Quick Start: Choose Your Provider
The easiest way to get started is with Cline as your provider:- Open Cline Settings: Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner of Cline’s chat
- Select “Cline” from the API Provider dropdown
- Choose a model from the dropdown - we recommend starting with Claude Sonnet 4.5 or DeepSeek V3
Free models available: Cline occasionally offers free inferencing through partner providers. When available, you’ll see these options in your model dropdown.
Alternative: Use Another Provider
If you prefer to use your own API keys, you can select from providers like:- OpenRouter - Great value, multiple models
- Anthropic - Direct access to Claude models
- OpenAI - Access to GPT models
- Google Gemini - Google’s AI models
- Ollama - Run models locally on your computer
- Get an API key from their website
- Paste it into the API Key field in Cline settings
- Choose your model
Most providers require payment information before generating API keys.
Which Model Should I Choose?
If you’re just getting started, we recommend:| Your Priority | Choose This Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Most reliable for coding tasks |
| Value | DeepSeek V3 | Great performance at low cost |
| Speed | Qwen3 Coder | Fast responses |
| Privacy | Any Ollama model | Runs on your computer |
Next Steps
With your model configured, you’re all set! In the next section, we’ll walk you through completing your first task with Cline and show you how to interact with the AI to write, debug, and refactor code.Deep Dive: Model Selection Guide
Want to understand model pricing, context windows, and advanced selection strategies? Check out our comprehensive Model Selection Guide.