Is OpenClaw or Cline open source?

OpenClaw is open source. Cline is open source under Apache-2.0.

Do OpenClaw and Cline support MCP servers?

OpenClaw: not verified yet. Cline: yes.

Only if both support the Agent Skills format. Check the table above.

Comparison

How the two compare on the things that decide whether your setup carries over: open standards, license, models and where they run.

	OpenClaw	Cline
Maker	OpenClaw community	Cline
License	Open source	Apache-2.0
Models	See vendor docs	See vendor docs
Runs in	Local, Messaging	IDE, CLI
MCP	?MCP: not yet verified	MCP: supported
Agent Skills	Agent Skills: supported	?Agent Skills: not yet verified
AGENTS.md	?AGENTS.md: not yet verified	?AGENTS.md: not yet verified
ACP	ACP: supported	ACP: supported

Both are open source, so you can inspect and self-host either.
OpenClaw also runs in Local, Messaging; Cline also runs in IDE, CLI.
Cline supports MCP; we have not verified it for OpenClaw.
OpenClaw supports Agent Skills; we have not verified it for Cline.
Both support ACP, so MCP servers, skills and repo instructions you set up carry over if you switch.

OpenClaw

Open-source personal assistant that runs locally and lives in the messaging apps you already use, with cron jobs, plugins and approvals.

Cline

Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code and JetBrains with a plan/act workflow and an MCP marketplace.

Is OpenClaw or Cline open source?: OpenClaw is open source. Cline is open source under Apache-2.0.
Do OpenClaw and Cline support MCP servers?: OpenClaw: not verified yet. Cline: yes.
Can I reuse Agent Skills between OpenClaw and Cline?: Only if both support the Agent Skills format. Check the table above.

Reviewed Oct 5, 2026.