---
url: https://docs.freetheai.org/guides/cline.md
description: >-
  Set up Cline in VS Code with free models from FreeTheAI: OpenAI Compatible
  provider, base URL, key, model ID, and context window.
---

# Cline

Cline connects to FreeTheAI with its OpenAI Compatible API provider.

Category: [Coding tools](/guides/#coding-tools). Before you start, you need a FreeTheAI account, an API key, and today's [check-in](/getting-started/check-in).

## Settings

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| API Provider | `OpenAI Compatible` |
| Base URL | `https://api.freetheai.org/v1` |
| API Key | Your FreeTheAI key (`ftai_...`, 53 characters) |
| Model ID | `fta/zai/glm-5.3` |

## Steps

### Open Cline settings

Click the gear icon in the Cline panel.

### Choose the provider

Set API Provider to OpenAI Compatible and fill in the values above.

### Set the model limits

Under Model Configuration, set the context window (for example 128000) and max output tokens so Cline manages context well.

## Common questions

### Which FreeTheAI models work best in Cline?

Models with strong tool calling: `fta/zai/glm-5.3` and `fta/kimi/k3`.

## More help

* [Every API error and its fix](/errors)
* [Limits and the daily reset](/concepts/limits)
* [Cline website](https://cline.bot) and [source code](https://github.com/cline/cline)

::: info How this guide was checked
Checked against Cline's docs (OpenAI compatible provider) on 2026-09-29.
:::