VS Code with Cline and Gemini

Use it as a Free Cursor AI Alternative

If you’re a coder who wants to turbocharge your coding process with AI but don’t wish to spend money on Cursor AI, then you’ve come to the right spot.

In this detailed tutorial, I’ll take you through how you can turn your Visual Studio Code (VS Code) editor into an effective AI code assistant with Cline — a great Cursor AI substitute — completely for free.

This article runs the gamut from tab auto-completion through chat-powered coding, using Google Gemini models, local execution of AI models, and using GitHub Copilot models within VS Code through Cline.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear, actionable workflow for coding faster, smarter, and with the power of multiple AI models at your fingertips — without spending a dime.

Table of Contents

• Why Everyone Uses Cursor AI?

• Using Tab Auto-Completion for Free with GitHub Copilot

• Introducing Cline: The Ultimate AI Chat Bot for VS Code

• Running AI Models Locally with Ollama for Maximum Freedom

• Leveraging GitHub Copilot Models Inside Cline

• Maximizing Productivity With Cline and Free AI Models

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Final Thoughts

Why Everyone Uses Cursor AI?

Before diving into the free alternatives, let’s briefly understand why Cursor AI has gained traction.

Cursor AI offers two standout features:

• Tab Auto-Complete: This allows you to write a few letters and then press Tab to get accurate, context-aware code completions. It speeds up coding significantly.

• Chat Interface: An AI chat bot integrated into your editor that can help plan, write, and debug code interactively.

Both features combine to make coding faster, easier, and more intuitive.

But what if you could get these benefits without a paid Cursor AI subscription? That’s where Cline and other free tools come in.

Using Tab Auto-Completion for Free with GitHub Copilot

The first feature, tab auto-completion, is easily accessible for free using GitHub Copilot’s free tier.

GitHub Copilot integrates seamlessly into VS Code and provides AI-powered code suggestions as you type.

Simply install the GitHub Copilot extension, log in with your GitHub account, and start enjoying AI code completions.

When you type code snippets, Copilot predicts the rest. Press Tab to accept suggestions. This method is widely used and trusted by developers worldwide.

Copilot’s free access makes it an ideal tool to replicate Cursor AI’s tab completion without any cost.

Introducing Cline: The Ultimate AI Chat Bot for VS Code

Now, let’s talk about the second major feature — the AI chat bot — which is where Cursor AI shines.

To get a free, powerful alternative, you should use Cline (previously known as Claude Dev).

Cline is a VS Code extension that connects to multiple AI models, letting you chat with AI directly inside your code editor.

Here’s why Cline is a game-changer:

• You can plug in any AI model you want, including Google Gemini, OpenAI, and open-source models.

• If you have paid subscriptions to any AI service, you can configure them. But more importantly, Cline supports free usage with smart workarounds.

• It offers Plan Mode to outline your coding project or task and Act Mode to execute and generate code automatically.

• Automation options like Auto-Approval streamline your workflow, allowing file edits and command execution without constant manual confirmation.

Setting Up Cline with Google Gemini Models for Free

Google’s Gemini models are among the newest and most powerful AI models available.

What’s amazing is that Google offers a free tier with API access, which you can integrate into Cline for no cost, within certain rate limits.

Here’s a quick rundown of how to get started:

1. Open VS Code and go to the Extensions tab.

2. Search for Cline and install the extension.

3. After installation, open the Cline tab in VS Code.

4. Go to Settings within Cline and select googleapis.com as the API provider.

5. Enter your Google API key (you can get this from the Google AI platform).

6. Choose from available Gemini models such as Gemini 2.0 Pro (Experimental), PaLM 2, and others.

7. Enable Auto-Approval for seamless automation or approve actions manually as preferred.

Once configured, you can use Plan Mode to generate a project plan and Act Mode to automatically create files and write code.

For example, you can ask Cline to build a complete Tic-Tac-Toe game, and within minutes it will generate the entire app with UI and logic — all free!

Google’s free tier has rate limits, but Cline supports switching between multiple models.

If you hit a limit on one, simply switch to another model in the settings and continue working. This multi-model approach ensures uninterrupted coding sessions.

