": 90
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "kilo-code-cli",
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.kilo.ai",
          "indicator": "maintenance",
          "summary": "Service Under Maintenance",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T09:25:16.387062715Z"
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-09T09:25:16.387062715Z"
      }
    },
    "facts": [
      {
        "a": "Agent harness",
        "b": "Agent harness",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "Cline Bot Inc.",
        "b": "Kilo Code Inc.",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "no (local only)",
        "b": "no (local only)",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "OAuth or key",
        "b": "OAuth or key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Freemium",
        "b": "Freemium",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "Apache-2.0",
        "b": "MIT",
        "name": "Licence"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-10-01",
        "b": "2026-10-07",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "2025-09-25",
        "b": "2026-09-30",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "2025-09-24",
        "b": "2026-05-29",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "not found in the text",
        "b": "not found in the text",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Terms restrict automated access"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "not found in the text",
        "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Terms or service can change without notice"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver"
      },
      {
        "a": "68k stars",
        "b": "28k stars, 33k npm/wk",
        "name": "Popularity"
      },
      {
        "a": "2/5 (2)",
        "b": "none",
        "name": "Agent reviews"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "Kilo Code CLI scores 75.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.4 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Cline or Kilo Code CLI?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. Cline is open source (Apache-2.0). Kilo Code CLI is open source (MIT).",
        "question": "Are Cline and Kilo Code CLI open source?"
      }
    ],
    "goodFor": [
      {
        "aheadOn": null,
        "also": null,
        "goodFor": "Developers who want an agent inside VS Code or JetBrains that asks before acting and can roll back, with the same engine in a CLI.",
        "slug": "cline",
        "watchFor": "The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider"
      },
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Reliability, 85 against 80",
          "Schema \u0026 documentation, 90 against 77",
          "Agent ergonomics, 72 against 67",
          "Security \u0026 auth, 66 against 57",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 76 against 61"
        ],
        "also": [
          "Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better",
          "No incidents deducted, where Cline loses 8 points for them"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Developers who want an open-source terminal agent with per-tool permission rules, an optional sandbox and a choice of provider, and the same engine in VS Code and JetBrains.",
        "slug": "kilo-code-cli",
        "watchFor": "Telemetry to PostHog is on by default, and the privacy policy and PRIVACY.md don't mention it"
      }
    ],
    "job": {
      "capability": "agent.harness",
      "name": "Agent harness"
    },
    "others": [
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cline.json",
        "title": "Aider vs Cline",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cline"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Aider vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-cline.json",
        "title": "Amp vs Cline",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-cline"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Amp vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cline.json",
        "title": "Claude Code vs Cline",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cline"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Claude Code vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-cursor-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Cursor CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-cursor-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-devin.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Devin",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-devin"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-earendil-pi.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Pi",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-earendil-pi"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-github-copilot-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs GitHub Copilot CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-github-copilot-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-goose.json",
        "title": "Cline vs goose",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-goose"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kiro-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Kiro CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kiro-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex.json",
        "title": "Cline vs OpenAI Codex",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-opencode.json",
        "title": "Cline vs OpenCode",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-opencode"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openhands.json",
        "title": "Cline vs OpenHands",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openhands"
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-prime-agent.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Prime Agent",
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code.json",
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
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        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Devin vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Pi vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "GitHub Copilot CLI vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "goose vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli.json",
        "title": "Kilo Code CLI vs Kiro CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli"
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openai-codex.json",
        "title": "Kilo Code CLI vs OpenAI Codex",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openai-codex"
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        "key": "reliability",
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        "name": "Reliability",
        "weight": 16
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        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
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        "cline": 77,
        "edge": "kilo-code-cli",
        "key": "schema",
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        "weight": 13
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        "key": "ergonomics",
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        "weight": 13
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        "cline": 57,
        "edge": "kilo-code-cli",
        "key": "security",
        "kilo-code-cli": 66,
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "by": 0,
        "cline": 50,
        "edge": "",
        "key": "payments",
        "kilo-code-cli": 50,
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "weight": 10
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      {
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        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
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        "cline": 85,
        "edge": "kilo-code-cli",
        "key": "maintenance",
        "kilo-code-cli": 87,
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "weight": 7
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        "by": 15,
        "cline": 61,
        "edge": "kilo-code-cli",
        "key": "transparency",
        "kilo-code-cli": 76,
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "weight": 7
      }
    ],
    "summary": "Kilo Code CLI scores 75.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.4 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do agent harness.",
    "verdicts": {
      "cline": "Approval before edits and commands in the IDE, with command auto-approval off by default since 4.0.0. The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider.",
      "kilo-code-cli": "Shell commands ask before running by default, and an optional operating-system sandbox blocks writes outside the workspace and outbound network. Telemetry to PostHog is on by default and the sandbox is off, so an unattended `kilo run --auto` approves everything not denied unless both are configured first."
