Roo Code Alternatives and Migration: Cline, Cursor, Claude Code (2026)

Roo Code was once one of the most active open-source agent extensions in VS Code, and its multi-mode design and custom modes led many teams to make it their primary tool. But after the main repository was archived in May 2026, "keep it or switch" stopped being a matter of preference and became a maintenance-risk question. This article breaks down three replacement paths, Cline, Cursor, and Claude Code, by workflow, model access, cost, IDE support, and team control, then provides a scenario table and a migration checklist.

1. First decide: can Roo Code still be used?

Roo Code is a VS Code extension that is open source and BYOK (bring your own model key). It supports Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, and Orchestrator modes, and teams can define their own modes with .roomodes. Its value lies in a mode-based workflow: planning, execution, and debugging are separated so complex tasks do not blur together.

After the main repository was archived in May 2026, the situation comes down to three points:

The extension may still install and run, but upstream no longer merges fixes, so compatibility with new VS Code versions and dependency security updates become your responsibility.
Community forks such as Zoo Code have appeared, and their maintenance activity, release channels, and feature trade-offs need to be checked one by one.
Using Roo Code as the long-term foundation for a new project carries clearly more risk than benefit.

So the decision is not "is Roo Code good" but "how do we migrate existing work, and what do we choose for new projects". Teams that only use chat occasionally face a low migration cost; teams whose processes depend heavily on custom modes and MCP should migrate project by project rather than all at once.

2. Three replacement paths

Cline is the most direct replacement. It is also an open-source agent extension in VS Code, with a two-stage Plan/Act workflow, command approval, checkpoints, MCP, browser and terminal tools, and providers covering OpenAI-compatible endpoints, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Vertex, and local models. For teams already used to Roo Code, Cline's interface and mental model are the closest.

Cursor is the editor path. It is not a plugin but a standalone IDE, with Tab completion, inline edits, chat, and agent in one window. It suits high-frequency, small-step iteration while reading and changing code; if the core requirement is editor experience, Cursor remains complete.

Claude Code is the terminal path. It reads files, edits code, runs commands, and handles Git inside a repository, supports hooks, subagents, and MCP, and also offers VS Code and JetBrains extensions plus a desktop app. It suits multi-repository, long-task, scripting, and CI scenarios, but its models are mainly Claude, so teams must accept the Anthropic protocol or a compatible gateway.

3. Workflow comparison

Tool	Form	Workflow	Model access	Cost structure	IDE support
Roo Code (existing)	VS Code extension	Multi-mode plus custom modes	BYOK, multiple providers	Open-source extension, pay model fees	VS Code
Cline	VS Code extension	Plan/Act, approvals and checkpoints	BYOK, multiple providers	Open-source extension, pay model fees	Mainly VS Code, plus CLI and other forms
Cursor	Standalone editor	Tab, chat, and agent integrated	Official provider keys; some versions can override Base URL	Subscription plus overage usage	Standalone IDE based on the VS Code ecosystem
Claude Code	Terminal agent	Repository-level long tasks, commands, and Git	Anthropic protocol, plus Bedrock/Vertex	Subscription or pay-as-you-go API	Terminal, plus VS Code/JetBrains extensions and desktop

No workflow is absolutely better. The criterion is where the task happens: for many small edits in an editor, Cursor is smoother; for tasks spanning files and repositories that need commands and commits, Claude Code is more suitable; for keeping an agent interface inside VS Code while freely switching models, Cline is the better balance.

4. Model access and cost

The core of both Roo Code and Cline is BYOK: select OpenAI Compatible in the provider settings and enter the Base URL, key, and model ID. The benefit is model freedom and transparent billing; the cost is that you must verify model IDs, context length, and tool-calling capability yourself. When connecting to a third-party gateway, the Base URL usually ends in /v1, and model names follow the gateway's pricing page.

Cursor's BYOK is more constrained. Its official documentation describes entering keys from various providers; some versions allow overriding the OpenAI Base URL, but this usually affects only chat and agent, while Tab completion still uses Cursor's own models. Before choosing Cursor, confirm that your plan and version support the access method you need.

Claude Code uses the Anthropic Messages protocol. With a gateway, configure the root address and authentication variables, and do not duplicate /v1/messages; it can also connect through Bedrock or Vertex, which suits teams already on those clouds.

On cost, do not compare only monthly fees: Cursor is a subscription plus overage; Claude Code is a subscription or pay-as-you-go API; the Cline extension is open source, and its main cost is model API fees; a gateway unifies multiple models under one account with pay-as-you-go billing, making quotas and cost allocation easier. Use one week of real logs to count input, output, cache hits, and retries, then calculate the cost of "completing one acceptable task". Specific unit prices change; the on-site model pricing is only a current reference.

