You don’t need a ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro subscription to get quality coding help in VS Code. GLM 5.2 and DeepSeek V4 Flash are both available free inside the Cline extension, and setup takes about five minutes. In this guide I walk through installing Cline, signing in with your existing account, and selecting GLM 5.2 for free — then I use it to produce a full six-section project analysis report.
TL;DR: Install the Cline extension in VS Code, open its Settings, choose Cline Usage-Billing as the API provider, sign in/up with Google, Microsoft, GitHub, or email, then pick GLM 5.2 from the Free models list. Select it for both plan and act mode, click Done, and start coding free. The same flow also surfaces DeepSeek V4 Flash in the free list.
What You’ll Learn
- How to install and open the Cline extension in VS Code
- Where to switch Cline to use its free Cline Billing (free models)
- How to sign in without an API key (Google / Microsoft / GitHub / email)
- How to assign free models to plan mode and act mode
- How to run a real project analysis with GLM 5.2 for free
Tools & Requirements
| Tool | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code | Code editor | Free |
| Cline extension | AI coding assistant with free model access | Free |
| Cline account (sign-in) | Unlocks the free model list | Free |
The Direct Answer: Free GLM 5.2 + DeepSeek in VS Code
Cline (formerly Claude Dev) integrates AI coding directly into VS Code. Under its Settings → API Provider, select Cline Usage-Billing — Cline’s own free tier. After signing in, the Free model tab lists four models including GLM 5.2 (and DeepSeek V4 Flash). Assign them to Cline’s two operating modes:
- Plan mode — the AI proposes a plan before touching code.
- Act mode — the AI takes actions and edits files.
Select any of the free models — deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash or cline-free/glm5.2 — for both, click Done, and you’re ready to code using these free models. Because the request goes through Cline’s billing, you don’t need GLM, Anthropic, or OpenAI API keys at all.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1: Install the Cline Extension
- Open VS Code and open your project.
- Go to the Extensions panel on the left side.
- Search for Cline — install the one by the official “cline.bot“.
- After installation, click the Cline icon in the top-right activity bar (or toggle the secondary sidebar) to open the Cline tab.
Step 2: Open Settings and Choose Cline Billing
- In the Cline tab, click Settings.
- In the API Provider dropdown, search for and select Cline Usage-Billing (or Cline Pass).
- Cline opens a sign-in prompt.
Step 3: Sign In
- Click Continue — your browser opens Cline’s sign-in page.
- Sign in with Google, Microsoft, GitHub, or email. (Google is fastest.)
- Return to VS Code — you’re signed in and Cline loads the model list.
Step 4: Assign Free Models to Plan and Act Mode
- The model list shows two sections: Recommended and Free.
- Click Free — you’ll see four free models, including GLM 5.2 (and DeepSeek V4 Flash).
- Set the model for plan mode: select Cline Usage-Billing as the provider and cline-free/glm-5.2 in Free.
- Repeat for act mode.
- Click Done.
Step 5: Test with a Project Analysis
- In the Cline chat, prompt: “Please analyze this project and report your findings.”
- Cline shows the active model (GLM 5.2) at the bottom of the panel and starts working.
- It will generate a structured Project Analysis Report — in seconds.
- It will even flag warnings for not-yet-finalized code, which is the kind of honest review you want from a free assistant.
Free Models Reference
| Model | Provider | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM 5.2 | Cline Usage-Billing | Free | Full project analysis, code reviews |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | Cline Usage-Billing | Free | Fast autocomplete & quick edits |
| (2 more free models) | Cline Usage-Billing | Free | See your Free tab |
Who Should Use This
| User type | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Developers on a budget | No API keys or subscriptions needed |
| Students | AI code review for assignments |
| Freelancers | Free assistant for project audits |
| Hobbyists | Test frontier-class GLM models without signup hassle |
Tips for Best Results
- Use plan mode for unfamiliar code — Cline’s plan mode proposes an approach for review before acting, which free models do well.
- Keep the prompt structured — “analyze this project and report your findings” gets a far better report than “review my code.”
- Don’t rely on it while the project is half-finished — GLM 5.2 will flag incomplete code; that’s a feature, not a bug.
- Check for model-list changes — Cline’s free list rotates ; re-open Free periodically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I use GLM 5.2 for free in VS Code?
A: Install the Cline extension, open Settings, choose Cline Usage-Billing as the API provider, sign in (Google/Microsoft/GitHub/email), then select GLM 5.2 from the Free models list for both plan and act mode.
Q: Do I need a GLM API key for this?
A: No. Requests route through Cline’s own billing, so no separate GLM, OpenAI, or Anthropic API keys are required — just a free Cline account.
Q: What are plan mode and act mode in Cline?
A: Plan mode asks the AI to propose a plan before editing; act mode lets it directly edit files and take actions. You assign a model to each — pick a free one for both to avoid paid fallbacks.
Q: Is Cline Billing free forever?
A: Cline’s free model access works “as long as it is free” — availability and the number of free models can change. Use it while the free list includes GLM/DeepSeek.
Q: Can I really get a full project analysis with the free tier?
A: Yes — in my test, free GLM 5.2 produced a detailed six-section analysis of a project (engine, backend, database, frontend, utilities, security) in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- GLM 5.2 and DeepSeek V4 Flash are available free in VS Code via the Cline extension’s Cline Usage-Billing API provider option.
- No API keys needed — sign in with Google, Microsoft, GitHub, or email.
- Assign the free model to both plan and act mode so Cline never falls back to paid models.
- Free GLM 5.2 handled a real multi-section project analysis in seconds.
- Free-tier availability rotates — use it while it lasts.