Cline vs Roo Code
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026 — here is how it compared to Cline, the upstream project it forked from, and what migrating costs.
Updated August 28, 2026 · Independent comparison — Cline, Roo Code are separate products.
Cline
Open-source, bring-your-own-key coding agent
Cline is an open-source (Apache-2.0) AI coding agent for VS Code and JetBrains, with a preview CLI. It is model-agnostic and bring-your-own-key, and centers on a Plan/Act workflow, MCP support with a built-in MCP Marketplace, checkpoints, and browser automation. Cline also offers ClinePass, a $9.99/month flat-rate subscription for generous access to open-weight coding models. Roo Code was a fork of Cline, so migrating back to the upstream project is a natural path.
Roo Code
Discontinued VS Code coding agent (a Cline fork)
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026: its VS Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026, the repository was archived, and the team pivoted to Roomote and Slack tooling. It had been an open-source (Apache-2.0) AI coding agent for VS Code — a fork of Cline — known for its multiple modes (Architect, Code, Debug, Ask, and the Orchestrator/Boomerang mode), auto-approve controls, MCP support, checkpoints, and custom modes stored in .roomodes. It was model-agnostic and bring-your-own-key. Official guidance now points former users to Cline (the upstream it forked from) or Kilo Code (which reads Roo's .roomodes).
Bottom line
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026 — here is how it compared to Cline, the upstream project it forked from, and what migrating costs. Choose Cline if you want an actively maintained agent — Cline is the upstream Roo Code forked from; choose Roo Code if you can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived.
Status & Availability
| Feature | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Active (maintained) | Discontinued (shut down May 15, 2026) |
| Repository | Active, open source | Archived |
| Updates / support | Ongoing | None (team pivoted to Roomote) |
| Still installable | ✓ | Removed from marketplaces |
| Relationship | Upstream (Roo forked from Cline) | Discontinued fork |
Licensing & Platforms
| Feature | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Client license | Open source (Apache-2.0) | Was open source (Apache-2.0) |
| Runs in | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI | VS Code only (was) |
| Local OS support | macOS, Linux, Windows | macOS, Linux, Windows (was) |
| Source availability | Public on GitHub | Archived on GitHub |
Models & Providers
| Feature | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Model choice | Any model via BYOK | Was model-agnostic (BYOK) |
| Multi-vendor models | ✓ | Was multi-vendor |
| Managed model option | ClinePass $9.99/mo (open models) | ✗ |
| Local models | ✓ | Was supported |
Agent Experience
| Feature | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Modes / workflow | Plan / Act modes | Architect, Code, Debug, Ask, Orchestrator (was) |
| Multi-agent orchestration | Via tasks / MCP | Orchestrator / Boomerang (was) |
| MCP support | Yes (+ MCP Marketplace) | Was supported |
| Checkpoints / undo | Built-in checkpoints | Was supported |
| Custom modes / rules | .clinerules | .roomodes (Kilo Code reads these) |
Openness & Migration
| Feature | Cline | Roo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Standout feature | Plan/Act + MCP Marketplace + checkpoints | Modes + Orchestrator (discontinued) |
| Recommended target | Adopt Cline directly | Migrate to Cline or Kilo Code |
| Config portability | Fresh .clinerules setup | .roomodes portable to Kilo Code |
| Ownership | Independent (Cline Bot) | Discontinued |
The Verdict
Choose Cline if...
- ✓You want an actively maintained agent — Cline is the upstream Roo Code forked from.
- ✓You want the Plan/Act workflow, MCP Marketplace, checkpoints, and built-in browser use.
- ✓You want to bring your own key across Claude, GPT, Gemini, or local models.
- ✓You want optional ClinePass flat-rate access to open-weight models.
- ✓You work in VS Code or JetBrains and want a preview CLI too.
Choose Roo Code if...
- ✓You can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived.
- ✓If you loved Roo's Orchestrator/Boomerang mode, Kilo Code is the designated successor and reads your .roomodes.
- ✓If you want the upstream Roo forked from, Cline is the recommended path.
- ✓For any new project, choose an actively maintained agent instead of Roo Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cline and Roo Code?
Cline is an open-source (Apache-2.0) AI coding agent for VS Code and JetBrains, with a preview CLI. Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026: its VS Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026, the repository was archived, and the team pivoted to Roomote and Slack tooling.
Should I choose Cline or Roo Code?
Choose Cline if you want an actively maintained agent — Cline is the upstream Roo Code forked from. Choose Roo Code if you can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived.
1DevToolMigrating off Roo Code?
Roo Code is discontinued, so you're choosing a new home anyway. 1DevTool is a multi-agent workspace that runs Cline, OpenCode, Claude Code, Codex CLI, and other CLI agents side by side in persistent terminals — bring your own keys or subscriptions, no lock-in. It adds a built-in HTTP client, 13-engine database client, and embedded browser, all wired into Send-to-AI. One-time $29, no subscription.