Cline Overview
Cline is a powerful standalone tool developed by the open-source community, designed to operate seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. It supports advanced language models such as GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, and Ollama, offering a substantial context window of 200k tokens. Cline allows for local inference, providing users with the ability to perform computations on their machines, which enhances privacy and control. With full terminal access and agentic editing capabilities across multiple files, Cline is a versatile tool for developers and data scientists. The tool’s privacy is governed by a standard privacy policy, and it boasts SOC2 Type II certification, ensuring enterprise-level security. Cline is free to use, making it accessible to a wide range of users without financial barriers. The configuration is managed through a .clinerc file, and migration to the tool is seamless, further enhancing its user-friendly nature.
Pros
- ✓ Open-source and free to use
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems
- ✓ Seamless migration
- ✓ Local inference capability
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification
Cons
- ✕ No predictive edits feature
- ✕ Standard privacy mode
OpenHands Overview
OpenHands is a cloud-based tool that provides robust support across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. It leverages cutting-edge language models, including GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, and Gemini 3.0, and offers a context window of 200k tokens. OpenHands allows users to perform local inferences, enhancing data privacy and processing speed. The tool supports agentic editing across multiple files and offers full terminal access. A standout feature of OpenHands is its predictive edits capability, which streamlines the editing process. While the tool adheres to a standard privacy policy, its SOC2 Type II certification ensures that enterprise security standards are met. Unlike Cline, OpenHands does not offer a free tier, and users must contact sales for pricing information. Configuration is managed via the .openhandsrc file, and setting up the tool requires initial setup, which may pose a barrier for some users.
Pros
- ✓ Predictive edits feature
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems
- ✓ Local inference capability
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification
Cons
- ✕ No free tier available
- ✕ Requires setup for migration
Comparison Table
| Feature | Cline | OpenHands |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | Cline (open-source) | OpenHands |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, Ollama | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, Gemini 3.0 |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free | Contact Sales |
| Config File | .clinerc | .openhandsrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Cline and OpenHands offer robust solutions for working with advanced language models, each with unique strengths. Cline’s open-source nature and free access make it highly accessible, while OpenHands offers advanced features like predictive edits. The choice between the two depends on user needs, budget, and preferred operational setup.