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Cline vs Roo Code (2026): Roo Code Is Archived, What Now?
Cline (Agentdex profile) and Roo Code (Agentdex profile) were two of the most popular open-source AI coding agents for VS Code. Roo Code began as a fork of Cline and added custom modes, and for a while the two competed feature for feature. That changed in 2026: the Roo Code team announced it was archiving the project to focus on Roomote, a cloud coding agent, and the GitHub repository was archived on May 15, 2026. This comparison covers where each tool stands as of October 24, 2026, based on official sites, docs and GitHub, and what to use now.
Key Takeaways
- Cline is actively developed: VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app, cloud agents and an Enterprise plan.
- Roo Code's repository was archived on May 15, 2026, so it no longer gets updates or fixes.
- Roo Code's creators now build Roomote, a source-available cloud coding agent.
- Zoo Code is a community fork that continues Roo Code with the same features and license.
- Both Cline and Roo Code are free, Apache 2.0 licensed and work with your own model keys.
- For new projects, Cline is the safer choice. Roo Code users who love modes can move to Zoo Code or Kilo Code.
Cline vs Roo Code at a glance
Cline | Roo Code | |
|---|---|---|
Status (Oct 2026) | Actively developed | Archived on GitHub (May 15, 2026) |
License | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 |
GitHub stars | About 70,800 | About 24,300 |
Origins | Repo created July 2024 | Fork of Cline; repo created October 2024 |
Workflow | Plan & Act modes, checkpoints, approvals | Code, Architect, Ask, Debug and custom modes |
Where it runs | VS Code, CLI, Cline Desktop, cloud agents; JetBrains on Enterprise | VS Code |
Models | Your own keys, Cline credits, ClinePass, local models | Your own keys and local models (model-agnostic) |
Paid options | ClinePass $9.99/month; custom Enterprise | None (team now sells Roomote) |
What happened to Roo Code?
Roo Code started as a fork of Cline (it was first called Roo Cline, which is why its VS Code Marketplace ID is still RooVeterinaryInc.roo-cline). It became known for custom modes and fast releases. In April 2026 the team announced it would archive Roo Code and focus on Roomote, and the RooCodeInc/Roo-Code repository on GitHub was archived on May 15, 2026. The code is still readable and an installed extension can keep running with your own keys, but there will be no new features, model updates or security fixes.
Roomote, available at roocode.com, is a source-available cloud coding agent. Its cloud plan starts at $49/month for up to 10 users, and self-hosting is free for up to 10 users. It is a different kind of product from the Roo Code extension, closer to cloud agents like Devin (Agentdex profile) than to an in-editor assistant.
A group of community developers forked Roo Code as Zoo Code, which keeps the same features, settings structure and Apache 2.0 license. Zoo Code says Roo Code settings can be exported and imported.
Workflow: Plan & Act vs modes
Cline uses two main modes. In Plan mode it reads your code and works out an approach with you without editing files. In Act mode it makes the changes, runs commands and asks for approval along the way unless you turn on auto-approve. Checkpoints let you roll back code changes while keeping the conversation.
Roo Code splits work into modes with different jobs: Code for writing code, Architect for planning, Ask for questions, Debug for tracking down bugs, plus custom modes you define with their own instructions and tool permissions. Many users liked this for keeping the agent focused on one kind of task.
Features compared
- MCP: both support the Model Context Protocol. Cline also has an MCP Marketplace.
- Rules and customization: Cline has rules files, skills, plugins and hooks. Roo Code has custom modes and custom instructions.
- Parallel work: Cline offers subagents, a Kanban view for parallel agents in separate git worktrees, and cloud agents.
- Terminal and automation: Cline has a CLI for terminal sessions, headless runs and GitHub Actions.
- Enterprise: Cline Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM, RBAC, audit logs and VPC deployment. Roo Code has no enterprise offering now.
Pricing
Both extensions are free. You pay your model provider directly when you use your own key, or nothing if you run local models through Ollama or LM Studio. Cline also offers pay-as-you-go Cline credits, ClinePass at $9.99/month for selected open models, and custom Enterprise pricing. See our Cline pricing guide for details.
Which should you use?
- Starting fresh: Cline. It is maintained, widely used and runs in more places.
- Happy Roo Code user: it will keep working for now, but plan a move. Zoo Code is the closest continuation, and Kilo Code is another open-source agent with Code, Plan and Debug agents that runs in VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal.
- Team that wants cloud agents: compare Roomote, Cline's cloud agents and Devin.
- Company with compliance needs: Cline Enterprise.
If you are weighing editor-based agents more broadly, read Cline vs Cursor and AI coding agents compared.
FAQ
Is Roo Code still maintained?
No. The Roo Code team archived the project to focus on Roomote, and the GitHub repository was archived on May 15, 2026. It no longer receives updates.
Is Roo Code a fork of Cline?
Yes. Roo Code began as a fork of Cline, originally under the name Roo Cline, and later added its own features such as custom modes.
What should Roo Code users switch to?
Zoo Code is a community fork that keeps Roo Code's features and settings. Cline and Kilo Code are other actively developed open-source options.
Are Cline and Roo Code free?
Yes. Both are free and open source under Apache 2.0. You pay only for the AI models you use, or nothing with local models.
What is Roomote?
Roomote is the Roo Code team's new product: a source-available cloud coding agent, with a cloud plan from $49/month for up to 10 users and free self-hosting for up to 10 users.
Written by Agentdex Editorial. Agentdex is an independent directory reviewing AI coding tools; we are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Prices and features are as of October 24, 2026, from official sources linked above. Always confirm on the vendor's site.