I contract on client codebases where an unreviewed change is a real problem. Cline proposes each edit and waits. That single design decision is why it is the only agent I will point at client work — I have never had to explain an unexpected commit.
Pros
Nothing happens without approval. Cost per task is visible while you work. I can use the model the client already has a contract for.
Cons
No autocomplete, so I still keep Copilot running alongside it.
Problems it solves
Let me use an agent on client code without a trust problem.
T
Tom B.
Engineering Manager · SaaS · 51–200 employees
4.5
July 16, 2026
“How we evaluated agents before paying for any”
Used weekly for 6–12 months
We gave the team Cline and existing API keys for a month before committing budget. It cost about $9 a head and answered the question properly — three engineers took to agentic work and three did not. We then bought seats only for the three.
Pros
Zero procurement friction. Real agent capability, not a crippled trial.
Cons
Setup asks more of people than installing an extension and signing in. Two engineers needed help with API keys.
Problems it solves
Answered whether agents suited our team without a purchase order.
P
Priya N.
Founder · Consulting · 1–10 employees
4.0
June 22, 2026
“Watch the spend, it is not a flat fee”
Used weekly for 6–12 months
Excellent tool, and I want to be clear about the trade you are making. A long refactoring session with a frontier model cost me $14 in an afternoon. Cheaper than my time, more than a Cursor subscription. Set a cap on your provider account before you start.
Pros
Genuinely capable, completely free of licence cost, model choice is yours.
Cons
Usage costs are unbounded by default. Plan mode on a cheap model helps but you have to remember to use it.
