Cline API: Use FreeTheAI as an OpenAI Compatible Provider
Cline connects to FreeTheAI with its OpenAI Compatible API provider.
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.
How this guide was checked: Checked against Cline's docs (OpenAI compatible provider) on 2026-09-29.
Troubleshooting
Which FreeTheAI models work best in Cline?
Models with strong tool calling: glm-5.3 and kimi-k3.1-pro.
Common errors
- 401: the key is wrong or incomplete. Paste the whole key.
- 403: follow a provider of the model, or confirm your email.
- 404: the model ID or URL is wrong.
- 429: daily limit reached, or too many requests at once.