App Comparison · category peers
Cline vs Windsurf
Systematic comparison of Cline and Windsurf across deployment, access, interfaces, automation, and sourced product capabilities. Green highlights mark stronger normalized product-surface values; qualitative tradeoffs remain neutral.
Product Surface
Side-by-Side App Facts
| Field | Cline | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Cline Bot Inc. | Windsurf |
| Category | Coding agent | Coding agent |
| Lifecycle | Active | Active |
| Released | Unknown | Unknown |
| Access | Open source | Proprietary |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Unknown |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local execution | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud execution | No | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Interfaces | CLI, IDE extension, SDK | IDE, CLI |
| Model access | Supports multiple model providers | Windsurf-managed and supported frontier models |
| Automation | Headless CLI for scripts and CI/CD | Cascade workflows, rules, memories, and tool calls |
| Multi-agent | Unknown | Unknown |
| Persistent memory | Unknown | Yes |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Open-source software; model-provider costs are separate | Free and paid individual and team plans |
13 comparable fields · 8 material differences · Editorially curated pair with developer-owned primary sources
Shared Surface
Overlapping Documented Capabilities
Developer Evidence
Sources and Freshness
Questions
Cline vs Windsurf FAQs
Is Cline or Windsurf better for coding?+
Model Markets does not currently publish a normalized coding-quality benchmark for apps. Cline documents 5 capabilities and Windsurf documents 6; compare their shared capabilities, interfaces, execution modes, and model access rather than treating feature count as coding quality.
Can Cline or Windsurf run locally?+
Both document support.
Does Cline or Windsurf support MCP?+
Both document support.
Which supports multi-agent workflows and persistent memory?+
Multi-agent: Neither has a definitive sourced value. Persistent memory: Windsurf is the only one currently documented with support.
Is Cline or Windsurf open source?+
Cline uses a open source access model under Apache-2.0; Windsurf uses a proprietary access model.
Which platforms support Cline and Windsurf?+
Cline: macOS, Windows, and Linux. Windsurf: macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Can Cline and Windsurf run in the cloud?+
Windsurf is the only one currently documented with cloud execution.
How can I interact with Cline and Windsurf?+
Cline documents CLI, IDE extension, and SDK; Windsurf documents IDE and CLI.
Which has more integrations, Cline or Windsurf?+
Cline has 4 documented integrations; Windsurf has 3. Integration count measures sourced breadth, not depth or reliability.
How does pricing differ between Cline and Windsurf?+
Cline: Open-source software; model-provider costs are separate. Windsurf: Free and paid individual and team plans. These qualitative plan descriptions are not ranked as if they were equivalent prices.