Summary
Quick Decision (Feb 2026)
- Choose Roo Code if: You want model flexibility, custom AI personas, and prefer working inside VS Code with a visual sidebar
- Choose Claude Code if: You want Agent Teams for multi-agent orchestration, 1M token context, and prefer terminal-based workflows
- Key tradeoff: Roo Code = customization and model choice. Claude Code = orchestration depth and code quality.
Architecture: IDE Extension vs Terminal Agent
The fundamental difference is where these tools live. Roo Code is a VS Code extension that works in your sidebar. Claude Code is a terminal application you invoke from the command line. This shapes everything about how you interact with each tool.
Roo Code: VS Code Sidebar
Lives in your VS Code sidebar. Visual interface with mode switching, file previews, and diff views. Feels like a collaborator sitting next to you in the editor. Model-agnostic: connect any LLM via API key.
Claude Code: Terminal-Native
Runs from your terminal with full shell access. Works alongside any IDE, not inside one. Agent Teams spawn sub-agents in parallel git worktrees. Locked to Claude models but gets exclusive features like compaction and 1M context.
| Aspect | Roo Code | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | VS Code sidebar panel | Terminal CLI + VS Code extension |
| Runs where | Inside VS Code | Terminal (any IDE alongside) |
| Model lock-in | None (BYOK, any model) | Claude only (Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.6) |
| Multi-agent | Custom modes (specialized personas) | Agent Teams (coordinated sub-agents) |
| Open source | Yes (Apache-2.0) | Yes (CLI open source) |
| File editing | Direct in-editor with diffs | Terminal-based with approval |
| Context window | Model-dependent | 1M tokens (beta) |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Roo Code | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Custom AI personas | Yes: Code, Architect, Ask, Debug + custom modes | No (single agent, configurable via CLAUDE.md) |
| Mode marketplace | Yes: browse and install community modes | No |
| Agent Teams | No | Yes: coordinated sub-agents with task deps |
| Compaction | No | Yes: automatic context summarization |
| Terminal commands | Yes (with approval) | Yes (native terminal) |
| File editing | Multi-file with inline diffs | Multi-file with approval |
| MCP support | Yes (marketplace) | Yes (built-in) |
| Git integration | Yes | Yes (commits, worktrees) |
| Hooks system | No | Yes (pre/post command hooks) |
| Agent SDK | No | Yes (programmatic agent control) |
| Cloud tasks | Yes (Roo Cloud, $5/hr) | No (runs locally) |
| SOC 2 compliance | Yes (enterprise) | Anthropic enterprise plans |
Custom Modes vs Agent Teams: Two Approaches to Multi-Agent
Both tools support multi-agent-like workflows, but the approach is fundamentally different. Roo Code gives you specialized personas. Claude Code gives you coordinated teams.
Roo Code: Custom Modes
Define specialized AI personas with scoped permissions. A security reviewer mode only reads files. A test writer mode only modifies test directories. An architect mode plans without executing. Switch between modes manually. Each mode has its own system prompt and tool restrictions.
Claude Code: Agent Teams
Spawn multiple sub-agents that work simultaneously in parallel git worktrees. A lead agent coordinates, assigns tasks, and synthesizes results. Teammates communicate via direct messaging. Shared task lists track dependencies. Each agent gets a dedicated context window.
Roo Code Custom Mode Definition
// .roo/modes/security-reviewer.json
{
"name": "Security Reviewer",
"description": "Reviews code for security vulnerabilities",
"systemPrompt": "You are a security expert. Review code for...",
"allowedTools": ["read_file", "search_files", "list_files"],
// Cannot write files or run commands - read-only mode
"blockedTools": ["write_to_file", "execute_command"]
}Claude Code Agent Teams in Action
# Terminal: Claude Code spawns a team
$ claude "Refactor the auth system and add tests"
# Lead agent creates task list:
# Task 1: Research current auth patterns (researcher agent)
# Task 2: Implement new auth flow (blocked on Task 1)
# Task 3: Write integration tests (parallel with Task 2)
# Each agent works in its own git worktree
# Agents message each other: "research done, found 3 patterns"
# Lead synthesizes all work into final PRWhich Approach Is Better?
Custom modes are better for solo developers who want to switch between AI specializations quickly. You are always in control, manually switching between modes as needed.
Agent Teams are better for complex, multi-step tasks where subtasks have dependencies and need coordination. The agents work autonomously in parallel, which is faster for large refactors but uses more tokens.
Model Support and Flexibility
This is where the tools diverge most sharply. Roo Code is model-agnostic. Claude Code is Claude-only.
| Model | Roo Code | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.6 | Yes (via API key) | Yes (native, optimized) |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Yes (via API key) | Yes (native, optimized) |
| GPT-4o / GPT-5.3 | Yes | No |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | Yes | No |
| DeepSeek R1 | Yes | No |
| Local models (Ollama) | Yes | No |
| OpenRouter | Yes | No |
| Different model per mode | Yes (per custom mode) | N/A |
The Model Lock-In Tradeoff
Roo Code's model flexibility is its biggest advantage over Claude Code. You can use GPT-5.3 for one task and Claude Opus for another, or run a local model for privacy-sensitive code. Claude Code only works with Claude models, but it gets exclusive features (Agent Teams, compaction, 1M context) that no BYOK tool can replicate. You are trading flexibility for depth.
