Claude Code: An Advanced Development Environment
Claude Code is a cutting-edge development environment crafted by Anthropic, designed specifically for macOS users. This tool supports Claude 4.5 and Claude Sonnet 4.5, offering an impressive context window of over 400,000 tokens. While it does not support local inference, users benefit from full terminal access and agentic editing capabilities across multiple files. A significant feature is its commitment to privacy, with a Zero Data Retention (ZDR) policy, ensuring user data is not stored. With SOC2 Type II certification, Claude Code assures enterprise-level security. The pricing model ranges from $0 to $200 per month, accommodating various user needs. However, setup is required for migration, which may require additional effort.
Pros
- ✓ Supports Claude 4.5 and Claude Sonnet 4.5
- ✓ Zero Data Retention (ZDR) privacy mode
- ✓ Full terminal access
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification
Cons
- ✕ Requires setup for migration
- ✕ No local inference support
- ✕ Limited to macOS
Cline: A Versatile and Open-Source Development Tool
Cline is an open-source development tool compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, developed by Cline. It supports a range of large language models including GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, and Ollama. Cline offers local inference capabilities, making it a versatile choice for developers who prefer to process data on their machines. The tool provides full terminal access and multi-file agentic editing, similar to Claude Code. Although it follows a standard privacy policy, it is a free tool, which makes it accessible to a broad range of users. The seamless migration process ensures a smooth transition for users switching to Cline.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems
- ✓ Local inference capabilities
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ Seamless migration process
Cons
- ✕ Standard privacy policy
- ✕ No predictive edits
- ✕ May require open-source contributions for updates
Comparison Table
| Feature | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | Anthropic | Cline (open-source) |
| Supported Llms | Claude 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5 | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, Ollama |
| Context Window | 400,000+ tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Zero Data Retention (ZDR) | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | $0 – $200/mo | Free |
| Config File | .clauderc | .clinerc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Seamless |
Conclusion
Both Claude Code and Cline offer robust features for developers, with Claude Code excelling in privacy and enterprise security, while Cline stands out for its free access and local inference capabilities. The choice between the two will largely depend on the user’s priorities, such as privacy, cost, and platform compatibility.