Roo Code vs Cline is now a maintenance and migration decision. The original Roo Code repository was archived on May 15, 2026; its README says the extension was shut down. For a new setup, start by evaluating Cline. For an existing Roo workflow, identify which settings and habits you need to carry over before changing the tool.
The old Roo website now leads to Roomote, a cloud-agent product from Roo's creators. That is a different workflow from continuing the original editor extension. This guide compares the Roo setup you may already have with a move to Cline; it does not treat Roomote as a renamed extension.
The comparison that matters now
| Question | Original Roo Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| Product status | Archived repository; extension shutdown stated by its maintainers | Current product and setup documentation available |
| Workflow to evaluate | Existing modes, provider profiles and project instructions | Planning, implementation and approvals in the target editor |
| Model connection | The provider and protocol your installation already uses | Supported provider credentials or Cline's documented access options |
| Migration unit | Your working configuration and unfinished task context | A newly configured client, then one verified edit-and-test cycle |
| Cost comparison | Recorded charges for completed work | Recorded charges for equivalent completed work |
Translate the workflow, not just the model name
Roo's archived README describes Code, Architect, Ask, Debug and custom modes. Make a list of the ones you actually use. A custom mode can combine instructions, tool access and expectations about approval; its name alone is not enough to reproduce that behavior in another agent.
Cline's Plan and Act workflow separates investigating a change from implementing it, and supports different model choices for those phases. That can cover a familiar plan-then-code routine, but you should compare the behavior rather than assume a Roo mode file imports unchanged. Start with the smallest useful configuration, then add specialized instructions when a task demonstrates why they are needed.
Use the Cline overview to choose the editor or terminal surface you intend to use. A feature described for one client is not automatically present with the same settings in another. Keep the first comparison on one surface so an editor change does not obscure the agent change.
Keep provider access separate from client migration
Record the endpoint, model ID and authentication method from the old setup without copying a secret into a project file. If you use an external API provider, establish the equivalent route in Cline. If the old route depended on a hosted Roo service, do not assume a new client can inherit its account or credit balance.
For Kunavo, use the Cline Claude API guide or the shorter Cline integration. The existing Roo configuration reference can help identify the provider fields in an older installation; it does not change the upstream project's archived status. Cline documents its OpenAI-compatible provider fields separately.
As a rate reference, Kunavo lists Claude Sonnet 4.6 at $1.20 input and $6.00 output per million tokens. These are model rates, not a promise that Cline will use fewer tokens than Roo. Context size, caching and repeated attempts change a task's bill even when the model and provider stay the same.
Move one task before moving your daily workflow
- Preserve the working state. Save project instructions, provider details and a short summary of unfinished work. Keep secrets out of the summary.
- Configure Cline independently. Check the selected provider, model and approval settings before allowing an edit.
- Use a separate checkout. Start from a known commit and give Cline a bounded task with a clear passing test.
- Inspect the result. Check the diff, the commands executed, the test result and the recorded charge.
Read this repository's instructions and explain one reproducible bug.
Propose the smallest fix before editing.
After approval, add a regression test and apply the fix.
Run the relevant checks and summarize the diff.
Do not commit, deploy, or change unrelated files.If the test passes but review takes longer, investigate the instructions and model choice before declaring the migration complete. Repeat with one task that uses your normal tools or project conventions. A useful replacement preserves the operations you depend on, not simply the ability to produce an initial answer.
Ready to try the Cline route? Create a Kunavo account, choose a spending budget, and follow the Cline integration above. Keep the trial small enough that you can review both the change and its bill.
FAQ
Is Roo Code still maintained?
The original Roo Code repository was archived on May 15, 2026, and its README says the extension was shut down. An installed copy or community fork is a separate case; check that project's maintainer and release history rather than assuming the original product remains supported.
Should I choose Roo Code or Cline today?
For a new editor-agent setup, evaluate Cline's current product rather than adopting the archived Roo extension as if both had the same maintenance status. If you already use Roo, compare a representative task in Cline and translate the settings you rely on before retiring your existing setup.
Can Cline reuse my Roo provider key?
An external provider credential may be usable in both clients when that provider supports both configurations. The client settings and billing route still need checking. A Roo account balance, conversation, custom mode, or saved profile does not automatically become a Cline account or configuration.
Will moving from Roo to Cline cost less?
Changing the client does not establish a lower bill. Compare the model, provider rates, caching, retries and cost of an accepted result. Include any subscription you retain. Use the first task to check behavior and billing, then repeat before drawing a general conclusion.
Official product and repository sources checked September 17, 2026. Model rates come from Kunavo's current catalog.