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | Roo Code | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Extension free (BYOK) | Included with Claude Pro ($20/mo) |
| Pro/individual | $20/mo (Roo Cloud features) | $20/mo (Claude Pro) |
| Mid-tier | N/A | $100/mo (Claude Max 5x) |
| High-tier | N/A | $200/mo (Claude Max 20x) |
| Cloud tasks | $5/hour | N/A (runs locally) |
| Model costs | Direct from provider (BYOK) | Included in subscription |
| Enterprise | Custom (SOC 2, SSO) | Anthropic enterprise plans |
Real Cost Comparison
The cost comparison is nuanced. Roo Code's extension is free, but you pay API costs directly to model providers. A heavy day of coding with Claude Opus via Roo Code can cost $20-50 in API calls. Claude Code's Pro plan ($20/mo) includes usage up to a limit, then charges overflow at API rates.
For light-to-moderate use, Claude Pro is cheaper because the subscription covers most usage. For heavy use with cheaper models (Sonnet, GPT-4o, local), Roo Code's BYOK approach can be more cost-effective.
Performance on Large Codebases
Both tools handle multi-file editing, but they approach large codebases differently.
Roo Code: VS Code Integration
Lives inside VS Code, so it benefits from VS Code's language servers, file tree, and search. Feels more interactive for navigating code. Performance can degrade with very large files due to VS Code extension memory constraints.
Claude Code: Terminal Power
Terminal-based, so it can handle any file size without IDE overhead. 1M token context window (beta) fits more code in a single session. Agent Teams distribute work across worktrees, avoiding context pollution. Compaction prevents context overflow on long sessions.
For enterprise codebases with hundreds of thousands of lines, Claude Code's 1M token context and Agent Teams give it a structural advantage. For typical projects under 50K lines, both tools work well.
Decision Framework
| Your Priority | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Model flexibility (GPT, Gemini, local) | Roo Code | BYOK with 20+ providers, any model per mode |
| Best Claude experience | Claude Code | Native integration, Agent Teams, compaction, 1M context |
| Custom AI personas | Roo Code | Custom modes with scoped permissions + marketplace |
| Multi-agent orchestration | Claude Code | Agent Teams with task deps and inter-agent messaging |
| VS Code-native experience | Roo Code | Sidebar panel with inline diffs and file previews |
| Terminal-first workflow | Claude Code | Native CLI, works alongside any IDE |
| Privacy / local models | Roo Code | Ollama, LM Studio, any local model |
| Highest code quality | Claude Code | 80.8% SWE-bench Verified (Opus 4.6) |
| Lowest cost for heavy use | Roo Code | BYOK with cheaper models (Sonnet, GPT-4o mini) |
| Enterprise compliance | Either | Both offer SOC 2 and enterprise plans |
The Bottom Line
Roo Code and Claude Code serve different developer preferences. Roo Code is for developers who want choice: choose your model, choose your persona, choose your workflow, all inside VS Code. Claude Code is for developers who want depth: the deepest Claude integration, the most powerful multi-agent system, and terminal-native performance. If you use Claude models anyway, Claude Code gives you exclusive features you cannot get through Roo Code. If you want model flexibility or prefer VS Code's visual interface, Roo Code is the better fit.
For related comparisons, see Roo Code vs Cline, Cline vs Claude Code, and our full list of GitHub Copilot alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roo Code or Claude Code better for coding in 2026?
It depends on your workflow. Roo Code is better if you want model flexibility, custom AI personas, and a VS Code-native experience. Claude Code is better if you want Agent Teams for multi-agent orchestration, 1M token context, and prefer terminal workflows. Roo Code wins on customization; Claude Code wins on orchestration depth.
Is Roo Code a fork of Cline?
Yes. Roo Code forked from Cline to move faster on features like custom modes, a mode marketplace, Roo Cloud team features, and SOC 2 compliance. It has since diverged with 22K+ GitHub stars and 1.2M VS Code installs.
Can Roo Code use Claude models?
Yes. Roo Code is model-agnostic. You can connect Claude via your API key. But you will not get Claude Code's exclusive features like Agent Teams, compaction, or the 1M token context window. Those require Anthropic's Claude Code product.
What are Roo Code custom modes?
Custom Modes define specialized AI personas with scoped tool permissions. A security reviewer mode can only read files. A test writer mode can only modify test directories. An architect mode plans without executing. The Mode Gallery lets teams share pretested configurations.
What are Claude Code Agent Teams?
Agent Teams spawn multiple sub-agents that work in parallel git worktrees. A lead agent coordinates, assigns tasks, and synthesizes results. Teammates communicate via messaging and share a task list with dependency tracking. Each agent gets a dedicated context window. This is a research preview feature.
Better Code Search for Roo Code and Claude Code
WarpGrep is an agentic code search tool that works as an MCP server inside both Roo Code and Claude Code. Better search means better context means better code, regardless of which tool you prefer.