# Cline vs OpenMausBot

> OpenMausBot scores 65.4 (B) to Cline's 60.5 (C) for agent harnesses. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot.md (~3,650 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot.min.md (~630 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-10-30

OpenMausBot scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.5 (C), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Cline leads on reliability and maintenance & community. Both do agent harnesses.

- Cline: grade C, 60.5/100, rank #594 of 1239. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cline.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cline.json
- OpenMausBot: grade B, 65.4/100, rank #368 of 1239. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openmausbot.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/openmausbot.json
- Best agent harnesses and coding agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/agent-harnesses/index.md
- All 875 harnesses comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-harnesses/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Cline (C)

Good 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.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 80 against 60
- Maintenance & community, 85 against 74

Watch for: The CLI approves every tool by default outside ACP mode and starts on Cline's own provider

### OpenMausBot (B)

Good for: A person or an outside agent who wants several CLI agents (Claude Code, Codex, Grok, ACP CLIs) organised as named bots with their own computers, routines and approvals, driven by MCP or a CLI.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 90 against 77
- Agent ergonomics, 77 against 67

Also in its favour:
- Runs on your own machine

Watch for: New bots start at Full access, which approves provider permission requests without a card


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Cline | OpenMausBot | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 80 | 60 | Cline +20 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 77 | 90 | OpenMausBot +13 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 77 | OpenMausBot +10 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 57 | 59 | OpenMausBot +2 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 50 | 50 | even |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 85 | 74 | Cline +11 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 62 | 59 | Cline +3 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -8 | -2 | |
| **Total** | | **60.5 · C** | **65.4 · B** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Cline | OpenMausBot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |
| Vendor | Cline Bot Inc. | Supamaus Software Private Limited |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports |  | stdio |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Tools exposed | none | 20 |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-10-01 | 2026-10-30 |
| Terms last updated | 2025-09-25 | 2026-10-10 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-09-24 | 2026-10-18 |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | yes | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | not found in the text |
| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | not found in the text |
| Popularity | 68k stars | 8.2k stars, 3.5k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2/5 (2) | none |

## 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.

**OpenMausBot.** A bounded 20-tool MCP server with typed schemas, annotations and idempotent sends, and a headless CLI with JSON output and exit codes, let another agent hand work to a bot team and wait on it. New bots start at Full access, so provider permission requests pass without a card, and usage analytics stay on until switched off.

## Before you call either

### Cline

1. Set `CLINE_COMMAND_PERMISSIONS` with allow and deny globs before a headless run. The CLI approves every tool by default
2. Pick a provider with `-P` and a key, or run `cline auth`. The default provider needs a Cline sign-in
3. Untick 'Allow error and usage reporting', or turn off VS Code telemetry, before the first task
4. Pin the CLI version. 2.3.0 was a malicious publish
5. Keep the hub on 127.0.0.1 or set ROOM_SECRET, and run 3.0.30 or later

### OpenMausBot

1. Ask the owner for a pairing code from Settings > Phone, exchange it at `POST /api/auth/pair`, and set `OPENMAUSBOT_TOKEN` with an explicit `OMB_PORT`
2. Pass a `send_id` with every `send_bot_message` and `send_channel_message`, so a retry returns the first receipt
3. Use `wait_for_conversation` instead of polling, and on `needs-user` stop and tell the owner a card is waiting
4. Check a bot's access level with the owner before sending work. New bots run at Full access unless defaults were changed
5. Ask the owner to switch off Settings > General > Usage analytics if nothing beyond model calls should leave the machine

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Cline or OpenMausBot?

OpenMausBot scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against Cline's 60.5 (C), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Cline leads on reliability and maintenance & community.

### Are Cline and OpenMausBot open source?

Yes. Cline is open source (Apache-2.0). OpenMausBot is open source (Apache-2.0).


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openmausbot.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "cline", "b": "openmausbot"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cline openmausbot`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cline.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/openmausbot.json

## Other comparisons with Cline or OpenMausBot

- [Agent Zero vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-cline.md)
- [Agent Zero vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Aider vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-cline.md)
- [Aider vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Amp vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-cline.md)
- [Amp vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Antigravity CLI vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-cline.md)
- [Antigravity CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Auggie CLI vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-cline.md)
- [Auggie CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Claude Code vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cline.md)
- [Claude Code vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Cline vs Crush](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-crush.md)
- [Cline vs Cursor CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-cursor-cli.md)
- [Cline vs DeepSeek Harness (dsh)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-deepseek-harness.md)
- [Cline vs Devin](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-devin.md)
- [Cline vs Droid CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-droid-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Pi](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-earendil-pi.md)
- [Cline vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli.md)
- [Cline vs GitHub Copilot CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-github-copilot-cli.md)
- [Cline vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-goose.md)
- [Cline vs Harness²](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-harness2.md)
- [Cline vs HarnessRouter](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-harnessrouter.md)
- [Cline vs Jules](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-jules.md)
- [Cline vs Junie CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-junie.md)
- [Cline vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kiro-cli.md)
- [Cline vs mini-swe-agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-mini-swe-agent.md)
- [Cline vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Cline vs Mistral Vibe CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Muse Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-muse-code.md)
- [Cline vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex.md)
- [Cline vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-opencode.md)
- [Cline vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openhands.md)
- [Cline vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-prime-agent.md)
- [Cline vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qoder-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code.md)
- [Cline vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-reflection-mirror.md)
- [Cline vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)
- [Cline vs Unstoppable](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-unstoppable.md)
- [Cline vs Vibe-Trading](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-vibe-trading.md)
- [Cline vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-warp.md)
- [Crush vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Cursor CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Devin vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Droid CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Pi vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Gemini CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [goose vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Harness² vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [HarnessRouter vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Jules vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Junie CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Kimi Code CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Kiro CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [mini-swe-agent vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mini-swe-agent-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Mistral Vibe CLI vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mistral-vibe-cli-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Muse Code vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/muse-code-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [OpenAI Codex vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [OpenCode vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/opencode-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [OpenHands vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openhands-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [CLI Manager vs Cline](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-cline.md)
- [CLI Manager vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [Cline vs Harness](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-harness-autonomous.md)
- [Cline vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-paperclip.md)
- [Cline vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-parallax-agents.md)
- [Harness vs OpenMausBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-openmausbot.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-paperclip.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-parallax-agents.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-prime-agent.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-qoder-cli.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-qwen-code.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-reflection-mirror.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Unstoppable](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-unstoppable.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Vibe-Trading](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-vibe-trading.md)
- [OpenMausBot vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openmausbot-vs-warp.md)

---

Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp