Cline v3.28 extends free Grok access and refines GPT-5 for multi-step coding
Cline v3.28 keeps xAI’s Grok available at no charge and introduces prompt optimizations targeted at multi-step coding workflows with GPT-5. The update focuses on faster, more iterative editing with Grok and on improving how GPT-5 handles longer, tool-oriented sequences of actions.
Grok remains free and fast for agentic coding
xAI’s grok-code-fast-1 continues to be offered without cost for Cline users. The model was developed specifically for agentic coding and has shown steady gains in diff-based edits within Cline. Its performance favors quick, iterative interactions over elaborate prompt crafting: common developer commands such as grep, terminal operations, and file edits are understood without extended instruction. The post indicates the free access has been extended, with no announced end date.
How to enable Grok in Cline:
- Select the Cline provider in model settings.
- Choose grok-code-fast-1 from the available models.
- Start coding at zero cost.
GPT-5 prompt optimization for multi-step tasks
Cline’s GPT-5 integration receives targeted prompt improvements designed to help the model manage multi-step coding tasks and accurate tool-calling. The changes aim to preserve context across longer sessions and make instruction-following more reliable. Pricing for the GPT-5 option is noted at $1.25/$10 per 1M tokens, positioned below the cited Sonnet-4 price points.
Other notable updates
The release also bundles a set of practical usability and integration improvements:
- ESC key cancels operations consistently across the interface
- API provider dropdown now supports search
- /deep-planning handles Windows/PowerShell environments properly
- Real-time task history sync across all Cline instances
- Ollama custom prompt support
- Dify.ai integration
- DeepSeek-V3.1 on SambaNova
These changes emphasize smoother interactions and broader tooling compatibility, particularly for developers who rely on mixed environments and multiple model providers.
Further discussion and community feedback are available on the project’s social channels: Reddit and Discord.
Original source: https://cline.bot/blog/cline-v3-28-free-grok-extended-gpt-5-optimized