Cline vs Graphite
Two Coding AI tools, side by side. Both are verified against their own live sites. Here is what each does well and who it is for, so you can choose what fits.
The open coding agent
Best forDevelopers who want an open-source agentic assistant with model choice and human-approved steps
What it doesCline is an open-source AI coding agent that runs in VS Code, the terminal, and embedded applications, performing coordinated multi-file edits, running commands, and following a plan-and-act workflow with step approval. It works with multiple models including Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local models via Ollama.
Capabilities- Multi-file editing
- Terminal command execution
- Plan-and-act workflow with approvals
- Model flexibility across providers
- MCP and plugin extensibility
Visit Cline →AI code review and stacked pull request platform
Best forEngineering teams wanting faster reviews via stacked PRs and AI review automation
What it doesGraphite is an AI-powered code review platform that helps teams ship code faster with automated reviews, stacked pull requests and a stack-aware merge queue. It integrates with GitHub and includes a CLI and VS Code extension.
Capabilities- Automated AI code review with suggested fixes
- Stacked pull requests for smaller, sequenced changes
- Stack-aware merge queue and PR inbox
- CLI and VS Code extension with GitHub integration
Visit Graphite →How to choose
Choose Cline if you are developers who want an open-source agentic assistant with model choice and human-approved steps. Choose Graphite if you are engineering teams wanting faster reviews via stacked prs and ai review automation. Both sit in Coding; the right pick depends on your exact workflow and budget.
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