---
title: "Cline API: Use FreeTheAI as an OpenAI Compatible Provider"
description: "Set up Cline in VS Code with AI models from FreeTheAI: OpenAI Compatible provider, base URL, key, model ID, and context window."
url: https://freetheai.org/setup/cline
language: en
updated: 2026-09-29
---

# Cline API: Use FreeTheAI as an OpenAI Compatible Provider

Cline connects to FreeTheAI with its OpenAI Compatible API provider.

## Settings

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

## Steps

1. **Open Cline settings.** Click the gear icon in the Cline panel.
2. **Choose the provider.** Set API Provider to OpenAI Compatible and fill in the values above.
3. **Set the model limits.** Under Model Configuration, set the context window (for example 128000) and max output tokens so Cline manages context well.

## Troubleshooting

**Which FreeTheAI models work best in Cline?**

Models with strong tool calling: glm-5.3 and kimi-k3.1-pro.

Checked: Checked against Cline's docs (OpenAI compatible provider) on 2026-09-29.