Cline vs Bolt.new (2026)
Pricing, features and who each one is for, checked against both vendors' pricing pages in November 2026.
Quick verdict: These solve different jobs: Cline is a open-source coding agent, Bolt.new is a ai app and website builder. Many developers use one of each. Cline is cheaper to start (free (pay for inference)). Pick Cline for open-source AI coding tools, cheap and free AI coding tools, professional developers. Pick Bolt.new for beginners, AI app builders for non-coders.
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Side by side
| Cline | Bolt.new | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-source coding agent | AI app and website builder |
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | StackBlitz |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | Free (pay for inference) | From $25/mo |
| Plans | Free and open source for individuals; pay only for model inference (or bring your own API key). Enterprise custom | Free (1M tokens/mo), Pro $25/mo (from 10M tokens), Teams $30/member/mo; up to 28% off yearly |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Runs in | VS Code extension, CLI, SDK | Web |
Cline strengths
- No subscription or seat fees
- Any model provider, no lock-in
- MCP marketplace and client-side architecture
Bolt.new strengths
- Clear token-based pricing
- Hosting and custom domains on Pro
- Tokens roll over for up to two months
Cline drawbacks
- Costs vary with how much inference you burn
- JetBrains extension and SSO are Enterprise-only
Bolt.new drawbacks
- Free sites carry Bolt branding
- Tokens aren't shared between team members