Cline vs Cursor Background Agents
Cline and Cursor Background Agents are both Code Generation tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, user ratings, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Cline | Cursor Background Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Cline Bot | Anysphere |
| Rating | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.6 |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| Platforms | VS Code | Web, IDE |
| Key features | Autonomous multi-file edits, Terminal command execution, BYOK multi-model support | Background agents that open PRs, Assign from Cursor or the web, Keeps the repo context you already have |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2024 | 2025 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
Key differences
- Cline has a higher user rating (4.7★ vs 4.6★).
- Cline is Freemium, while Cursor Background Agents is Paid.
- Cline is open source (its code is public), while Cursor Background Agents is proprietary.
- Cline runs on VS Code; Cursor Background Agents runs on Web, IDE.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cline or Cursor Background Agents better?
By user rating, Cline scores higher (4.7★ vs 4.6★). Both are capable Code Generation tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.
Which is cheaper, Cline or Cursor Background Agents?
Cline is Freemium and Cursor Background Agents is Paid. Check each product page for current plan details.
Are Cline and Cursor Background Agents open source?
Cline is open source, while Cursor Background Agents is proprietary.