DeepSeek Cline Tutorial: Free Models & API Setup
Cline is the open-source coding agent that runs in VS Code and in your terminal. This illustrated walkthrough follows a real setup: install the extension, pick DeepSeek V4 Flash from the free model list (or plug in your own API key), and ship a complete portfolio site for $0.00.
TL;DR
- Cline is a free, open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, Cursor, Windsurf and the terminal — one install, no subscription required.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash sits in Cline's Free model tier with a 1M-token context window; the creator's hello test and a 71,049-token portfolio build both billed $0.00.
- Prefer your own key? Create one at platform.deepseek.com, choose the DeepSeek provider in Cline settings, and use the base URL https://api.deepseek.com with the current model names deepseek-flash or deepseek-v4-pro.
- The old model names deepseek-chat and deepseek-reasoner were retired on July 24, 2026 — if a tutorial still shows them, swap in the current names.
Cline: FREE AI Coding Agent | DeepSeek, GLM, LongCat & Laguna
Walkthrough video:Code With Yousaf08:49
DeepSeek provider configuration — official Cline docs
Official docs:docs.cline.bot
The walkthrough was recorded on Cline's current free tier: the DeepSeek V4 Flash listing and its deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash model ID are shown live on screen. For the API-key route, values follow the official Cline and DeepSeek documentation as of September 2026.
Screenshots are frames from the video above, used with attribution and linked back to the exact timestamp. All step-by-step text is our own.
Using DeepSeek in Cline, step by step
1 · Meet Cline, the open coding agent
- 1
Meet Cline at cline.bot
Cline is an open-source coding agent that ships three ways: a CLI for your terminal, an IDE extension for VS Code, JetBrains, Cursor and Windsurf, and an SDK. The homepage is the starting point for both routes this guide covers.
The Open Coding Agent homepage: CLI, IDE extension and SDK from one installWatch at 0:52 - 2
Pick your route: CLI command or IDE extension
The install section shows both options side by side. Terminal users copy the npm i -g cline command (macOS, Windows and Linux are all supported); VS Code users switch to the IDE Extension tab. This guide walks the extension path first, then returns to the CLI for the build demo.
One install section, two routes: the npm command and the extension tabsWatch at 1:20 - 3
See DeepSeek in the CLI's free model list
Launch cline in any folder and the welcome screen shows the active model in the status line. Out of the box the CLI runs on Cline's usage billing, and DeepSeek V4 Flash sits in the free tier — no API key needed to start.
The CLI status line reads DeepSeek V4 Flash (high) at $0.00 — free from first launchWatch at 2:30
2 · Install Cline in VS Code
- 4
Open the Extensions view in VS Code
In VS Code, open the Extensions view from the activity bar and you'll find Cline among the installed extensions (search the marketplace for “Cline” if you're installing fresh).
The Extensions view lists Cline — the autonomous coding agent — as installedWatch at 3:28 - 5
Verify the extension before you configure it
The extension page confirms you have the real thing: published by cline.bot with more than five million installs. Disable and Uninstall in place of an Install button means it's already active.
Cline's marketplace page: cline.bot publisher, 5.19M installs, already installedWatch at 3:34 - 6
Open the Cline panel
Click the Cline icon in the activity bar. The panel opens with a What can I do for you? task box, a Plan/Act toggle at the bottom and your recent tasks with their cost — every earlier session on this setup shows $0.00.
Task box, Plan/Act toggle and a Recent list where every task cost $0.00Watch at 3:50
3 · Connect DeepSeek (free tier or your own key)
- 7
Check the API provider in settings
Open Cline settings from the gear icon. The API Provider dropdown is set to Cline Usage-Billing — Cline's own billing, which is what makes the free tier possible. If you'd rather bring your own key, this is where you'd switch to the DeepSeek provider instead (details in the FAQ).
Settings → API Provider: Cline Usage-Billing, with billing and usage one click awayWatch at 4:02 - 8
Open the Free tab of the model picker
Under Model there are two tabs: Recommended and Free. The Free tab lists DeepSeek V4 Flash, GLM-5.3-Flash, LongCat 2.0 and Laguna S 2.1 — each tagged FREE. DeepSeek V4 Flash is the one to pick for a 1M-token context window.
Four free models, all tagged FREE — DeepSeek V4 Flash leads the listWatch at 4:22 - 9
Select DeepSeek V4 Flash and confirm the model ID
With DeepSeek V4 Flash selected, the settings show its model ID deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash, a 1.0M context window and Free input/output pricing. Reasoning Effort defaults to High; the Plan and Act modes can even use different models if you want a cheaper model to execute plans.
deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash selected: 1.0M context, Free in and outWatch at 4:44 - 10
Send a hello test
Type hello in the task box. A moment later the reply lands with a green COMPLETED marker and a $0.0000 cost badge. (The creator rotates through all four free models — the model chip at the bottom always tells you which one answered.)
First chat: COMPLETED at $0.0000, with the answering model shown in the chipWatch at 5:04
4 · Ship a real project for $0.00
- 11
Give Cline a real build prompt
Over in the CLI, the creator sends a full brief: a dark premium portfolio with smooth scroll animations, hover effects and animated code snippets, kept to a single index.html with embedded CSS and JavaScript. For this build he switched to LongCat 2.0 — also on the free list; the steps are identical whichever free model you picked.
A complete one-file portfolio brief, pasted into the Cline CLIWatch at 5:53 - 12
Watch the work and the bill
Cline streams its plan, writes the file and finishes with a feature list: preloader, custom cursor, animated background, navigation, hero, skills, projects, contact and footer. The status line totals 71,049 tokens at $0.00.
The build summary — nine sections delivered, 71,049 tokens, $0.00Watch at 6:37 - 13
Open the finished site
The generated index.html opens straight in the browser: an I craft digital experiences hero with an animated code card, project grids and a contact form. If something looks off, describe the fix in plain language — as the creator does when he asks Cline to re-center the navbar — and Cline edits the file.
The finished portfolio, served from a single generated index.htmlWatch at 7:09