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  "markdown": "Kilo Code CLI scores 75.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.4 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do agent harness.\n\n- Cline: grade C, 60.4/100, rank #464 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cline.json\n- Kilo Code CLI: grade BB, 75.4/100, rank #47 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kilo-code-cli.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Cline (C)\n\nGood for: Developers who want an agent inside VS Code or JetBrains that asks before acting and can roll back, with the same engine in a CLI.\n\nWatch for: The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider\n\n### Kilo Code CLI (BB)\n\nGood for: Developers who want an open-source terminal agent with per-tool permission rules, an optional sandbox and a choice of provider, and the same engine in VS Code and JetBrains.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 85 against 80\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 90 against 77\n- Agent ergonomics, 72 against 67\n- Security \u0026 auth, 66 against 57\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 76 against 61\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better\n- No incidents deducted, where Cline loses 8 points for them\n\nWatch for: Telemetry to PostHog is on by default, and the privacy policy and PRIVACY.md don't mention it\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Cline | Kilo Code CLI | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 80 | 85 | Kilo Code CLI +5 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 77 | 90 | Kilo Code CLI +13 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 72 | Kilo Code CLI +5 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 57 | 66 | Kilo Code CLI +9 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 50 | 50 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 85 | 87 | Kilo Code CLI +2 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 61 | 76 | Kilo Code CLI +15 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -8 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **60.4 · C** | **75.4 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Cline | Kilo Code CLI |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |\n| Vendor | Cline Bot Inc. | Kilo Code Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports |  |  |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | MIT |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-10-01 | 2026-10-07 |\n| Terms last updated | 2025-09-25 | 2026-09-30 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-09-24 | 2026-05-29 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | yes |\n| Popularity | 68k stars | 28k stars, 33k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 2/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Cline.** Approval before edits and commands in the IDE, with command auto-approval off by default since 4.0.0. The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider.\n\n**Kilo Code CLI.** Shell commands ask before running by default, and an optional operating-system sandbox blocks writes outside the workspace and outbound network. Telemetry to PostHog is on by default and the sandbox is off, so an unattended `kilo run --auto` approves everything not denied unless both are configured first.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Cline\n\n1. Set `CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS` with allow and deny globs before a headless run. The CLI approves every tool by default\n2. Pick a provider with `-P` and a key, or run `cline auth`. The default provider needs a Cline sign-in\n3. Untick 'Allow error and usage reporting', or turn off VS Code telemetry, before the first task\n4. Pin the CLI version. 2.3.0 was a malicious publish\n5. Keep the hub on 127.0.0.1 or set ROOM_SECRET, and run 3.0.30 or later\n\n### Kilo Code CLI\n\n1. Set `sandbox.enabled` to true in the global `kilo.jsonc` before `kilo run --auto`. `--auto` approves every permission request not explicitly denied\n2. Set `experimental.openTelemetry` to false, or `KILO_TELEMETRY_LEVEL` to a value other than `all`, to stop telemetry\n3. Add needed hosts to `sandbox.allowed_hosts` in global config. MCP tool calls are unavailable while network restriction is on\n4. Without `--auto` a non-interactive run rejects every permission prompt and exits 1\n5. Put provider keys in global config or the environment. `{env:VAR}` in a project `kilo.json` is ignored\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Cline or Kilo Code CLI?\n\nKilo Code CLI scores 75.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.4 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.\n\n### Are Cline and Kilo Code CLI open source?\n\nYes. Cline is open source (Apache-2.0). Kilo Code CLI is open source (MIT).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kilo-code-cli.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kilo-code-cli.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"cline\", \"b\": \"kilo-code-cli\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cline kilo-code-cli`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cline.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kilo-code-cli.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Cline or Kilo Code CLI\n\n- [Aider vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cline.md)\n- [Aider vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Amp vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-cline.md)\n- [Amp vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Claude Code vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cline.md)\n- [Claude Code vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs Cursor CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-cursor-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs Devin](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-devin.md)\n- [Cline vs Pi](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-earendil-pi.md)\n- [Cline vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs GitHub Copilot CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-github-copilot-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-goose.md)\n- [Cline vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kiro-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Cline vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-opencode.md)\n- [Cline vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openhands.md)\n- [Cline vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-prime-agent.md)\n- [Cline vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Devin vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Pi vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [goose vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-opencode.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openhands.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-prime-agent.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Cline vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-paperclip.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-paperclip.md)\n",
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