Running AI Models Locally with Ollama for Maximum Freedom

If you have a powerful PC or a high-end Mac, you can take advantage of local AI models to avoid API limits altogether.

Running models locally is great for privacy, speed, and unlimited usage.

One fantastic tool for this is Ollama, which lets you run open-source AI models on your machine for free.

You can install Ollama and set up models like Deepseek or others, then connect them to Cline in VS Code for a fully offline AI coding assistant.

To use Ollama with Cline:

1. Set up Ollama on your PC or Mac following their official guide.

2. Install your desired AI models locally via Ollama.

3. In Cline’s settings, select the Ollama API provider.

4. Choose your installed local model from the list.

With this setup, you get all the features of AI-powered coding without worrying about API costs or network issues.

Keep in mind that running AI models locally requires a decent GPU and ample RAM (8GB or more recommended).

Leveraging GitHub Copilot Models Inside Cline

Another exciting option is to use GitHub Copilot models directly within Cline.

This setup combines Copilot’s powerful AI with Cline’s chat interface, giving you the best of both worlds.

Here’s how to enable it:

1. Make sure you have GitHub Copilot and Copilot Chat extensions installed and logged in with your GitHub account.

2. In Cline’s settings, select VS Code LLM API as the API provider.

3. Choose the Copilot model you want to use from the available options.

This integration allows you to ask Cline to improve or debug your code, add new features like dark mode, or add animations — all through natural language commands.

For example, Ask it to improve the styling of a Tic-Tac-Toe app and add a dark mode button. The AI will execute the plan flawlessly, showing how powerful this combination can be.

Maximizing Productivity With Cline and Free AI Models

Combining these three methods makes Cline a versatile and powerful Cursor AI alternative:

• Tab Auto-Complete: Use GitHub Copilot free tier for fast code suggestions.

• AI Chat and Planning: Use Google Gemini models via Cline’s Google API integration for free, switching models as needed.

• Local AI Models: Run Ollama and open-source models locally for unlimited, offline AI assistance.

• Copilot Models in Cline: Integrate GitHub Copilot models into Cline for chat-driven coding enhancements.

This workflow not only saves money but also provides flexibility to choose the best AI model for your current task and switch instantly without interrupting your flow.

Additionally, Cline’s Plan Mode helps you think through your coding projects before implementation, while Act Mode automates file creation and code generation.

Auto-Approval options further streamline the process, letting you focus on coding rather than administrative approvals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Cline really free to use?

Cline itself is a free VS Code extension. While some AI models it connects to may have usage limits or costs, you can access multiple free models like Google Gemini’s free tier and open-source models via Ollama, making it effectively free for many use cases.

How do I get a Google Gemini API key?

You can create a project on Google Cloud Platform, enable the Gemini API, and generate an API key. Google offers a free tier with generous limits, enough for most development tasks.

Can I use Cline with my existing projects?

Absolutely! Cline can help you not only build new projects but also debug, refactor, or add features to existing codebases by chatting with the AI about your requirements.

What if I hit API rate limits?

Cline allows you to switch between multiple models and API keys. If one model hits its rate limit, just switch to another to continue seamlessly.

Do I need a powerful PC to run AI models locally?

Running AI models locally requires a decent GPU and enough RAM (8GB+ recommended). If your system is more modest, you can rely on cloud APIs like Google Gemini for free.

How does Cline compare to Cursor AI?

Cline offers similar core features — tab auto-completion and AI chat — but with the added advantage of supporting multiple AI providers and free usage options. It’s a flexible, cost-effective alternative tailored for VS Code users.

Final Thoughts

AI coding is no longer an amenity reserved for people with deep pockets to pay for costly subscriptions.

With Cline and clever implementations of freely available AI models like Google Gemini, GitHub Copilot’s free plan, and locally installed Ollama models, any coder can tap into the potential of AI within VS Code at zero cost.

By combining tab auto-completion, chat-based coding, and automated project planning and execution, you can significantly boost your productivity, write cleaner code faster, and even fix bugs or improve existing projects with ease.

Give Cline a try today as your go-to Cursor AI alternative and experience the future of coding — free, flexible, and limitless.