Cline Tool Overview
Cline is a standalone open-source tool developed by Cline, designed to work seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports an impressive array of large language models (LLMs) including GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, and Ollama, offering a context window of 200k tokens for extensive data processing. Users benefit from local inference capabilities, ensuring that processing can occur directly on their devices. Cline provides full terminal access and supports multi-file agentic editing, making it a robust choice for developers seeking flexibility and control. With SOC2 Type II certification, it assures enterprise-grade security, and its standard privacy policy ensures user data is handled with care. Cline is free to use, with a seamless migration process and easy configuration via the .clinerc file.
Pros
- ✓ Open-source and free to use
- ✓ Supports a wide range of operating systems
- ✓ Local inference capabilities
- ✓ Full terminal access
Cons
- ✕ No predictive edits available
- ✕ Standard privacy mode only
SWE-agent Tool Overview
SWE-agent is a cloud-based tool developed by SWE, designed mainly for Ubuntu 24.04 and 24.10. It supports prominent LLMs such as Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, and Gemini 1.0, with a similar 200k token context window. Unlike Cline, it does not offer local inference, relying instead on cloud processing which can be advantageous for users with powerful network connections. The tool provides full terminal access and supports multi-file agentic editing, making it suitable for complex projects. Also certified with SOC2 Type II, SWE-agent guarantees enterprise-level security. However, it lacks a free tier and requires users to contact sales for pricing details. Migration to SWE-agent requires setup, which may involve additional technical steps. Configuration is managed through the .sweagentrc file.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a variety of advanced LLMs
- ✓ Full terminal access
- ✓ Cloud-based processing
Cons
- ✕ No free tier available
- ✕ Requires setup for migration
- ✕ No local inference
Comparison Table
| Feature | Cline | SWE-agent |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 24.10 |
| Developer | Cline (open-source) | SWE |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, Ollama | Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, Gemini 1.0 |
| 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 | .sweagentrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Cline and SWE-agent offer unique features tailored to different user needs. Cline is ideal for users prioritizing local processing and cost-effectiveness, while SWE-agent is suited for those seeking cloud-based solutions with powerful language model support. Ultimately, the choice between these tools depends on specific operational requirements and budget considerations.