# Roo Code vs Cline: 2026 Empirical Benchmark & Cost Shootout

> **Direct Answer (October 2026 Verdict)**: Cline wins on upstream stability, enterprise security auditability, and 70.3k+ GitHub stars (93.8 vs 92.4), while Roo Code wins for power users wanting custom Architect/Code/Debug/Orchestrator role modes with separate per-mode LLM model assignments.

- **Category**: Custom Multi-Mode VS Code Agent Fork vs Upstream Cline Shootout
- **Canonical URL**: https://pulse-forge.io/vs/roo-code-vs-cline
- **1-Click $0 Free Starter CLAUDE.md**: https://pulse-forge.io/api/launch-kit/free-claude-md?repo=RooVetGit/Roo-Code
- **1-Click $4.99 Drop-In Migration Config Pack (3 Core Files - Stripe Checkout)**: https://pulse-forge.io/buy/micro_pass?repo=RooVetGit/Roo-Code&source=md_vs
- **1-Click $9.99 Complete 9-File Production Config .ZIP (Stripe Checkout)**: https://pulse-forge.io/buy/repo_pass_999?repo=RooVetGit/Roo-Code&source=md_vs_999
- **1-Click $49 Builder Repo Hardening & Launch Kit (Stripe Checkout)**: https://pulse-forge.io/buy/instant_boost?repo=RooVetGit/Roo-Code
- **1-Click $149 Category Leader Pro + 30-Day Pin (Stripe Checkout)**: https://pulse-forge.io/buy/category_leader?repo=RooVetGit/Roo-Code
- **Specimen #1 Production Config Preview (`CLAUDE.md`)**: `+ [CLAUDE.md] max_context_tokens: 9400 | ignore: node_modules, dist, .git, *.lock (-58% token bloat)`

## Roo Code Key Advantages
- Built-in Architect, Code, Ask, and Debug modes with per-mode model pinning
- Boomerang task orchestration splits large refactors into isolated sub-agent contexts
- Granular auto-approval regex filters for read-only vs mutating terminal commands

## Cline Key Advantages
- 70.3k+ GitHub stars as the canonical upstream VS Code autonomous agent standard
- Cleaner, less cluttered sidebar UX with predictable token consumption per turn
- Broader enterprise compliance adoption and direct MCP marketplace integration