5. IDE support and team control

IDE support determines migration friction. Cursor is a standalone editor that can import VS Code extensions and settings, but it cannot be installed into JetBrains. Cline is mainly a VS Code extension, so teams must confirm support on target machines and remote development environments. Claude Code is primarily terminal-based and also offers VS Code and JetBrains extensions plus a desktop app, giving it broader cross-IDE coverage. For existing Roo Code environments, confirm whether the fork in use still publishes to the original marketplace channel.

For team control, Cursor's Teams/Enterprise plans provide model allowlists, MCP allowlists, and an admin API; Claude Code relies on Claude organization member management, spending controls, and usage analytics; Cline's enterprise configuration varies by version, so check the documentation before purchasing. After the Roo Code main repository was archived, it is not suitable as a new team standard.

If a team uses several tools at once, a more realistic approach is "one unified gateway, one key per person, and per-project quotas": tools can change, but keys, billing, and auditing stay on the same layer.

6. Scenario table: choose by usage

Scenario	Recommendation	Reason	Note
Deep use of Roo Code custom modes	Cline or an actively maintained community fork	Similar mental model, low migration cost	Check mode, rule, and MCP compatibility first
Multi-model agent inside VS Code	Cline	Open source, many providers, compatible gateways	You manage keys and model evaluation yourself
Editor completion and agent combined	Cursor	Mature Tab and editor experience	Custom keys usually do not cover Tab
Terminal, multiple repositories, CI	Claude Code	Strong CLI agent, hooks, and automation	Primarily oriented toward Claude models
Unified billing and auditing across a team	Gateway plus Cline or Claude Code	One key per person, per-project quotas	Start with a small pilot

7. Migration checklist

Inventory usage: which tasks use Code, which use Architect or Debug, and which depend on Orchestrator subtasks.
Back up configuration: custom modes (.roomodes), rule files, MCP configuration, API configuration profiles, common prompts, and keyboard shortcuts.
Map features: map each mode to the target tool's Plan/Act, agent, or subagent; record processes that cannot be mapped instead of assuming they can be reproduced exactly.
Create separate keys: split by tool and person, set spending caps and expiration dates, and avoid sharing one key.
Configure the Base URL and model ID: confirm the protocol, /v1 path, and model name match exactly, and send one minimal request first.
Run regression tasks: choose 20–30 real tasks and compare quality, tool-call success rate, latency, and cost.
Pilot in a small group with a rollback path: have 2–3 people use it for two weeks and keep the old tool for a while.

The parts most likely to go wrong in migration are not model capability but rule files, approval habits, MCP tools, and key management. Treat these as migration work, not something to patch after the switch.

8. Connecting through ZSQH AI Gateway

If you do not want to maintain a separate set of provider keys for every tool, use an OpenAI-compatible gateway as a unified entry point. In Cline or an actively maintained community fork, choose "OpenAI Compatible", enter https://ai.zhongshangqihang.com/v1 as the Base URL, use a key created at the gateway, and copy the model ID from the pricing page. Verify first with a minimal request:

curl https://ai.zhongshangqihang.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZSQH_ROO_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "<model ID>",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Reply with OK only"}],
    "stream": false
  }'

Once the response is normal, enable streaming and tool calling in the tool. Model availability and billing are governed by model pricing; a test key can be created from the sign-up page.

FAQ

Can Roo Code still be used?

It can run, but after the main repository was archived there are no upstream fixes, so VS Code upgrades, dependency vulnerabilities, and provider protocol changes are yours to handle. Existing projects can keep using it short term, but new projects should not rely on it as a long-term foundation.

What is the relationship between Roo Code and Cline?

Roo Code began as a fork of Cline and later developed multi-mode and custom modes. Both are open-source agent extensions in VS Code, but Cline is still maintained while the Roo Code main repository has been archived.

Can Cline connect to Claude?

Yes. Cline supports the Anthropic provider and also OpenAI-compatible gateways; when using a gateway to reach Claude, confirm whether the gateway offers the Anthropic protocol or the OpenAI-compatible protocol, because the paths and auth headers differ.

Can Cursor use my own API key?

Partially. Official BYOK allows keys from various providers, and some versions support overriding the OpenAI Base URL, but this usually does not cover Tab completion. Follow the current version and plan documentation.

How long does migration take?

Switching only chat usually takes a few days; with custom modes, MCP, CI, and team permissions, plan for a two-week pilot and a one-month rollout. Validate with a non-core project before expanding.

Next steps

Pick one non-core project first: create a separate key at ZSQH AI Gateway, choose a primary model according to model pricing, and run the checklist above for two weeks. Once the tool, cost, and controls are acceptable, migrate the rest.