Gray vs Cline: which should you use?

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Short answer

Choose Cline if you want to approve every file edit and terminal command inside VS Code or JetBrains. Choose Gray if you want a minimal MIT harness in the terminal — one static binary, any provider — that runs unsupervised jobs on a schedule.

GrayCline
What it isMinimal, always-on AI harness: one Rust binary, open source (MIT)Open-source (Apache-2.0) AI coding extension for VS Code and JetBrains
WorkflowGeneral-purpose agent: edits and commands run through bash plus the plugins and skills you addPlan/Act loop where every file edit and command shows a diff and needs approval unless you toggle auto-approve
InterfaceTerminal REPL and headless mode; also a standalone CLIIDE sidebar with checkpoints to rewind the agent's work; a CLI exists for headless runs
ModelsAny OpenAI-compatible provider with your own API key; local models through Ollama; Claude Pro/Max and ChatGPT plans through official pluginsBring-your-own-key for Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, Ollama and OpenAI-compatible endpoints; optional ClinePass flat plan
Runs 24/7Yes — the gateway runs Gray as a user service, with cron and app connectionsLives inside your editor; headless CLI mode covers CI
Security modelRuns the model's shell commands with your user's privileges; no sandbox or approval prompt by default. The official permissions plugin adds approvalsPer-action approval is the default workflow; auto-approve is opt-in
PriceFree (MIT); you pay your model provider. Hosted Voyager plan $77/month, not yet openFree (Apache-2.0); pay your provider, or ClinePass at about $9.99/month

Is Gray safer than Cline?

Different defaults: Cline asks before every edit and command unless you opt into auto-approve. Gray runs the model's commands with your privileges and no prompt unless you add the official permissions plugin — run it isolated for untrusted work; see Safety.

Can I use Cline and Gray together?

Yes — they don't overlap. Cline handles supervised edits inside your editor; Gray handles terminal jobs, scheduled tasks and work that keeps running when the editor is closed.

When should you choose Cline instead?

Choose Cline if your day is editor-centered code review: visible diffs, checkpoints and per-action approval are its core design.

Sources

Competitor details are taken from the sources above as of the date at the top of this page. Products change quickly — if something here is out of date, open an issue on GitHub.