Cline Free Models for CLI & IDE
CLI / IDECline offers rotating free model promotions through its Cline Usage-Billing provider.
How to use Cline's free models
- 1 Install Cline CLI or the Cline IDE extension See https://docs.cline.bot/getting-started/installing-cline for the official installation paths.
- 2 Sign in to your Cline account This signs the Cline CLI or IDE into your account; it does not create a general-purpose free API key.
- 3 Open /settings and select Cline as the provider
- 4 Choose a model from the Free section Only models currently shown as FREE in your account are covered by the promotion.
- 5 Use the model in Cline CLI or IDE This promotional FREE access is quota-limited and is not available through the Cline API; the separate API has its own model and pricing rules.
Provider Snapshot
Supported Models 3 models
View in directory →| Model ID | Developer | Context | Availability | Free Tier | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash deepseek-v4-flash | Cline | 0 | Online | Yes | chat |
| nvidia/nemotron-3.5-lightning nemotron-3.5-lightning | Cline | 0 | Online | Yes | chat |
| poolside/laguna-s-2.1:free laguna-s-2.1:free | Cline | 0 | Online | Yes | chat |
Related Providers
View all →Cline FreeLLM Score free API access score
How we score →What is Cline?
Rotating free model promotions for Cline CLI and IDE users.
Cline offers rotating free model promotions through its Cline Usage-Billing provider. Signed-in users can select models marked FREE in the Cline CLI or IDE extension, subject to a limited quota. The promotional FREE models described here are account-based and are not supported through the Cline API; Cline's separate API has its own model and pricing rules.
- Free models are visible directly in Cline CLI and IDE
- DeepSeek V4 Flash and other models may be included during promotions
- This promotion does not issue a general-purpose free API key
- Free access is limited by quota and can change over time
API Compatibility: Cline has a separate OpenAI-compatible API; the promotional FREE models listed here are CLI/IDE only
Cline Free Tier Limits & Pricing
Cline Model Use Cases
What Cline's free models are best for, based on aggregated model capabilities:
Cline Limitations & Caveats
- Free models and quotas are rotating and may change without notice
- Free access is limited to the quota assigned to the Cline account
- The promotion is not a free API-key program; do not copy a Cline account token into other applications
- The promotional FREE list is supported in Cline CLI and IDE, not through the Cline API; API model availability and pricing are separate
- ClinePass is a separate paid subscription and should not be treated as free access
Cline FAQ
How do I find Cline's free models?
Open Cline CLI or the IDE extension, go to /settings, select Cline as the provider, and choose a model listed in the Free section.
Is DeepSeek V4 Flash free on Cline?
It may be included in Cline's current free promotion. Confirm that it appears in the Free section of your signed-in Cline CLI or IDE account because the list can rotate.
Can I use Cline's free models through an API?
Not the promotional FREE models described here. Cline's official free-model page limits that promotion to the CLI and IDE extension; the separate Cline API has its own model and pricing rules.
Can I get a free Cline API key for these models?
No. This promotion gives eligible Cline accounts quota inside the Cline CLI or IDE; it is not a general-purpose free API-key offer.
What happens after the Cline free quota runs out?
Check usage in Cline Settings → View Usage. After the free quota is exhausted, continue with ClinePass, Cline credits, or your own provider API key.