Comparison
goose vs Cline
How the two compare on the things that decide whether your setup carries over: open standards, license, models and where they run.
| goose | Cline | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Block, now at the Agentic AI Foundation | Cline |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Models | Many providers, including local models | See vendor docs |
| Runs in | Desktop, Terminal, API | IDE, CLI |
| MCP | MCP: supported | MCP: supported |
| Agent Skills | Agent Skills: supported | ?Agent Skills: not yet verified |
| AGENTS.md | AGENTS.md: supported | ?AGENTS.md: not yet verified |
| ACP | ACP: supported | ACP: supported |
Key differences
- Both are open source (Apache-2.0 and Apache-2.0), so you can inspect and self-host either.
- goose also runs in Desktop, Terminal, API; Cline also runs in IDE, CLI.
- goose supports Agent Skills; we have not verified it for Cline.
- goose supports AGENTS.md; we have not verified it for Cline.
- Both support MCP, ACP, so MCP servers, skills and repo instructions you set up carry over if you switch.
In their own words
goose
Open-source, extensible agent with desktop app, CLI and API. Its extensions are MCP servers. A founding project of the Linux Foundation's Agentic AI Foundation.
Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code and JetBrains with a plan/act workflow and an MCP marketplace.
FAQ
- Is goose or Cline open source?
- goose is open source under Apache-2.0. Cline is open source under Apache-2.0.
- Do goose and Cline support MCP servers?
- goose: yes. Cline: yes.
- Can I reuse Agent Skills between goose and Cline?
- Only if both support the Agent Skills format. Check the table above.
Set up MCP servers in either one
More comparisons
Reviewed Oct 5, 2026.